Obituaries - 12/23/99

Scroop Enloe Jr.

Scroop Wesley Enloe Jr., 98, of Rogers St., Spruce Pine, died Tuesday, Dec. 14, at Spruce Pine Community Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 17, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home in Sylva. The Rev. Joe Fulk officiated. Burial was in the Keener Cemetery.

A native of Jackson County he was raised in Dillsboro. He was the son of the late Scroop W. Enloe Sr. and Mary Stedman Enloe. He was also a former resident of Ahoskie, and New York City, but had been a resident of Spruce Pine for the past 55 years.

He was a textile engineer, graduate of Georgia Tech and was a pitcher for four years on the Georgia Tech baseball team. He was the Gulf Distributor in Ahoskie, was employed by Allied Chemical Company in New York, and retired as Vice President of Harris Clay Company in Spruce Pine.

While living in Spruce Pine, he held a variety of positions with local and state organizations, including the Kiwanis Club and served on the board of the State of North Carolina Department of Development and Conservation. He became a member of the board of the Mitchell County Savings and Loan Association in 1957 and served as president from 1965 until 1995. He was a member of Spruce Pine United Methodist Church.

He was the husband of the late Hattie Cross Enloe. Surviving is one sister, Anne Enloe of Sylva. Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Ernest Phillips

Ernest J. Phillips Jr., 80, of Old Settlement Road, Sylva, died Wednesday, Dec. 15, at Harris Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, in the chapel of Moody Funeral Home. The Rev. David Fambrough officiated. Burial was in Cullowhee Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jimmy Cowan, Brian Gregg, Chip Hall, Lee Roy Hall, Jim Davis and Jamie Davis.

He was a native of Cherokee County and a resident of Jackson County for the past 15 years. He was the son of the late Ernest Jake Sr. and Ethel Ledford Phillips. As a member of the Flying Tigers during World War II, he served in the China, Burma and India Theater.

He attended N.C. State and graduated from Western Carolina Teacher¹s College with a bachelor of science degree in science and physical education. He received a master¹s degree in school administration and physical education and a master¹s degree in biology from George Peabody College of Vanderbilt University.

He was a physical education director of draper Elementary School and assisted in coaching football, basketball and baseball for a year at Draper High School. For several years he taught biology and became assistnat principal of the former Gastonia High School. He served as princiapl of the former Arlington Junion High school and the former Wray Junior High School. Following consolidation in 1970, he became principal of Ashley Junior High, serving there until his retiremnt in 1981. He was a member of the North Carolina Association of Educators and the North Carolina Retired School Personnel and was active in civic affairs, including the Optimist Club. He moved to Jackson County in 1985.

He was preceded in death by his sister, Ruth Davenport. Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Mary Alice Cowan Phillips of the home; one son, Ernest Jake Phillips III of Roanoke, Va.; and one sister, Elizabeth Williams of Andrews.

Mary Taylor

Mary Bigwitch Taylor, 67, of the Blue Wing community, Cherokee, died Wednesday, Dec. 15, at her residence.

Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. Friday, Dec. 17, at Cherokee Pentecostal Holiness Church, where she was a member. The Rev. George Polecat officiated. Burial was at the Blue Wing Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was retired from The Cherokees. She was the daughter of the late Charlie and Rosa Driver Bigwitch and wife of the late John B. Taylor.

Surviving are three sons, Marvin Taylor, Elisha Taylor and Ricky Taylor; one adopted son, George Polecat, all of Cherokee; three daughters, Sallie Arch, Rose Salazar, and Nannie Hornbuckle, all of Cherokee; two brothers, Jim Bigwitch and Jackson Bigwitch, also of Cherokee; 11 grandchildren and three great- grandchildren.

Moody Funeral Home in Sylva was in charge of arrangements.

Charles Sutton II

Charles Sutton II, 72, of East Moline, Ill., formerly of Rock Falls, died Friday, Dec. 17, at his home after an extended illness.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 22, at Wheelock-Allen Funeral Home in Rock Falls. The Rev. Samuel Grzybek of First Church of the Open Bible, Waterloo, Iowa, officiated.

