Obituaries - 07/13/00

J.C. Hoyle

J.C. Hoyle, 68, of Troy, Texas, died Wednesday, July 5, at his residence.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 7, at East Highway Baptist Church in Troy. The Rev. Ernest Thompson officiated. Burial was in Belfalls Cemetery in Belfalls, Texas, with military honors.

He retired from the VA Hospital with 30 years as a nurse assistant. He had previously worked at a Temple lumber yard and was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean Conflict.

A native of Swain County, he was a son of the late Lloyd and Gladys Queens Hoyle. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Shirley Lancaster Hoyle.

Surviving are his wife, Betty Hoyle; two sons, Jimmy Hoyle of Temple, Texas, and Robert Hoyle of Rogers, Texas; one daughter, Ann Hoyle Lambert of Temple, Texas; two stepdaughters, Dorothy Finney of Belton, Texas, and Tammy Dinscore of Morgans Point, Texas; one sister, Fannie Mae Wright of Whittier; three grandchildren; and six step grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Hospice, 2401 S. 31st Street, Temple, Texas 76508.

Homer Franklin

Homer Lee Franklin, 79, of Nampa, Idaho, died Saturday, July 8.

Funeral services and burial will be held Saturday, July 15, in Nampa.

A native of Jackson County, he was a graduate of Sylva High School. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II, later joined the U.S. Air Force, was a veteran of the Korean Conflict and retired after 20 years of military service. He was a son of the late Ira and Aldona Franklin.

Surviving are his wife, Dorothy Franklin; two sons, Robert Franklin and Michael Franklin, both of Nampa; three daughters, Barbara, Debbie and Lana, all of Idaho; several grandchildren; and one sister, Mildred Settlemyer of Sylva.

Wallie Watty

Wallie Pheasant Watty, 82, of Cherokee's Big Cove community, died Wednesday, July 5, at Tsali Care Center.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Friday, July 7, at Straight Fork Baptist Church. The Revs. George Polecatt and Betty Drake officiated. Burial was in Wolf Cemetery.

A native of Swain County, she was the daughter of the late Will and Rachel Wolf Pheasant.

Surviving are one daughter, Windy Bradley; three sons, Manuel, David and Jerome Watty, all of Cherokee; one brother, Edward Pheasant; one sister, Ella Mae Sequoyah; both of Cherokee; 16 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Mary Hoyle

Mary Lee Rogers Hoyle, 86, of Sylva's Blantons Branch community, died Thursday, June 29, in Mountain Trace Nursing Center after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 1, in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Revs. Robert Blanton, Carl Adams and Ricky Conner officiated. Burial was in Blanton-Hoyle Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a homemaker and member of Ochre Hill Baptist Church. She was a daughter of the late Troy and May Nicholson Rogers.

She was preceded in death by one brother, James Rogers.

Surviving are her husband of 64 years, Wayne Hoyle; one daughter, Nancy Mathis of Sylva; four sons, Bill Hoyle, Dan Hoyle, Terry Hoyle and Gary Hoyle, all of Sylva; one sister, Daisy Hoyle of Georgia; nine grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

James Chastain

James C. Chastain, 71, of Old Cullowhee Road, Sylva, died Thursday, July 6, at his residence after an extended illness.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Saturday, July 8, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home Chapel. The Revs. Mike Dellinger and Lloyd Brown officiated. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Tye Chastain, Jamie Ashe, Steve Ashe, Jason Gregory, Earl Buchanan and Fred Fouts.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a retired construction worker and a son of Jane Shook Chastain of Tuckasegee and the late Don Chastain.

Surviving are his wife of 44 years, June C. Chastain; one daughter, Wanda Gregory of Sylva; one son, Bobby Chastain of Sylva; two brothers, Kenneth and John Chastain, both of Tuckasegee; eight grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Westcare Hospice or Home Health, 68 Hospital Road. Sylva, N.C. 28779; or CAPPS, Grandview Assisted Living, P.O. Box 188, Franklin, N.C. 28744.

