Obituary Information

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.

Read More . . .

Obituaries - 05/30/02

Mary Jane Lossie

Graveside services were held at 10 a.m. Monday, May 27, in the Lossie Family Cemetery, Swimmer Branch, Cherokee. The Rev. James "Bo" Parris officiated.

A native and lifelong resident of Cherokee's Painttown community, she was a daughter of the late Thomas Don Lossie Sr. She was a basket maker.

She was preceded in death by one brother and one sister.

Surviving are her mother, Betty Long Lossie of Cherokee; two daughters, Lucille Lossie and Romona Baith, both of Cherokee; two brothers, William Lossie and Thomas Lossie Jr., both of Cherokee; and two grandchildren.

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

David Parrish

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, May 24, at Cornerstone Wesleyan Church. The Rev. Dr. Paul Sale, his pastor, and the Rev. Wayne K. Purcell officiated.

Son of the late Ed and Peggy Parrish, he was a graduate of Swain High School and the Job Corps. He was a member of Cornerstone Wesleyan Church in Bryson City.

Surviving are three brothers, Thomas Parrish of Marino Valley, Calif., the Rev. Robert Parrish of Raleigh and Harold Darrin Parrish of El Paso, Texas.

Bill Moody Funeral Home in Bryson City assisted the family with arrangements. An online memorial and guest registry is available at www.pemoody.com.

Myrtle Massingale

A memorial service was held Saturday, May 25, at Community Bible Church in Concrete, Wash. Bob Thomas officiated.

A native of Jackson County, she was a daughter of Cavlin and Samantha Jane Sutton Jones. She married Oran Vernon Massingale on Feb, 22, 1936, in Jackson County.

In 1954, they moved to Birdsview, Wash., where they remained until 1998 when she began living with family members. She was a member of Hamilton Community Church for many years, then later Community Bible Church in Concrete, Wash.

She was preceded in death by her husband; one son, Denver; one daughter, Olien; one stepson, J.T.; and two grandchildren.

Surviving are three sons, Alfred Massingale of Sedro-Woolley, Wash., James Eldon Massingale of Birdsview, Wash., and Herman Massingale of Ferdinand, Idaho; two daughters, Lillian Wortham of Big Sandy, Texas, and Linda Shaffer of Old Town, Idaho; one stepdaughter, Marie Little of Conover; two sisters, Lena Kilby of Sylva and Pollie Carver of Lenoir; 17 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren.

Bernice Steelman

A memorial service and burial will be held at a later date.

A native of Trenton, N.J., she had lived in Macon County for the past two years. She was the daughter of the late Clifford and Edith Sprague Gafgen. She was preceded in death by her husband, Edmund Duxberry Steelman.

Surviving are two daughters, Rothe Schubot and Patricia Steelman, both of Franklin; one son, Stuart Steelman of Silverado, Calif.; and one grandson. Melton-Riddle Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Marcney Lanning

Graveside services will be held at 2:30 p.m. today (Thursday) at Rocky Branch Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m. today at Wells Funeral Home in Canton.

Surviving are one daughter, Mary Jacobs of Canton; one son, Robert Lee Lanning of Cullowhee; one sister, Florence Mashburn of Bethel; five grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

An online memorial register is available at Obituaries at www.wellsfuneralhome.com.

Aldona Sarka

Moody Funeral Home will announce arrangements.

Back to Archive: 05/30/02.