Obituary Information

The Sylva Herald prints obituaries free of charge as a service to readers.

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 - 08/02/01

Oran Almand

Almand

Oran Dean Almand, 68, of Bryson City's Deep Creek community, died Sunday, July 22, 2001, in Harris Regional Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Thursday, July 26, at Bryson City First Baptist Church, of which he was a member. The Rev. John Tagliarini officiated. Burial was in the family cemetery. Pallbearers were John Maddox, Paul Breedlove, Bobby Valdez, Leonard Hedden, Bill Patton and John Seay.

A native of Florida and longtime resident of Tampa, Fla., he was most recently a resident of Swain County. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army, serving during the Korean War.

A graduate of Stetson University with a major in music, he served as a music director in various churches. He retired from the U.S. Postal Service and as a National Park Service volunteer.

Surviving are his wife, Margaret Almand; one son, Blake Almand of Pensacola, Fla.; one daughter, Cynthia Almand of Fresno, Calif.; three stepchildren, Neal Wilson of Cape Coral, Fla., Karen Faught and Derron Wilson, both of Bryson City; two brothers, Marvin Almand of Thonotosassa, Fla., and Norman Almand of Temple Terrace, Fla.; one sister, Martha Scharr of Midland, Texas; 15 step grandchildren; and two step great-grandchildren.

Bill Moody Funeral Home in Bryson City was in charge of arrangements.

Henry Lofquist Jr.

Lofquist

Henry Victor Lofquist Jr., 74, of Cullowhee died Friday, July 27, 2001, after a brief illness.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, July 30, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Rev. Stanley Bennett of Spruce Pine officiated. Burial was in Fairview Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were William Lofquist, Dr. David Gutterman, Bob Zelinski, John Kantz, Merton Cregger, Martin Shaw, Albert Wilson and John Chandler.

Born in Brookhaven, Miss., he was the son of the late Henry Victor Lofquist and Kathryn Warthen Lofquist. He received his bachelor of arts degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and his master of arts degree from Columbia University New York City.

He was organist at First Presbyterian Church in Asheville for 20 years and a professor of music at Western Carolina University for 25 years, retiring in 1990. He was also an avid woodworker.

Surviving are his wife, Eleanor White Lofquist; one son, Victor White Lofquist of Cullowhee; three daughters, Elizabeth Ann Gutterman of Milwaukee, Katheryn Pierce Kantz of Lanesville, Ind., and Rebecca Warthen Zelinski of Charlotte; two brothers, George Warthen Lofquist of Swannanoa and William Augustus Lofquist of Tucson, Ariz.; one sister, Elizabeth Lofquist Wilkerson of Greenville, N.C.; and five grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the charity of one's choice.

Robert Bushyhead, Cherokee linguist, dies at 86

Bushyhead

The Rev. Robert H. Bushyhead, 86, of Cherokee, died Saturday, July 28, 2001, in Cherokee Indian Hospital.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 31, in Whittier United Methodist Church. The Rev. Dr. Ben Bushyhead and the Rev. Hal Finney officiated. Burial was in Birdtown Cemetery. Pallbearers were Buck Condill, Garfield Long, Barry Hipps, Jeremy Doan, Allen Smith and Ed Sharp. Honorary Pallbearers were Ty Bushyhead Boyd, David Bushyhead II, Deweese Bushyhead and Don Brown.

A native and lifelong resident of Cherokee, he was the son of the late Ben and Nancy Goings Bushyhead. He was a graduate of Carson Newman College. He was principal founder, linguist and historian for the Cherokee Language Project.

He was an ordained Southern Baptist minister and member of Whittier United Methodist Church. For 18 years he portrayed the character Elias Boudinot in the drama "Unto these Hills."

Surviving are his wife, Jean C. Tahquette Bushyhead; two daughters, Carol Doan of Edmonds, Wash., and Jean L. Bushyhead of Cherokee; three sons, the Rev. Dr. Ben Bushyhead of Bryson City and Eddie and David Bushyhead of Cherokee; and numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Memorial may be sent to Cherokee Children for Family Services, P.O. Box 507, Cherokee, N.C. 28719.

