Obituary Information

When possible, obituaries should be submitted to The Herald from the funeral home in charge of arrangements. Information received will be printed in our standard obituary format. As is the case with all information submitted to The Herald, we reserve the right to edit obituary information to fit our standard format.

We publish names of the deceased's children; we also include the number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We do not include in-laws, cousins, nieces and nephews or special friends.

Included in a brief history of the deceased is items such as their employment, professional, civic, community and religious affiliations. We omit personal tributes.

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Obituaries - 05/29/03

Rubye Fleming

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 20, at Saint Mark African Methodist Episcopal Church. Pastor Henry D. Harper and the Rev. Mary C. Newton officiated. Burial was in Fort Lincoln Cemetery.

A native of Sylva, she was born Feb. 8, 1929, daughter of the late Charlie Bryson and Susie Love.

She graduated from Allen High School in Asheville and received her bachelor of arts degree in education from Winston-Salem Teachers College, now known as Winston-Salem State University. After graduation, she worked as a secretary in the Treasurer's Accountant Office of Rock Island County, Ill.

She was one of the first two African-Americans hired to teach in East Moline, Ill., in the early 1970s. She retired after 31 years of service as an elementary school teacher.

She was a former member of Gaines Chapel AME Church in East Moline, where she was the superintendent of Sunday school, a member of the steward board and a choir member. She was also a former member of the Gospel Mission Temple in Illinois. She relocated to Oxon Hill, Md., in 1993 and joined St. Mark AME Church in 1994. She became a choir member, class leader and member of the St. Mark-Doris J. Cook Missionary Society.

Surviving is one sister, Hazel Bryson of Oxon Hill, Md.

Mae Mauser

A native of Camden, N.J., she had retired to Franklin in 1981.

Surviving are her husband, William Mauser; and one brother, Bud Moffett of Merchantville, N.J.

Moody Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. An online memorial and registry is available at www.pemoody.com.

Bessie Long

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, at Bethabera Baptist Church. The Revs. Mitchell Smiley and Steve Philippi officiated. Burial followed in Long Family Cemetery.

She was a native of Swain County and a lifelong resident of Cherokee. Daughter of the late William and Sally Johnson Catolster, she was a basketmaker for many years.

She was preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters.

Surviving are her husband, Posie Long; four sons, Wilbur, Garfield H., Roger D. and John Long, all of Cherokee; one brother, Able Catolster of Cherokee; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Moody Funeral Home assisted the family. An online guest registry and memorial is available at www.pemoody. com.

Louise Campbell

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, May 27, at East Sylva Baptist Church. The Rev. Charles Dean officiated. Burial was in Keener Cemetery. Pallbearers were Mike Gillespie, Tim Gillespie, Jim Cunningham, John Morris, Eugene Gregory and James R. Hyatt.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a daughter of the late William E. and Mae Crisp West.

She was a member of East Sylva Baptist Church and an active choir member until her health declined. She retired from Harris Regional Hospital, where she worked as a nursing assistant. She also was employed with Drs. G.S. Han and Clay Smallwood.

She was preceded in death by her husbands, Mitchell E. Wood Sr. and James E. Campbell.

Surviving are one son, Mitchell E. Woods Jr. of Elko, Nev.; two sisters, Margaret Gregory and Betty Gillespie; one brother, Bill West, all of Sylva; and two granddaughters.

Memorials are requested to WestCare Hospice, 68 Hospital Road, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangemens. An online memorial and guest registry is available at www. pemoody.com.

Beatrice Beasley

Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, May 27, at Moody Funeral Home. Burial followed in Keener Cemetery.

A native of Sylva, she was a graduate of Western Carolina University. She taught school in California, Florida and North Carolina. She was the daughter of the late Hugo and Dona Lance Stein and wife of the late Hazel C. Beasley.

She was preceded in death by five sisters, Louise Queen, Lillie Parker, Melita Denny, Marguerite Bales and Helen Myatt.

Surviving are two sons, John L. Beasley of Talking Rock and Gregg Beasley of Sullivan's Island, S.C.; and one daughter, Jane Beasley of Highland Park, Ill.

Jane Buchanan

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, May 26, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Revs. Carl Adams and Clifford Parker officiated.

Burial was in Greens Creek Cemetery. Pallbearers were James Lupo, David Harris, Donnie Gass, Keith Nations, Keith Brooks, Marty Brooks and Jeff Cabe. Honorary pallbearers were Harold Dean Buchanan and Lowell Buchanan.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she had worked at Buster Brown in quality control for six years. Daughter of the late Odell Fred and Lottie J. Dills Nations, she was a member of Rockdale Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by one sister, Sue Lovedahl.