A native of Gastonia, he was the son of the late Charles Sutton Sr. and Eunice Hagler Sutton. He was employed by Northwestern Steel and Wire Co. for many years prior to his retirement. His memberships abroad included the American Bowling Congress for 18 years and the United Steel Workers Union for 28 years. He was a member of the Calvary Church of East Moline. He completed cardiac rehabilitation at Illini Hospital and received a diploma for it.

He was preceded in death by one brother, John Ray; and one sister, Vivian Carpenter.

Surviving are his wife of 51 years, Wanda, of East Moline; three sons, Charles Sutton III, Dale Sutton and Job Sutton; three daughters, Ginger Hanson, Vicky Grzybek and Sheila Sutton; three brothers, Boyd Sutton, Neil Sutton and R.C. Sutton; 15 grandchildren; and nine great-grandchildren.

A memorial has been established in his name.

Ada Crawford

Ada Stewart Crawford, 86, of the Pine Creek community of Cullowhee, died Thursday, Dec. 16, at her residence.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, at Pine Creek Baptist Church. The Revs. Wesley Hooper and Johnny Norris officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery.

A native of Jackson County, she was a daughter of the late Jacob Stewart and Palestine Leopard Stewart. She retired in 1978 from Western Carolina University where she worked in food services. She was a charter member of Pine Creek Baptist Church. Pallbearers were Bill Griffis, Homer Stewart, Bill Stewart, John Lee Tucker, Eugene Rogers and Charles Edwards.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Willie Crawford who died in 1971; two daughters, Genett and Opalee Crawford; and one great-grandson.

Surviving are three daughters, Helen Holmes, Marvita Leopard, both of Cullowhee and Laverne Shepherd of Franklin; two sons, Ray Crawford of Cullowhee and Samuel Crawford of Tuckasegee; one sister, Ruby Derossett of Baltimore, Md.; 12 grandchildren; and 17 great-grandchildren.

Leon Frady

Leon Clayton Frady, 57, of the East Fork community, Sylva, died Saturday, Dec. 18, in Harris Regional Hospital after a brief illness.

Funeral services were held at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Revs. Cecil Frady, Brian Bishop and Clifford Parker officiated. Burial was at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 22, at East Fork Cemetery.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a logger, prison guard, and brick mason. He was a member of East Fork Baptist Church and a son of the late George and Leva Harris Frady.

Surviving are one daughter, Teresa Lynn Frady of Arizona; two sons, Harley and Herschel Frady, both of Florida; three brothers, George, Paul and Arnold Frady, all of Sylva; one sister, Gladys Melton of Sylva; and 11 grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to East Fork Cemetery Fund c/o Carlin Cabe 2224 East Fork Road Sylva, N.C. 28779.

Daisie Cabe

Daisie Cabe, 83, Of Roscoe Lewis Road, Sylva, died Sunday, Dec.19, at her residence after an extended illness.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Revs. Eddie Stillwell, Ray McCall and Cecil Frady officiated. Burial was in Stillwell Cemetery. Pallbearers were Danny Green, Chad Cabe, Lance Bristol, Doug Deitz and Bobby Carmon.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a homemaker. She was a daughter of the late Anise and Ida Buchanan Frady.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Arthur Cabe, who died in 1995.

Surviving are four daughters, Jewel Sutton of Dillsboro, Mary Murray of Mars Hill, Ruby Crisp and Gladys Cabe, both of Sylva; one son, Eddie Cabe of Sylva; three sisters, Beulah Cabe of Sylva, Grace Cooper of Clyde and Ann Miller of California; 12 grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Hospice 132 Sylva Plaza Sylva, N.C. 28779 or Stillwell Cemetery Fund, c/o Edna Lewis 25 Monroe Buchanan Road Sylva, N.C. 28779

Opal Ramsey

Opal Burgin Ramsey, 79, of Marion, died Friday, Dec. 17, at the McDowell Nursing Center. Funeral services were held at noon Tuesday, Dec. 21, in Westmoreland Chapel. The Rev. Mike Holder officiated. Burial was in Oak Grove Cemetery.

