Obituaries - 05/25/00

Virginia Ainsburg

Virginia Rooney Ainsburg, 72, of Nicholson Cove Road, Cullowhee, died Tuesday, May 16, at Angel Medical Center.

A memorial service will be held at a later date in Albany, N.Y.

A native and former resident of Albany, N.Y., and Florida, she had been a resident of Cullowhee since 1997. She was a daughter of the late Sterling and Anna Closter Rooney.

Surviving are one son, Danny Ainsburg of Cullowhee; one daughter, Kathy Miller of Albany, N.Y.; one sister, Dorothy Nichols of Ganesvroot, N.Y.; two grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Moody Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.

Clara Lou Norris Moody, 98, of Gastonia, formerly of Glenville, died Monday, May 8.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 12, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. J.C. Robinson officiated. Burial was at Fairview Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Earl Dowdle, Shirley Dowdle, John Moss, Jim Muir, David Cook and Bobby Norris.

She was the daughter of the late Loransey and Sally Stewart Norris.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Clifton Moody; one son, Clifton Lyle "Goob" Moody; one daughter, Mary Alice Moody; one stepson, Mack Moody; four brothers; one sister; and one great-granddaughter.

Surviving are her husband, Carl; three daughters, Aura Lee Conner of Gastonia, Mildred Gibson of Stanley and Doris Coggins; one sister, Leota Norris of Franklin; 10 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; 11 great-great-grandchildren; three step grandchildren; six step great-grandchildren; and five step great-great-grandchildren.

Dorothy Hilles

Dorothy I. Hilles, 88, of Clearwater, Fla., died Thursday, May 18, at her residence.

A native of Washington, Pa., she was a sales associate for Rose and Son Clothing Store in Warren, Ohio. She was a member of Central Christian Church in Clearwater, Fla., and a member of Blue Star Mothers.

Surviving are three sons, Walter H. Hilles of Sylva, James L. Hilles of Bloomington, Ill., and John C. Hilles of Warren, Ohio; one daughter, Patricia Cann of Hubbard, Ohio; 19 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, 300 E. Bay, Largo, Fla.

John Buchanan

John W. Buchanan, 83,of Sylva's Greens Craek community, died Friday, May 19, after an extended illness.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 21, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Mark Sparks and Dr. Bob Rigdon officiated. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were James Clinton Buchanan, James Roper, Gordon Buchanan, Mark Hawk, Mike Lyons, Bruce Buchanan, Davis Buchanan and Gerald Green.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and retired from employment with the state of North Carolina. He was a son of the late John Wesley and Ida Deitz Buchanan.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Burke Buchanan, and two sisters, Ruth Roper and Ruby Cabe.

Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Birdie Sutton Buchanan; two daughters, Henrietta Bradley and Clara Turpin, both of Sylva; one son, Carroll Buchanan of Sylva; two brothers, W.D. Buchanan of Sylva and Morgan Buchanan of Tennessee; three sisters, Edna Buchanan, Virginia Hawk and Earla Mae Cowan, all of Sylva; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Minnie Bryson

Minnie Dills Bryson, 80, of Autumn Care and Cullowhee, died Sunday, May 21, after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, at Black Mountain Baptist Church. The Rev. Larry Bryson officiated. Pallbearers were nephews.

A native and former lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a resident of Autumn Care for the past 10 years. She was a member of Black Mountain Baptist Church. She was the wife of the late Spergeon Bryson and was the daughter of the late James and Sally Gunter Dills.

She was preceded in death by two brothers and five sisters.

Surviving are one son, Bobby Gene Bryson of Cullowhee; two sisters, Mae Nations of Barkers Creek and Inez Dills of Cullowhee; two grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Elsie Roper

Elsie Lois Roper, 79, of Whittier's Union Hill community, died Saturday, May 20, in Harris Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, at Whittier Church of God, of which she was a member. The. Rev. Ned Pressley officiated. Burial was in the Union Hill Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a daughter of the late James Barnes and Lettie Fox Bryson and wife of the late Thurman Willis Roper, who died in 1972. She was a member of the V.F.W. Ladies Auxiliary.

She was preceded in death by a brother, Vel Dee Barnes.

Survived are five daughters, Ruby Green, June Cook, Mary Passmore, and Diane Brendle, all of Whittier, and Bobbie Smith of Bryson City, three sisters, Alma Barnes Roper, Leona Barnes McDonald and Annie Dee Barnes Childers, all of Whittier; six grandchildren; and six greatgrandchildren.

Crisp Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Rhoda Watson

Rhoda C. Watson, 87, of Cope Creek Road, Sylva, died Wednesday, May l7, at her residence after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, May 19, at Scotts Creek Baptist Church. The Rev. Rich Peoples officiated. Burial was in Old Field Cemetery. Pallbearers were Ray Knight, Don Hensley, Mike Cooper, Tony Shuler, Bill Cope, Walter Cope, Larry Cope and Charles Lee Cope.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a retired school teacher, teaching fifth and sixth grade with Jackson County. She was an active member of Scotts Creek Baptist Church for the past 72 years, where she taught first- and second-grade Sunday school class. She was a daughter of the late James Walton and Amanda Caroline Watson Cope.

