Obituaries: 10/28/99

Jeanelle Coulter Moore

Jeanelle Coulter Moore, 88, died Wednesday, Oct. 20, at Springmoor Retirement Center in Raleigh. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. at Edenton Street United Methodist Church on Friday, Oct. 22. Burial was at Oakwood Cemetery.

A former resident of Ridgeway Street in Sylva, she was born in Pikeville, Tenn. She earned her AB degree at Western Carolina University, and in 1933 married Daniel Killian Moore, later governor of North Carolina and associate justice of the N.C. Supreme Court.

She created the Executive Mansion Fine Arts Committee to preserve and maintain the state Executive Mansion, a project which has continued from 1965 to the present. She left her mark on the "Gingerbread House" and turned it into the most beautiful mansion the state has ever seen.

During Holy Week in 1966 she launched a project to raise money through the N.C. Federation of Women's Clubs to build the Chapel of the Nameless Woman on the grounds of Women's Prison in Raleigh. Prior to that time, no facilities existed for worship or teaching at the Women's Prison.

She was associated with the N.C. School of the Arts since her husband was governor. She served on the Foundation board of directors as a member of the executive committee and as a member emeritus. In 1996, she received the School's Giannini Society Award, the school's highest honor.

After leaving the Governor's Mansion, she continued her lifetime of public service as a trustee of the N.C. Museum of Art, the board of advisors of Meredith College and many other public service activities. In 1980, she and her husband were the joint recipients of the N.C. Award for Public Service, the highest award that can be conferred by the state of North Carolina. She became chairman of Keep North Carolina Beautiful and was responsible for the program for Highway Beautification, which seeds the highways of North Carolina with wildflowers.

Surviving are one daughter, Edith Hamilton of Shelby; one son, Dan K. Moore Jr. of Lexington; three grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the Jeanelle C. Moore Scholarship in Dance, North Carolina School of the Arts, Development Office, 1533 S. Main St., Winston-Salem, N.C. 27127.

Leva Harris Frady

Leva Harris Frady, 79, of Sylva's East Fork Community, died Friday, Oct. 22, at Skyland Nursing Center after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 25, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home Chapel. The Revs. Cecil Frady and Eddie Deitz officiated. Burial was in East Fork Cemetery. Pallbearers were Harley, Hershel and Timothy Frady, Tim Frady Jr., Stephen Wright and Michael Harris.

A native of Jackson County, she was a homemaker and a member of East Fork Baptist Church. She was a daughter of the late Shuford and Dellie Hoxit Harris.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Frady Sr., who died in 1963; four sisters; five brothers; and a great-grandchild.

Surviving are one daughter, Gladys Melton of Sylva; four sons, George H. Frady Jr., Leon Frady, Paul Frady and Arnold Frady, all of Sylva; one sister, Sadie Brooks of Sylva; one brother, William "Bill" Harris of Pickens, S.C.; 10 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.

Charles William Stewart

Charles William Stewart, 88, of Cope Creek Road, Sylva, died Wednesday, Oct. 20, at his residence.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 23, at First United Methodist Church of Sylva, where he was a member. The Rev. Joe Fulk officiated. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens.

A native of Macon County and resident of Jackson County since 1941, he was the son of the late William G. and Minnie Addington Stewart. He was the husband of the late Bess Norton Stewart.

He retired as superintendent of production and maintenance for Nantahala Power and Light Co. in Sylva after 40 years. He was a founding director, former chairman and trustee emeritus of Harris Regional Hospital; former member of the Jackson County Board of Education; a Rotarian; and a Mason.