Born in Old Fort, she was the daughter of the late Horace A. Burgin and Carrie Elliott Burgin and the wife of the late Dr. Kenneth Winfield Ramsey. She was an active member of the First United Methodist Church of Marion, a homemaker and a volunteer with the Red Cross.

Surviving are two sons, Wylie Nelson Ramsey and Dr. Barry Winfield Ramsey, both of Winston-Salem; and a sister-in-law, Meg Ramsey of Sylva.

Memorial donations may be made to the First United Methodist Church, 511 Robert St., Marion, N.C. 28752.

Theda Trantham

Theda Middleton Trantham, 59, of Virgo Road, Tuckasegee, died Sunday, Dec. 19, at her residence after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, at Cedar Baptist Church, of which she was a member. The Revs. Joe Burch, Eugene Crawford and Lionel Parris officiated. Burial was in Middleton Cemetery. Pallbearers were James Jones, Jason Middleton, Shannon Middleton, Pat Mason, Stacey Middleton and Corey Middleton.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, she was a daughter of Robert Middleton of Tuckasegee and the late Lucy Watson Middleton, who died in 1998.

She was preceded in death by one sister, Selma Jean Jones.

Surviving are her husband, David Trantham; one daughter, Theda Anne Kiegel of Sylva; one stepdaughter, Danielle Trantham of Salem, S.C.; two sons, Herman Dean Frizzell of Fort Worth, Texas, and Greg Frizzell of Cullowhee; one stepson, Jerry Trantham of the home; three sisters, Robinette Crawford of Tuckasegee, Deloise Burch of Sylva, and Edria Heffner of Tuckasegee; two brothers, Duane Middleton and Alden Middleton, both of Tuckasegee; and five grandchildren.

Melton Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Iva Rogers

Iva Lee Hyatt Rogers, 85, of Rogers Road, Franklin, died Sunday, Dec. 19, in a Haywood County Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, in the chapel of Bryant Funeral Home. The Rev. Mark Bishop officiated. Burial was in Zion Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers were Bobby, Danny, Larry and Stacy Rogers, Matt and Alex Cabe.

A native of Jackson County, she was a daughter of the late Rena and Victoria Collins Hyatt. She was the widow of Frank M. Rogers, who died in 1984, a homemaker and a member of Zion Hill Baptist Church.

Surviving are one daughter, Reatha Rogers Cabe of Waynesville; one son, Stevie Rogers of Franklin; and four grandchildren.

Lucy Buchanan

Lucy Buchanan, 74, of Highway U.S. 441, Sylva, died Tuesday, Dec. 21, at her residence.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home will announce arrangements.

Danner Flynn

Danner Douglas Flynn, infant son of Brian and Doris Hoyle Flynn of Whiterock Road, Cullowhee, died Wednesday, Dec. 15, at Harris Regional Hospital. Private services will be held.

Surviving, in addition to the parents, are one sister, Becky Phillips of the home; one brother, C.J. Fortner of the home; maternal grandparents, Lenord and Georgia Hoyle of Sylva; paternal grandmother and step grandfather, Jeanne and Robert Paquin of Sylva; paternal grandfather, Patrick Flynn of Florida; paternal great-grandparents, Douglas and Mary Schmokel of Florida.

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Richard Powell

Richard H. Powell, 54, of the Wolfetown community, Cherokee, died Friday, Dec. 17, in Cherokee Hospital.

Graveside services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, in Powell Family Cemetery. Diane Welch officiated.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a son of the late Homer and Fannie Oocumma Powell.

He was preceded in death by three brothers, John Edward Oocumma Powell, Joseph and Phillip Powell; and one sister, Jean Powell.

Surviving are two daughters, Lora and Velva Powell, both of Cherokee; two brothers, Jackie Powell of Cherokee and Russell ³Frankie² Powell of Oklahoma; two sisters, Sarah A. Bradley and Little Sarah L. Bradley, both of Cherokee; and two granddaughters.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Leonard Wolfe

Leonard D. Wolfe, 40, of Gatlinburg, Tenn., died Thursday, Dec. 16, in the Baptist Hospital in Newport, Tenn.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 18, at the Church of Christ. The Rev. Gale Brantner officiated. Burial was at Soggy Hill Cemetery.