She was preceded in death by her brothers, W. Vernon, Homer, and Verlon Lee and the twins, Grayson and Grady; and one sister, Carrie.

Surviving are her husband, Johnnie Watson; two daughters, Ronda Woodard and Janet Whisnant, both of Sylva; one sister, Martha Popplewell of Sylva; five granddaughters; two great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Scotts Creek Baptist Church, 97 Steeple Place, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

MeltonRiddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Thomas Tays

Thomas Lee Tays, 60, of Sylva, formerly of Columbus, Ind., died Friday, May 12, at Harris Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, May 16, at Barkes, Inlow, Weaver Funeral Home in Columbus, Ind. Burial was in Garland Brook Cemetery.

A native of St. Louis Crossing, Ind., he was a son of Evelyn Joslin Tays of Sylva and the late Woodrow Tays. He attended Free Methodist Church in Columbus, Ind., and was an employee of Webster Enterprises.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by one sister, Bonnie S. Short.

Surviving are his mother, Evelyn Joslin Tays; two brothers, Charlie Tays of Sylva and Jessie Tays of Columbus, Ind.; and one sister, Barbara Routier of Edinburgh, Ind.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of local arrangements.

Joseph Crowe

Joseph Daniel "Danny" Crowe, 39, of Cherokee, died Wednesday, May 17.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 21, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home, Sylva. The Revs. Tommy Shaw and Kathy Watkins officiated. Burial was in the Crowe Cemetery. Pallbearers were Gary Watkins, Ben Watkins, David Smith, Doyle ³Benny² Watkins, Jim McGlamery, Terry Johnson and Charlie Mulvaney.

He was a native of Cherokee but resided in Walhalla, S.C.

He was preceded in death by one brother, Roger Crowe.

Surviving are his father, the Rev. Joe Crowe of Walhalla, S.C.; his mother, Margie Ledbetter of Candler; two daughters, Stephanie Crowe of Blacksburg, S.C., and Danielle Crowe Hines of Fairview; one brother, Rex Crowe of Candler; four sisters, Rebecca Johnson of Bryson City, Loretta Crowe and Tina Crowe of Walhalla, S.C., and Teresa Seth of Fairview.

Wayne Wike

Wayne Wike, 58, of 120 Maudlin Road, Easley, S.C., died Sunday, May 21, at Palmetto Baptist Medical Center.

Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, May 22, a Greenlawn Memorial Park. The Rev. Garland Sentell officiated.

A native of Easley, S.C., he was the son of Lonella Hooper Wike of Cullowhee and the late Richard Hayes Wike. He was formerly employed with Saco-Lowell. He was a U.S. Army veteran and of the Methodist faith.

Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his wife, Bobbie Hickman Wike; two sons, Stephen Wike of Huntsville, Ala., and Jimmy Wike of Easley, S.C.; two brothers, Richard Dean Wike of Sylva and Clifford Ray Wike of Cullowhee; and four sisters, Irene Wike, Gladys Webb, Sandra Heatherly and Lois Stiles, all of Cullowhee.

Memorials may be made to ALSAC St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tenn. 38103.

Wade Mills

Wade Lyle Mills, 84, of Sylva's Ochre Hill community, died Monday, May 22, in Mountain Trace Nursing Center after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 24, in Ochre Hill Baptist Church, of which he was a member. The Revs. J.D. Grant, John Reid and John Swanger officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by American Legion Post 104. Pallbearers were members of the Balsam-Willetts-Ochre Hill Fire Department.

A native of Jackson County, he retired from the U.S. Postal Service. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, a charter member and also served on the board of directors with Balsam-Willetts-Ochre Hill Fire Department, a member of American Legion Post 104 and a Mason. He was a son of the late Joseph and Ethel Melton Mills.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Reva Hoyle Mills; two brothers, Joe and David Mills; and one sister, Faye Mills.

Surviving are three daughters, Judy L. Mills of High Point, Linda Mills of Greensboro and Dot M. Gray of College Grove, Tenn.; one son, Jimmy Mills of Antioch, Tenn.; three brothers, Tom and Bob Mills of Waynesville and Edwin Mills of Maggie Valley; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Balsam-Willett-Ochre Hill Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 291, Balsam, N.C. 28707; or Ochre Hill Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, 1535 Blanton Branch Road, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Tom Thorp

Tom Thorp, 80, of Mountain Forest Estates, Sylva, died Tuesday, May 23, at his residence. Moody Funeral Home will announce arrangements.

Jessie Keener

Jessie Keener of Riverbend Road, Sylva, died Tuesday, May 23. Melton-Riddle Funeral Home will announce arrangements.