Ralph Garrett

Ralph "Snuffy" Jennings Garrett, 79, of Old Dillsboro Road, Sylva, died Sunday, July 9, at Skyland Care Center.

Graveside services were held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, July 11, at Fairview Memorial Gardens. The Rev. Pervie Stines officiated.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a retired rock and brick mason. He was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and the son of the late Cole and Tabitha Davis Garrett. He was the husband of the late Bonnie O'Dear Garrett.

Surviving are one son, Leonard "Sonny" Garrett of Dillsboro; two daughters, Linda Caldwell of Dillsboro and Nancy Cagle of Sylva; two half-sisters, Annette Caldwell and Betty Shuler, both of Waynesville; six grandchildren; and six great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Gideons International, c/o Kelly Bradley Harold's Supermarket, 80 W. Main Street, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Dallas Martin

Dallas Ray Martin, 48, of Knoxville, Tenn., died Monday, July 3, at Baptist Hospital in Knoxville. Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 6, at Martin Family Cemetery. The Rev. James "Bo" Parris officiated. Pallbearers were Michael Quinn, Perry Hendren, Dwight Crowe, Steve Quinn, Randy Rogers and Howard Ellison.

A native and lifelong resident of Swain County, he was a son of the late Sarah Jane Martin. He was preceded in death by one brother, Tommy Martin.

Surviving are his wife, Carol W. Martin; one stepdaughter, Angela Quinn of Knoxville; and two brothers, Bruce and George Martin, both of Cherokee.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

James Long

James "Duke" Long, 56, of Cherokee's Painttown community, died Friday, July 7, at his residence.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, July 10, at Acquoni Chapel. The Rev. Robert Christopher officiated. Burial was in Long Family Cemetery on Big Witch Road.

A native of Swain County, he was a resident of Jackson County for most of his life. Son of Pauline George Long of Cherokee and the late Wilbur Long, he was a heavy equipment operator.

Surviving are one daughter, Iris Long of Cherokee; one stepdaughter, Crystal Greenarch of Lake Junaluska; five brothers, Gus George, David Long, Rick Long, Greg Long and George Long, all of Cherokee; three sisters, Jessie Maney, Fern Saunooke and Lauren Long, all of Cherokee; and two grandchildren.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Eugene Littlejohn

Eugene Littlejohn, 88, of Cherokee's Big Y community, died Monday, July 10, at Tsali Care Center.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 12, at Bigwitch Baptist Church. The Revs. James Sneed and Denny Crowe officiated. Burial was in Bradley Cemetery.

A retired painter, he was a member of Bigwitch Baptist Church. He was the son of the late Twister and Annie Littlejohn.

Surviving are his wife, Encie G. Littlejohn; two daughters, Waneema L. Driver and Juanita L. Bradley, both of Cherokee; five grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and 11 great-great-grandchildren.

Moody funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Doleres Braxton

Delores Kelly Braxton, 72, of Mountverde, Fla., died Tuesday, July 4, at her residence in Florida after an extended illness.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Friday, July 7, in the Melton-Riddle Funeral Home Chapel. Father James Cahill officiated. Burial was in Parris Cemetery.

A native of Lincoln, Ill., she had lived in Florida for the past 30 years. She was the daughter of the late Thomas J. and Edna NcNeil Kelly.

Surviving are her husband, Jessie C. Braxton; two daughters; and two sons.

Claude Teagarden

Brig. Gen. C. Claude Teagarden, 65, of Jackson County's Pine Creek community and Palm Coast, Fla., died Friday, June 30, at Mayo St. Luke's Hospital in Jacksonville, Fla.

Burial will be in Arlington National Cemetery, Washington, D.C.

Born in Galesburg, Ill., he was an Eagle Scout and graduate of Galesburg High School. He received a bachelor of science degree in agricultural economics, a juris doctor degree from the University of Illinois and an MBA from Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla. While a student at the University of Illinois, he served as president of the Interfraternity Council, president of the Student Bar Association and assistant dean of men.

