Obituaries: 11/18/99

Eula Bradley

Eula Brooks Bradley, 84, of Canton, died Thursday, Nov. 11, at Silver Bluff Nursing Home. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, at Beulah Baptist Church. The Rev. Virgil Holloway officiated. Burial was in Old Savannah Baptist Church Cemetery in Sylva. Pallbearers were Ralph Callahan, Dowdy Bradley, Ray Bradley, Joe Sharpe, Bill Dayton, Ricky Burgess, Bob Cheek and Keith Stafford.

A native of Jackson County, she had lived in Haywood and Buncombe counties. Daughter of the late Sam and Polly Dills Brooks, she was a retired sales clerk and a member of Beulah Baptist Church, where she was a lifelong member of the choir.

She was preceded in death by her husband, George Bradley, who died in 1984. Surviving are two sons, Sam Bradley of Canton and Bob Bradley of Forest City; six grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren. Memorials may be made to Beulah Baptist Church, 483 Sunset Circle, Canton, N.C. 28716.

Hyman Sutton

Hyman D. Sutton, 90, of Sylva, formerly of Waynesville, died Sunday, Nov. 14, at Mountain Trace Nursing Center. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Nov. 17, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. John Reid officiated. Burial was in Old Savannah Cemetery.

A native of Jackson County, he was a retired chef and worked in restaurants in Florida, Colorado, Nebraska and Washington. He was a veteran of World War II, serving in the Army Air Corps. He was the last surviving child of Daniel G. and Palestine Green Sutton.

Surviving are several nieces and nephews. Memorials may be made to United Christian Ministry, Skyland Drive, Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Zane D. Robinson

Zane D. Robinson, 71, of Rufus Robinson Road, Dillsboro, died Saturday, Nov. 13, at Harris Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 16, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Rick Wood, Danny Howard, Kenny Deitz, Brent Rhinehart, Junior Moses and Bruce Stiles.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was the son of the late Russell and Hester Styles Robinson. He was a former construction worker, tire shop serviceman and veteran of the U.S. Army. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Angela Robinson Cole. Surviving are his wife, Geraldine Deitz Robinson; and one sister, Roberta Manning of Sylva.

Doris Avery

Doris Collins Avery, 75, of Cashiers, died Friday, Nov. 12, at Highlands-Cashiers Hospital after an extended illness.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 14, at Cashiers Baptist Church. The Revs. Johnny Norris and Eddie Stillwell officiated. Burial was in Upper Zachary Cemetery.

A native of Salem, S.C., she was a member of Heady Mountain Baptist Church and daughter of the late Waddy and Bethany Guinn Collins.

Surviving are her husband, Carl F. Avery; one daughter, Carolyn Stiwinter of Cullowhee; three sons, Ralph Rice of Franklin, G.F. Rice and David Lee Rice, both of Brevard; one stepson, Craig F. Avery of Memphis, Tenn.; two sisters, Hannah Collins of Walhalla, S.C., and Ruby Gindville of Chicago, Ill.; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

David Parris

David Allen Parris of Altamonte, Fla., died after an extended illness. He was the grandson of the late William R. Henson. He was preceded in death by his mother, Grace Henson Tuttle, and one son.

Surviving are his wife, Sharon Parris; one daughter, Amy; one son, Dana; two half-brothers, Larry Parris of Sylva and Eddie Parris of Cullowhee; one sister, Mary Ann of Illinois; and two brothers, Ron and Jim Tuttle, both of Illinois.

Ernest Coggins

Ernest Monroe Coggins, 61, of Hampton, Va., formerly of Cullowhee, died unexpectedly Monday, Nov. 8, in Santara Hampton General Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 13, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Everett Wilson officiated. Burial was in Fall Cliff Cemetery. Pallbearers were Harry and Kelly Potts, Mickey Wilkes, Sam Painter, Laura Painter, Avery Brown and Lee Gilliand.

A native of Jackson County, he had lived in Hampton, Va., for the past 39 years. He retired in 1999 as a school teacher from Benjamin Syms Middle School in Hampton, Va., after 38 years of service. He was the son of the late Harley Thomas Coggins and Bell Wilkes Coggins.

Surviving are five sisters, Katherine Potts of Marysville, Wash., Stella Parker of Tuckasegee, Ruby Coggins, Ruth Wilson and Kim Poteet, all of Cullowhee.

William Wilkie

William Clyde Wilkie of Newnan, Ga., died Tuesday, Nov. 16, at Tanner Hospital in Carolton, Ga., following a period of declining health.

No formal service will be conducted at this time. A memorial service is planned for a later date. He was a retired veteran of 24 years, serving in Germany during World War II and Korea during the Korean Conflict. He held the rank of sergeant and was of the Baptist faith.

Surviving are his wife, Phyliss Wilkie; one son, Tony Wilkie of Lincolnton; three brothers, Jack Wilkie of Piedmont, S.C., Earl Wilkie of Danielsville, Ga., and Tony Wilkie of Whittier; and three sisters, Gertrude McDaniel of Myrtle Beach, S.C., Lucy Weaver of Gastonia and Jean Allen of Whittier.

Claude Fore

Claude "Ed" Fore, 82, died Wednesday, Nov. 10, at his home in Lyman, Wash. Funeral services were held Saturday, Nov. 13, at the Lemley Chapel in Sedro-Woolley, Wash. The Rev. Eleanor Rietkerk of Mill Creek Community Church officiated.

Graveside services followed with the Rev. Ron Schenk of Lyman Baptist Church officiating. Military honors were performed by George Baldridge Post American Legion.

A native of Sylva, he was a son of the late Horace and Fannie Houston Fore. He was a resident of Lyman, Wash., for the past 52 years. He worked as a brakeman on the railroad, a logger and as a carpenter for the Bureau of Indian Affairs for seven years. He served with the U.S. Army during World War II and was a member of Lyman Baptist Church and the Wildcat Steelhead Club.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Vera Parker Fore, who died in 1998; one brother, Carl, and two sisters, Geneva and Edna.

Surviving are three daughters, Libby Bistodeau of Kenmore, Wash., Kay Hanson-Bray and Claudia Figurski, both of Sedro-Woolley; two sons, Tony Fore of Bothell, Wash., and Ron Fore of Sedro-Woolley; one sister, Stella Stephens of North Carolina; 12 grandchildren; and 12 great-grandchildren. Memorials are suggested to Skagit Hospice.

Hazel Welch

Hazel Wagner Welch, 81, of Salisbury, died Wednesday, Nov. 10, at Genesis Eldercare in Salisbury after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Friday, Nov. 12, at Main Street United Methodist Church in Salisbury. The Revs. William Ragsdale and Ronald Daub officiated. Burial was in Rowan Memorial Park in Salisbury.

A daughter of the late A.A. and Clara Barber Wagner, she received her education in Rowan County Schools. She was a homemaker and church organist, serving as the first staff organist for Lyerly Funeral Home. She was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church, the United Methodist Women and taught Sunday school.

Surviving are her husband, Albert Frederick Welch; one son, Frederick Michael Welch of Salisbury; two daughters, Pat Welch Allen of Tarboro and Terry Leigh Welch of Sylva; one sister, Mary Frances Lentz of Mt. Ulla; five grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.