Alaska Presley

Maggie Valley – Alaska Holland Presley, 98, passed away on Thursday, April 7, 2022, at Smoky Mountain Health and Rehabilitation.

Alaska was born on September 23, 1923, in the Rainbow Springs Community of Macon County to the late Benjamin and Lula Russell Holland.  In death, Alaska joins her infant daughter Jaudon Suella Presley; two brothers, Clell and Wilson Holland; two sisters, Dallas Mathis and Grace Rhinehart; and her niece, Pat Messer.

Alaska and her husband operated Presley’s Motor Court and Cafeteria along with Presley’s Campground.  In their early years, they also operated a dry cleaner business in Canton.  Alaska was an accomplished realtor and developed property in Prescott Park in Maggie Valley and Florida.  Alaska was most proud of owning Ghost Town in the Sky, which she still owned at her death.  She and her husband, Hubert, helped R.B. Coburn develop Ghost Town from the very beginning.  Her desire was to see a cross erected on Buck Mountain at Ghost Town, the love of her life.  Alaska’s parents and siblings all had businesses in Maggie Valley and were pioneers in establishing the town as a tourist destination in the 1950s.

Left to cherish her memory are her nephew, Charles Holland, and his wife, Barbara, of Waynesville; great-nieces, Patti Messer Tucker, and her husband, Keith, Kim Holland Cutshaw, and her husband, Jeff, and Jill Holland McClure, and her husband, Ronnie; great-nephew, Kevin Messer, and his wife, Rhonda; four great-great-nephews, including Nathan Cutshaw, whom she was close to; and two great-great nieces.  Alaska also leaves behind two very close friends, Frankie Wood and Rose Prince.  The family would also like to give special thanks to Alaska’s friend and caretaker, Kim Smith Brock.

Graveside services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 10, 2022, at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Park with Reverend Erma Bond and Deputy Randy Jenkins officiating.  The family will receive friends from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 p.m. at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville, prior to the graveside service.

The care of Ms. Presley has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes of Waynesville.