Moody Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Jackson Cordell

Jackson Lee Cordell, 82, of Wing Terrance, Deltona, Fla., died Monday, July 30, 2001, at Florida Hospital in Orange City.

A native of Cherokee, he moved to Florida in 1966 from West Virginia. He was a retired heavy equipment operator in the construction industry.

He was a life member of the VFW Post 8093 in DeBary, Longdale Masonic Lodge 14 in Lookout, W.Va., and Deltona High 12 Club. A U.S. Army veteran of World War II, he served with the 50th Army Organizational Unit.

Surviving are his wife, Evelyn S. Cordell; one son, Larry of Orlando, Fla.; one daughter, Jacqueline Green of Oviedo, Fla.; and three grandchildren.

Deltona Memorial Funeral Home in Orange City was in charge of arrangements.

Jimmy Welch

Jimmy Welch, 72, of Cherokee's Birdtown community, died Tuesday, July 24, 2001, in Mission St. Joseph's Health System after an extended illness.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Friday, July 27, at Bethabara Baptist Church, of which he was a member. The Revs. Roland Whitaker, Mitchell Smiley and Bo Parris officiated. Burial was in Welch Family Cemetery. Nephews served as pallbearers.

A native and lifelong resident of Swain County, he was the son of the late Pepps and Stacy Owl Welch.

He was preceded in death by several brothers and sisters.

He retired from The Cherokee's with 26 years of service, was a U.S. Army veteran of the Korean War and was an active participant in sports, coaching softball.

Surviving are his wife of 46 years, Bessie Bird Welch; one daughter, Agnes Welch of Cherokee; five sons, Henry, Scott, Allen, Kirby and June Welch, all of Cherokee; one sister, Ollie W. Owle of Cherokee; 18 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 925, Sylva, N.C. 28779; or American Diabetes Association, 3109 Poplarwood Court, Suite 125, Raleigh, N.C. 27604-1043. Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Florence Dillard

Florence Dillard, 102, of Sylva's Dillardtown community, died Saturday, July 28, 2001, in Skyland Care Center after an extended illness.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Monday, July 30, at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. J. Paul Christy officiated. Burial was in Dillard Cemetery. Pallbearers were Ben Dillard, Keith Lovedahl, Jesse Hall, Dale Reid and Earl Dowdle.

A native of Swain County, she lived most of her life in Jackson County. A member of Sylva First United Methodist Church, she was the daughter of the late Gilbert Golman and Teresa Cable Hall. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ferman Dillard.

Surviving are one son, Riley Birchfield of Sylva; one stepdaughter, Elizabeth Beck of Sylva; and two stepsons, Avery Dillard of Asheville and Ferman Dillard of Sylva.

Flora Austin

Flora Queen Austin, 76, of Skyland Drive, Sylva, died Saturday, July 28, 2001, in Skyland Care Center after a period of declining health.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, July 31, at Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church, of which she was a member. The Revs. Earl Holden and Jack Robinson officiated. Burial was in Love Cemetery. Pallbearers were Chris Brooks, Tommy Williamson, Robert Mills, Kelly Dendy and Chad and Mark Jordan.

She was born in Swain County and lived most all of her life in Jackson County. The daughter of the late Rufus and Launa Mathis Queen, she was also preceded in death by her husband, Clarence Austin, who died in 1985.

Surviving are three daughters, Kay Austin of Sylva and Brenda Nicholson and Rachel Jordan, both of Gastonia; four sons, Odis Austin of San Diego, Jim Austin of Waynesville, David Austin of Clayton, Ga., and Steven Austin of Sylva; one brother, Jack Queen of Sylva; 12 grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to Hospice, 68 Hospital Road, Sylva, N.C. 28779. Melton-Riddle Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Chiquita Palmer

Chiquita Faye Palmer, 63, of Sylva's Fisher Creek community, formerly of Murphy, died Saturday, July 28, 2001, in Harris Regional Hospital. The day was her 39th wedding anniversary. Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Tuesday, July 31, at Faith Baptist Church in Sylva, where she was a member. The Rev. Gene Hawkins officiated. Graveside rites and burial followed at noon in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens, Murphy. Pallbearers were Tim Thompson, Kevin Fox, Dennis Proffitt, Ron Kendrick, John Palmer and C.L. Proffitt.

