Myrna Eloise Noble Oak, 92, of Asheville, North Carolina died at Givens Estates Health Center on November 7, 2019 surrounded by her loving family after a short illness. Born in Wilmington, Illinois on November 21, 1926, Myrna was the daughter of the late Walter and Doris (Hazelton) Noble.  In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Wayne L. Oak, and sister, Barbara (Noble) Russell. In her youth, she was a longtime member of 4-H where she learned...

Waynesville – Pody Hyatt, 91, passed away peacefully on December 2, 2019 surrounded by her loved ones. Pody was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County.  She was the daughter of the late Joseph Howell and Marguerite Sloan Way; in addition to her parents, Pody was preceded in death by three sisters; Marietta Campbell, Martha Barber, and Hilda Brown; and two brothers, Joseph Way, III and Charles Way.  Pody had several vocations over the course of her life, from high...

Hendersonville, Shirley Josephine Smith Dowdle, 83, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, November 29, 2019. She was the daughter of the late Harrison "H.B." and Tinnie May Smith.  In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her loving husband, of 58 years, Thad Dowdle; and ten brothers and sisters, of which she was the baby.  Shirley grew up in the Upper Crabtree Community and was a 1954 graduate from Crabtree Iron Duff School.  She stayed in the...

Canton – Jack Howard Reynolds, 80, passed away peacefully on Monday, December 2, 2019 at his residence. Jack was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County and a son of the late Jess James and Ellamae Summey Reynolds.  In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a son, Anthony Howard “Tony” Reynolds; and two brothers, C.J. and Pastor Ted Reynolds.  Jack served in the United States Army National Guard and Air Guard.  He retired from Champion...

Canton – Peggy Burnette Erwin, 93, passed away on Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at Spicewood Cottages in Clyde. Peggy was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County and a daughter of the late Ellis Fulton and Terry Smathers Burnette.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 66 years, Robert Harmon Erwin, who died in 2013; three brothers, Fulton, Howard, and J. Max Burnette; a sister, Mary Wright; and a daughter-in-law, Ernestine Reeves Erwin, who...

Waynesville, Nancy Lee Wheeler, age 85, passed away peacefully on Sunday, December 1, 2019 at Maggie Valley Nursing Home & Rehabilitation. A native of Haywood County, she was a daughter of the late John and Amy Greenwood Lee.  In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, William Albert Wheeler, who died in 2008; two daughters, Temprell Cannon and Kymbraly Cox; three sisters, Dorothy Dorsett, Virginia Cullins and Amy Howard; a brother, John Hilliard Lee; a...

Maude Q. Rogers Canton – Maude Queen Rogers, 98, passed away on Sunday, December 1, 2019 at Silver Bluff Nursing Home. Maude was born weighing only two pounds on June 29, 1921 in the logging village of Sunburst near present day Lake Logan. She was preceded in death by her parents, Harrison and Nina Reece Queen; her childhood sweetheart and husband of 60 years, the Reverend Lucious Jay Rogers; a son, Master Gunnery Sergeant Lucious Steve Rogers of the United States Marine Corp; three...

Waynesville, Ollie Mae Jenkins Morgan, age 86, passed away on Tuesday, November 26, 2019 at Autumn Care of Waynesville. A native and lifelong resident of Haywood County, she was a daughter of the late Oliver Parker and Vinnie Davis Jenkins.  In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, James Clifton Morgan who died in 2004; a son, Larry C. Morgan; and she was the last living of eleven children.  She was a member of Fairview Baptist Church.  Ollie...

Canton – Doyle James King, 78, passed away on Friday, November 29, 2019 at his home surrounded by his family. Doyle was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County and was the son of the late Kelly Jefferson and Euphia Robinson King. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Doug King. Doyle was a 1960 graduate of Canton High School, a former employee of NCI where he retired after 30 years of service, and subsequently an employee of Champion International...

Maggie Valley, Roberta "Joan" (Mitchell) Rubenacker, 82 years old, was serenaded by angels up to God’s throne as she passed away peacefully in her sleep Thursday, November 21, 2019, in Maggie Valley. She had long standing health challenges to which she never complained and fought like a warrior. Her final days were spent surrounded by family and friends.  Joan was born in Enfield, IL, May 20, 1937 and lived in the farmlands of Southern Illinois with her parents and...