Having received a commission in the U.S. Air Force, he served as a judge advocate from 1958-1982, achieving the rank of brigadier general. He was a distinguished graduate of the Air Command and Staff college and the first Air Force judge advocate to attend the National War College.

He served as judge advocate at Sidi Silimane AFB, Morocco; McCoy AFB, Fla.; and Albrook AFB, Panama, where he was director of civil and international law, USAF Southern Command. While assigned to the Office of the Judge Advocate General in Washington, D.C., he defended civil law suits brought against the Air Force and its officials in federal courts throughout the United States. He was selected to be the executive to the Judge Advocate General of the Air Force. Later, he was assigned to be staff judge advocate at Headquarters USAF, Europe, and the Strategic Air Command, Omaha, Neb.

He was a member of the Bars of the Supreme Court of the U.S., the U.S. Court of Claims, the U.S. Court of Military Appeals and the Supreme Court of Illinois. His military decorations and awards included the Distinguished Service Medal, Legion of Merit with oak leaf cluster, Meritorious Service Medal, Air Force Commendation Medal and the Albert Kuhfeld Award for 1967.

After retiring from the Air Force, he returned to Jackson County. He was professor of business law at Western Carolina University from 1982-1996 where he served as head of the department of accounting, computer information systems and management and a member of the Faculty Senate. He was a past president of the Southeastern Academy of Legal Studies in Business and was a member of the House of Delegates, National Academy of Legal Studies. He served as the WCU faculty representative to the NCAA and the Southern Conference executive committee for seven years. For two terms, he was chairman of the Jackson County Board of Elections.

Surviving are his wife, Jeanne B. Teagarden; one daughter, Kristen T. Batlle of Jupiter, Fla.; one son, Jeffrey C. Teagarden of Temple Terrace, Fla.; and four grandchildren.

A memorial scholarship will be established at Western Carolina University through the WCU Development Foundation - C. Claude Teagarden Scholarship Fund.

Hazel Parker

Hazel Rogers Brendle Parker, 83, of Rosecreek Road, Franklin, died Tuesday, July 4.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, July 8, at Watauga Baptist Church. The Revs. Wesley Price and Eddie Stillwell officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery.

A daughter of the late John and Minnie Leopard Rogers, she was an avid gardener and a member of Watauga Baptist Church. She retired from Harris Regional Hospital's Dietary Department.

She was preceded in death by her first husband, Columbus Brendle, who died in 1963, and her second husband, Henry Parker, who died in 1991. She was also preceded in death by two sons, Roy L. and Jimmy Brendle, and two brothers, Clyde and Earl Rogers.

Surviving are four daughters, Myrtle Wofford of Grove, Ga., Pauline Terrell of Franklin, Suzzy Sams of Candler and Joyce Meadows of Enka; two sons, C.B. Brendle Jr. of Gadsden, Ala., and Deryl Brendle of Tupaloo, Miss.; two sisters, Pearl Hall and Edna Glore, both of Sylva; one brother, Bill Rogers of Candler; 13 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Watauga Baptist Church Cemetery Fund.

Macon Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Marcellus Buchanan III

Marcellus Buchanan III, 76, of Sylva, died Friday, July 7, at his residence.

A memorial service was held at 3 p.m. Sunday, July 9, at Sylva First United Methodist Church. The Revs. Wayne Allen and Joe Fulk officiated. Honorary pallbearers were judges, assistant district attorneys and sheriffs with whom he served, M.V. Jones, Hayden Ferguson, Jack Cabe and Ethel Sutton.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a lawyer, former state legislator and retired district attorney. He was a veteran of World War II, member of the Dillsboro Masonic Lodge 459 and member of Sylva First United Methodist Church. He was a son of the late Marcellus and Rebecca Cathey Buchanan.

Surviving are his wife, Jane Poteet Buchanan; one son, Marcellus Buchanan IV of Hayesville; one daughter, Christina Buchanan Matheson of Sylva; one brother, Francis Buchanan of Hendersonville; four grandchildren; and two stepgrandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Oxford Orphanage, c/o Dillsboro Masonic Lodge 459, P.O. Box 181, Webster, N.C. 28768.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.