Surviving are her husband of 40 years, Charles Gordon Buchanan; two daughters, Greta Buchanan of the home and Gloria Reddish of Whittier; two sons, Gorden Dale Buchanan of Cullowhee and Dean Buchanan of Whittier; one sister, Linda Gass of Whittier; two brothers, Fred Nations of Whittier and Jimmy Nations of Dallas, Ga.; and seven grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Greens Creek Cemetery, c/o Gerald Green, 56 Lotus Drive, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Lettie Stephens

Funeral services were held at 7 p.m. Saturday, May 24, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Revs. Robert Fernandez and Earl Holden officiated. Burial was at 12:30 p.m. Sunday, May 25, in Upper Stephens Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a member of Moses Creek Baptist Church and was the last of six children of the late Horace and Fannie Houston Fore. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Stephens, who died in 1991; and one daughter, Nina Ledford.

Surviving are one daughter, Pat Green of Sylva; one son, Earl Stephens of Cullowhee; five grandsons; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Moses Creek Baptist Church.

Patsy Dean

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Friday, May 30, at East Sylva Baptist Church. The Revs. John Reid and Jim Dean officiated. Burial was in Old Field Cemetery.

A native of Haywood County, she had lived in Jackson County for the past 37 years. For 25 years she was a registered nurse in the recovery room at Harris Regional Hospital.

She was a member of East Sylva Baptist Chuch, where she had served as Vacation Bible School director. She was the daughter of the late Hugh and Edith McKay Hall.

Surviving are her husband of 41 years, the Rev. Charles L. Dean; one daughter, Sherri Pendleton of Eagle River, Alaska; two brothers, Jerry Hall of Mount Holly and Buddy Hall of Waynesville; and two grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to East Sylva Baptist Church, P.O. Box 516, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

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

Howard Wilson

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Sunday, May 25, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Rev. Johnny Norris officiated. Burial was in Wilson Cemetery.

He was a native of Jackson County, where he had lived the past 14 years. He was a machine repairman with General Motors in Michigan and attended Pine Creek Baptist Church. He was a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War. He was the son of the late Lawrence and Mellie Bryson Wilson.

He was preceded in death by one son, David Wilson; one brother, Herbert Wilson; and one half-brother.

Surviving are his wife of five years, Mildred Teague Wilson; two daughters, Barbara Kasper of Gainesville, Ga., and Mary Ann Waters of Redford, Mich.; one son, Jerry Wilson of Farmington Hills, Mich.; one sister, Helen Moore of High Point; four grandchildren; and several half-sisters and one half-brother.

Memorials may be made to WestCare Hospice, 132 Sylva Plaza, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Betty Owle

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) at Bethabara Baptist Church. The Rev. Mitchell Smiley and Ray Kinsland will officiate. Burial will be in the Owle Family Cemetery. Pallbearers will be nephews and grandsons.

The body was to be taken to the church at 5 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, to receive friends and await the service hour.

A native of Jackson County, she lived most of her life in Swain County. She helped start the handicapped workshop in Cherokee and the Tribal Cannery.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Soloman Owle, who died in 1981; her youngest child, Henry Owle; three brothers; and one sister.

Surviving are four sons, Frank Bradley, Dewey Owle, Lloyd Owle and Freeman Owle; four daughters, Catherine Owle, Annette Owle Fish, Ruby Owle Crowe and Margaret "Peggy" Owle Wolfe; two stepchildren, Bob Owle and Jessie Owle Dugan; two brothers, George and Raymond Bradley; 32 grandchildren; and 77 great- and great-great grandchildren.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Johnny Mills

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home will announce arrangements.

Lucile Woodard

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Friday, May 23, at Bryson City United Methodist Church, of which she was a member. The Rev. David Russell officiated. Burial was in Franklin's Woodlawn Cemetery.

A native of Jackson County, she was the daughter of the late Jonathan and Clara Norton Long and wife of the late Wayne O. Woodard.

She was a graduate of Western Carolina Teachers College and a former school teacher, having taught in Jackson and Swain counties. She was co-owner of Ela Campground and Grocery along with her husband, Wayne O. Woodard.

She was a former member and chapter regent of the Daughters of the American Colonies and a former member of the Swain County Hospital Auxiliary and the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

She was preceded in death by two sons, Richard J. Woodard and Joseph W. Woodard.

Surviving are her two grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Bryson City United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 817, Bryson City, N.C. 28713-0817.

Crisp Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Dimoteen Howard

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, May 28, at Sticklin Funeral Chapel. Pastor Derrill Corbin officiated. Burial followed in Grand Mound Cemetery.

Born Feb. 25, 1934, in Tuckasegee to Thadous D. and Elma Mathis Mathews, she was raised and attended schools in Jackson County. She married William R. Howard on Jan. 5, 1951, in Pickins County, S.C. The family moved to Chehalis, Wash., in 1956 and settled in Rochester 27 years ago.

Surviving, in addition to her husband, are one son, Randall R. Howard of Toledo, Wash.; one daughter, Patricia K. Caywood of Centralia, Wash.; three brothers, Clinton Mathews of Centralia, Garrett Mathews of Elberton, Ga., and Grover Mathews of Talbott, Tenn; two sisters, Mazie Bentley of Westwood, Calif., and Lydia Mathis of Sylva; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Life Center Church, P.O. Box 1251, Centralia, Wash. 98531.

Beatrice Bryson

Moody Funeral Home will announce arrangements.

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