Obituary Information

The Sylva Herald prints obituaries free of charge as a service to readers.

When possible, obituaries should be sent to the Herald from the funeral home. Information received will be placed in our standard obituary format.

We publish names of the deceased's spouse, parents, grandparents, siblings and children; we also include the number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

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Obituaries - 04/25/02

Betty Smart

Betty Gass Smart, 71, of Bryson City, died Wednesday, April 17, 2002, at her residence. Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, April 21, in the chapel of Crisp Funeral Home. The Rev. John Tagliarini officiated. Burial was in Swain Memorial Park.

A native of Jackson County, she lived in Swain County most of her life. She was a daughter of the late Wade and Ora Reed Gass. She was a member of Bryson City First Baptist Church and was a retired schoolteacher.

She was preceded in death by one granddaughter.

Surviving are two daughters, Sandra Smart Steinhauser of Loudon, Tenn., and Sherry Smart Holtzclaw of Sevierville, Tenn.; one sister, Doris Eloise Gass of Bryson City; and two grandchildren.

Christine Conner

Christine C. Conner, 77, of Shook Cove,Tuckasegee, died Thursday, April 18, 2002, at Harris Regional Hospital after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 4 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home Chapel. The Revs. Jim Ed Powell, Eddie Stillwell and Jeff Powell officiated. Burial was at Tuckasegee Baptist Church cemetery. Grandsons were pallbearers.

A native of Buncombe County, she lived most of her life in Jackson County and was a daughter of the late James and Belva Carter.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Joe M. Conner, who died in 1967, two sons, two daughters, three brothers and two sisters.

Surviving are three daughters, Wanda Powell of Tuckasegee, Nancy Adkins of Randleman and Mattie Hooper of Sylva; six sons, James Conner of Franklin, David Conner of Rabun Gap, Ga., Johnny Conner of Stow, Ohio, Donald Conner of East LaPorte, Danny Conner of Sylva and Bobby Conner of Tuckasegee; two sisters, Mary Beaty of Clayton, Ga., and Mable Boone of Barnardsville; three brothers, Billy Carter of Tiger, Ga., Bobby Carter of Gainesville, Ga., and A.V. Carter of Lake Mont, Ga.; 18 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Lucille Bumgarner

Lucille Phillips Bumgarner, 73, of Noble Court, Cullowhee, died Wednesday, April 17, 2002, at Harris Regional Hospital after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home Chapel. The Revs. Eddie Stillwell and Gerald Conner officiated. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Nicholas and Steve Bumgarner, Bryan Hooper, Jimmy Claybo and Wayne and Tommy Morton.

She was a native and lifelong resident of Jackson County and the daughter of the late Charlie Phillips and Ester Cope Phillips Morgan. She was a member of Unity Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by one son, Wayne Bumgarner, and one great-granddaughter.

Surviving are her husband of 50 years, Eulas Bumgarner; one daughter, Mary Watson of Cullowhee; one son, Roy Eugene Bumgarner of Cullowhee; three brothers, Clyde Morgan of Sylva, Clifton Morgan of Waynesville and Roy Morgan of Darrington, Wash.; five grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.

Lana Lambert

Lana Haney Lambert, 49, of Cherokee's Birdtown community, died Tuesday, April 16, 2002, in Tsali Care Center.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 19, at Bethabara Baptist Church. The Revs. Ricky Stepp and Larry Pruitt officiated. Burial was in Birdtown Cemetery.

A native of Kentucky and longtime resident of Morristown, Tenn., she lived in Cherokee for the past 28 years. She was a daughter of the late Caleb Haney and Jean Delong Cloar, stepdaughter of the late Jack Cloar and wife of the late Robert Lambert, who died in December 2001.

She graduated in 1971 from Morristown Hamblin High School East and attended First Baptist Church of Morristown.

Surviving are two daughters, Keahana Lambert and Sarella Lambert, both of Cherokee; one stepdaughter, Tavish Lambert Brown of Cherokee; one son, Justin Reeves Lambert of the home; two sisters, Diana Haney Horner of Morristown, Tenn., and Jhounna Cloar Pruitt of New Market, Tenn.; and four grandchildren. Crisp Funeral Home in Bryson City was in charge of arrangements.

Calvin Hensley

Calvin C. Hensley, 76, of Locust Creek Road, Sylva, died Sunday, April 21, 2002, in Harris Regional Hospital after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 24, at Balsam Grove Freewill Baptist Church. The Rev. Carl Adams officiated. Burial was in Balsam Grove Cemetery. Pallbearers were Charles Mathis, Lester Hoyle, Brian Brooks, Travis Arwood, Rodney Arwood and Roger Rice.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a retired timberman and construction worker. He was a son of the late Lenvil Jasper and Lona Jane Sitton Hensley.

He was preceded in death by three sisters, Letha Mull, Elorna Hoyle and Susie Hensley and three brothers, Willie Monroe Hensley, Ruben Hensley and Bradley Hensley. Surviving are two sisters, Lucille Mathis of Sylva and Dessie Wright of High Point; and two brothers, Mack Hensley of Sylva and Sterling Hensley of Cullowhee.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Doyle Hooper

Doyle Marion Hooper, 87, of Glenville, died Wednesday, April 17, 2002, in a Sylva nursing center after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 20, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. Ray Lewis officiated. Burial was at Louisa Chapel United Methodist Cemetery in Franklin.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a member of Glenville Wesleyan Church and was retired from High Hampton Country Club after 33 years. He was the son of the late Jud and Ellen Wiggins Hooper.

He was preceded in death by his wife, of 53 years, Lillian Green Hooper.

Surviving are two daughters, Donav Messer of Sylva and Barbara Putman of Franklin; one sister, Sadie Shook of Sylva; two grandchildren; one foster granddaughter; and one foster great-granddaughter.

Memorials may be made to the Glenville Wesleyan Church, Glenville, N.C., or Louisa Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, Franklin, N.C. An online memorial and guest registry is available at www.pemoody.com.