A native of Dade County, Fla., she spent most of her life there before moving to Murphy in 1985, then to the Fisher Creek community in Sylva. She served as a school crossing guard, was an active member of Little League Baseball and a member of the North Miami Order of Rainbow for Girls.

Daughter of the late John Frederick and Darlene Bernice Specker Mensing, she was a U.S. Navy veteran.

She was preceded in death by her stepfather, Herbert Rogers; and one sister, Gloria Thompson. Surviving are her husband, Robert James Palmer; one son, John Robert Palmer of Winston-Salem; two sisters, Barbara Dowden and Karen Larche, both of Leesville, La.; and one granddaughter. Memorials may be made to Faith Baptist Church Building Fund, P.O. Box 3608, Cullowhee, N. C. 28723.

Townson Rose Funeral Home in Murphy was in charge of arrangements.

Duane Childers

Duane Howard Childers, 82, of Franklin and Salem, S.C., died Sunday, July 29, 2001, at his residence.

Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, at Pine Creek Baptist Church. The Revs. Johnny Norris and Phillip Kuykendall officiated. Burial was in the church cemetery. Pallbearers were Andy Lopatin, Jeffrey Childers, John Edward Bryson, Ronnie Childers, Jimmy Stewart, Jeffrey Stewart and Eldon Jamison. Richard Monteith, Vernon Fisher, Leighton Moss, Carl Stewart and Billy Stewart served as honorary pallbearers.

He was a native of Jackson County and a son of the late Van and Ernie Stewart Childers. He was a farmer, a member of Cedar Cliff Baptist Church, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a member of the Fox Hunters Association.

He was preceded in death by one son, David, and one daughter, Barbara. Surviving are his wife 55 years, Evelyn Bumgarner Childers; one daughter, Janice Rathbone of Maggie Valley; three sons, Dennis Childers of Salem, S.C., Jimmy Childers of Glenville and Tommy Childers of Salem, S.C.; two sisters, Alta Bryson and Irene Moses of Candler; four brothers, Clell Childers of Arden, Charlie Childers of Cullowhee, Lynn Childers of Whittier and Crayton Childers of Waynesville; six grandchildren; three stepgrandchildren; and one great-grandchild.

Memorials may be made to Glenville-Cashiers Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 911, Cashiers, N.C. 28717. Bryant Funeral Home in Highlands was in charge of arrangements.

Caroline Sneed

Caroline "Ine" Sneed of Cherokee died Monday, July 30, 2001, at Tsali Care Center. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. today (Thursday) at Cam Sneed Cemetery. The Rev. Merritt Youngdeer will officiate.

A lifelong resident of Cherokee, she was a daughter of the late Lee and Eve Wilnoty Maney. She was preceded in death by a infant son, Patrick; four brothers, John, Jake, Pete and Jess Maney; and two sisters, Mary and Alice.

Surviving are her husband of 66 years, Pat Sneed; three daughters, Mary Louise Welch, Patsy Lambert and Carla Ballew; one son, Skipper Sneed; 14 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.

The family was to have received friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, at Bill Moody Funeral Home in Bryson City.

Berlin Ashe

Berlin Ashe, 82, of Cullowhee, died Monday, July 30, 2001, in the VA Medical Center after a period of declining health.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today (Thursday) at Melton-Riddle Funeral Home. The Rev. Jim Ed Powell will officiate. Burial will be in Fairview Memorial Gardens with military rites conducted by Sylva American Legion Post 104.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a retired restaurant operator. Son of the late Mr. and Mrs. Elem Ashe, he was a U.S. Army veteran of World War II.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Lillian Shelton Ashe, who died in 1985; and one sister, Lela Arnette.

Surviving are one son, Arnold Ashe of Dillsboro; one brother, Louie Ashe of Darrington, Wash.; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.

Memorials may be made to the VA Medical Center, 1100 Tunnel Road, Asheville, N.C. 28805. The family was to have received friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 1, at the funeral home.