A native of Swain County and a resident of Gatlinburg, he was the son of Inez Wolfe of Cherokee and the late Ned Wesley Wolfe.

He was preceded in death by one sister, Edith Larain Santaigo.

Surviving, in addition to his mother, are one son, Leonard D. Wolfe II of Cherokee; one daughter, Victoria Marie Wolfe of Cherokee; two brothers, Darrell Wolfe of Knoxville, Tenn., and Eric Wolfe of Cherokee; and three sisters, Sharon Wolfe, Vicki Driver and Janet Wildcatt, all of Cherokee.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Ralph Hyatt

Ralph Love "R.L." Hyatt, 50, of Cat Creek Road, Franklin, died Saturday, Dec. 18, in Sylva.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Dec. 21, at Zion Hill Baptist Church. The Revs. Eddie Stillwell, Keith Ashe and Mark Bishop officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were Andrew Mashburn, Dale Ridley, Ronnie Webb, Bobby Rogers, Jimmy Miller, Alvin Johnson, R.V. Johnson and Roger Bishop.

A native of Jackson County, he was a son of Dortha Green Hyatt and the late Perry R. Hyatt. He was a builder and attended Zion Hill Baptist Church.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Geraldine and Rachael Hyatt. Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his wife of 18 years, Shirley Woodard Hyatt; one daughter, Laura Ashley Hyatt of the home; one brother, Harold Hyatt of Warthen, Ga.; and three sisters, Linda Hall and Cathy Raso, both of Kennesaw, Ga., and Wanda Bradley of Sylva.

Memorials may be made to Zion Hill Baptist Church Cemetery Fund c/o Lisa Wilson.

Charles Ashling

Charles Donald "Don" Ashling, 86, of Sylva died Monday, Dec. 20, after a short illness.

A memorial service will be held at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 28, in the chapel of First Baptist Church of Jonesboro, Ga. The family will receive friends and family beginning at 3:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the First Presbyterian Church of Sylva.

He was a building contractor and owner/operator of the Coral Roc Mobile Home estate community in the Miami-Homestead, Fla., area. He was the widow of Dorothy Louise Ashling. The Ashlings were long-time residents of Sylva.

Surviving are two daughters, Carol Ellsworth and Donna Stuart; and two grandchildren, all of the Atlanta area.

Moody Funeral Home is handling local arrangements.

Charles Curtis Jr.

Charles Hastings Curtis Jr. of Nichol Road, Sylva, died Thursday, Dec. 16, at Harris Regional Hospital.

No memorial service is planned at this time.

A native of Massachusetts, he was a resident of Jackson County for 15 years and was a veteran of World War II.

Moody Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Harold Chester

Harold Chester, 72, of Dillard Road, Sylva, died Thursday, Dec. 16, at his residence after an extended illness.

A memorial service was held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 19, in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Rev. Harry Vance officiated. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens.

A native and lifelong residence of Jackson County, he retired from Chrysler Motors. A son of the late D.M. and Etta Legg Chester, he was a member of Long Branch Baptist Church.

Surviving are his wife, Edna Jones Chester; two sons, Charles Harold Chester Jr. of Bryson City and Gary Chester of Sylva; two sisters, Charmie Cooper of Sylva and Dorothy Allman of Webster; two brothers, Morris Chester of Candler and Lawrence Chester of Sylva; four grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

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

Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Charles Middleton Jr.

Charles "Charlie" Middleton Jr., 59, of Reed Road, Sylva, died Tuesday, Dec. 21, in Harris Regional Hospital after a period of declining health.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Dec. 24, in the chapel of Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Rev. Carl Adams will officiate. Burial will be in Fairview Memorial Gardens.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was the store manager at the Sylva A & P. He was a son of the late Charles Sr. and Annie Laura Powell Middleton.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Carolyn Revis Middleton, who died in 1981.

Surviving are one daughter, Susan Middleton of the home; one son, Chuck Middleton of Sylva; one sister, June Buchanan of Canton; and one brother, Franklin D. Middleton of Warren, Ohio.

The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. tonight (Thursday) at the funeral home.