Surviving are one daughter, Quincy S. Inman of Greenville, S.C.; one granddaughter; and two great grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Sylva First United Methodist Church, Sylva, N.C., 28779; or the Harris Regional Hospital Foundation, 68 Hospital Road, Sylva, NC 28779. Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Svea A. Elice Rohner

Svea A. Elice Rohner, 95, of Mountain Trace Nursing Center, died Sunday, Oct. 24, at the center in Webster after a period of declining health.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today (Thursday) in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Rev. Stanley Messer will officiate. Burial will be in Cullowhee Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be William, Kenneth, and James Evans, Garry and Gregg Barker, Howard and Stephen Rohner and Phillip Woody.

A native of Sweden, she had lived in Jackson County since 1991. She was a member of the Evangelical Free Church. Daughter of the late August and Augusta Anderson, she was a homemaker.

Surviving are three daughters, Evelyn Marie Wyant of Freeport, Ill., Grace Alice Evans of Canton, Mich., and Esther Kathleen Barker of Cullowhee; two sons, Howard Leroy Rohner of West Haven, Conn., and Stephen Rohner of Palatine, Ill.; eight grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandson.

Memorials may be made to Gideons International, c/o the Gideon Memorial Bible Chairman, 80 W. Sylva Shopping Area, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Ruth Ann White Rogers, 57,

Ruth Ann White Rogers, 57, of Highway 64 West, Cashiers, died Sunday, Oct. 24, at her residence after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 26, in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Revs. Johnny Norris and Rex Rich officiated. Burial was in Riverview Cemetery in Franklin. Pallbearers were Hank and Phil Rogers and Kelly, Scott, Michael and Steve White.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a member of Seventh Day Adventist Church. She was the daughter of Viola Bradley White of Cashiers and the late Henry H. White.

Surviving are her husband, Phillip "Alex" Rogers; and four brothers, John White, Hal White, Lyle White and William White, all of Cashiers.

John William "Bill" Ensley Sr.,

John William "Bill" Ensley Sr., Fontana Road, Bryson City, died Friday, Oct. 22, at Swain County Hospital after an extended illness.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, Oct. 25, at First Baptist Church, where he was a member. The Revs. Tom Harris and John Tagliarini officiated. Burial was in Swain Memorial Park. Pallbearers were Danny Kitchens, Robert White, Bobby Marr, Gary Reece, Bill Ensley III, Kevin Ensley, Felton Stephens and Tom Weaver.

A native and lifelong resident of Swain County, he was a retired teacher and football coach with a career spanning 36 years. A graduate of Lenior-Rhyne College, he was a son of the late Dennis Harrison and Nora Lee Ensley.

He was preceded in death by one son, James Dennis Ensley; two brothers, Tommy and Bobby Ensley; three sisters, Georgia Belle Sawyer, Jessie Sue Ensley and Margaret Pedersen; and one great-grandson.

Surviving are his wife of 60 years, Glenna Hall Ensley; three sons, John William Ensley Jr. of Knoxville, Tenn., Thomas D. Ensley of Fletcher, and George E. Ensley of King; one daughter, Bobbie Sue Ensley-Smiley of Bryson City; two brothers, James McCracken and Charles Richard "Dick" Ensley, both of Bryson City; eight grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.

Gayle Willits Bommer, 81,

Gayle Willits Bommer, 81, of Mountain Trace Nursing Center, died Sunday, Oct. 24, at Harris Regional Hospital.

A memorial service was held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 26, at First United Methodist Church. The Rev. Joe Fulk and Brian Cagle officiated. Burial was at Fairview Memorial Gardens.

A native of Perkins, Okla., he was a resident of Florida for most of his life before retiring to Cullowhee in 1982. He was a member of Sylva First United Methodist Church.

He was retired from the Dixie Supply Co. in Florida after 30 years. He was the husband of Alice Bommer, who died Sept. 15, and the son of the late Soloman K. and Mable W. Bommer. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Nancy Butts.

Surviving are two sons, Tom Bommer of Cullowhee and Steve Bommer of Palm Bay, Fla.; two daughters, Linda Neumann of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Patty Self of Hollywood, Fla.; 13 grandchildren; and seven great grandchildren. Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.