Obituaries
Local Obituaries - Haywood County, NC and the Surrounding Areas
Lucy Franklin
May 18, 2017
Waynesville, Lucy Putnam Franklin, age 101, passed away on Thursday, May 18, 2017 at Silver Bluff Nursing Home. Lucy was the daughter of the late George and Ethel Wright Putnam. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband, Homer Franklin, who died in 1981; a son, Hugh Franklin; two sisters, Loretta and...
Gary Matthews
May 18, 2017
Candler – Gary Neil Matthews, 57, passed away Thursday, May 18, 2017 at Silver Bluff Nursing Home. Gary was born in Haywood County but was a lifelong resident of Buncombe County. He was a son of the late Herbert and Clara Edna Ingle Matthews. Gary will be remembered as a true mountain man. He lived a simple...
Cheryl Weisner
May 17, 2017
Cheryl Ann Weisner, 68, of Asheville, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. She was born in Salisbury, NC to the late Daniel Jackson Weisner and Margaret Elizabeth Kirk Weisner and was a resident of Asheville for the last 30 years. She was a member of Pole Creek Baptist Church and was instrumental in starting...
Francine Nielsen
May 16, 2017
Previous Events Visitation Friday, May 19, 2017 11:30 AM 5/19/2017 11:30:00 AM - 12:00 PM 5/19/2017 12:00:00 PM 00000
* * *, * *
00000 * * * * United States Visitation Friday, May 19, 2017 12:00 PM 5/19/2017 12:00:00 PM Waynesville Chapel of Wells Funeral Home296 North...
Elise, Spennati
May 16, 2017
Cole Allen Spennati, Elise Ann Larson Spennati, Aila Elise Spennati, Gianna Rose Spennati Maggie Valley, On Tuesday, May 16, 2017 on I-95 near Lumberton, North Carolina, a tragic motor vehicle accident claimed the lives of Cole Allen Spennati, his wife, Elise Ann Larson Spennati, and their daughters, 4-year old Aila Elise and 18-month-old Gianna Rose Spennati. In...
Steven Sutton
May 13, 2017
Waynesville, Steven Taylor Sutton, age 60, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, May 13, 2017 at his residence. A native of Haywood County, he was the son of Bonnie Hicks Sutton and the late Taylor Filetus Sutton. Steve was of the Baptist Faith. He graduated from Western Carolina University in 1979 with a degree in Marketing. Steve began...
Alex Metzger
May 12, 2017
Waynesville, Alex George Metzger, age 75, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 12, 2017 at The Homestead. A native of Cook County, Illinois, he was the son of the late LeVern and Edith Langbeen Metzger. Alex proudly served his country in the United States Marine Corp. and retired from the United States Postal Service with 30 years...
Shirley Gillett
May 12, 2017
"1942 – 2017" Canton – Shirley Jones Gillett, 74, passed away on Friday, May 12, 2017 at Autumn Care Nursing Home in Waynesville. A native and lifelong resident of Haywood County, she was a daughter of the late Roosevelt and Dollie Whitted Jones. Shirley is survived by a lifelong friend, Melvin Gillett of Canton; one son, Gursham...
Jean Dingley
May 9, 2017
Lake Junaluska, Jean L. Dingley, age 91, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 from complications of a stroke. Jean was born in Griffin, Georgia in 1926 to Harold and Clare Land. She attended the local schools, and graduated from Georgia State Women's, in Valdosta, Georgia in 1948. She married John (Jack) Thomas Dingley, Jr. in...
Jerry Liner, Jr.
May 9, 2017
Dahlonega, Georgia, Jerry Liner, Jr., age 87, passed away on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at Gold City Convalescent Center in Dahlonega. A native of Haywood County, born on October 20, 1929, he was the son of the late Jerry and Georgia Rathbone Liner. In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his wife Erma...
R. Worley
May 9, 2017
"Hard Working" Candler – Ralph Jennings "Jim" Worley, 94, passed away on Tuesday, May 9, 2017 at his residence. A native of Haywood County, he was a son of the late Sherman and Nina West Worley. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his first wife and mother of his children, Edna Maryland...
Linda Gibbs
May 7, 2017
Waynesville, Linda Ann Mathis Gibbs, 68, passed away on Sunday, May 7, 2017 at The Homestead. A native and lifelong resident of Haywood County, she was the daughter of the late Dan Hubert and Betty Sue Rhinehart Mathis. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Patty Mathis Moncrief. Linda was a 1966 graduate of Bethel...
Daniel Lane
May 6, 2017
Lake Junaluska, Daniel "Dan" Lane, Jr., age 83, passed away on Saturday, May 6, 2017, at his residence. He was a native of Sampson County, North Carolina and the son of the late Daniel and Juanita Dixon Lane. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Betty Jean Lane, who died in 2009 and a sister,...
Robert Ferguson
May 5, 2017
Maggie Valley, Robert Clifton "Bob" Ferguson, 94, of Soco Road passed away on Friday, May 5, 2017 at The Homestead. A native of Salem County, New Jersey, he had lived in Haywood County since 1940. He was the son of the late Charles Boone and Nannie Pearl Turner Ferguson and was also preceded in death by his...
Jack James
May 4, 2017
Waynesville, Jack Silas James, 92, passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at his residence. A native and lifelong resident of Haywood County, he was the son of the late Robert and Lydia McElroy James. He was also preceded in death by three sisters, Mary Sanford, Sarah Haynes and Doris James; and a brother, Carroll James. Jack...
Charles Sellars
May 4, 2017
"1936 – 2017" Clyde – Charles Edward Sellars, 80, passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at St. Joseph Campus of Mission Hospitals. A native and lifelong resident of Haywood County, he was a son of the late Bruce and Sarah Smathers Sellars. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Horace...
Mary Whisenhunt
May 4, 2017
Waynesville, Mary Jean Whisenhunt, 85, passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2017 at her residence after a brief illness. She was native of Buncombe County and resided in Haywood County most of her life. She was the daughter of the late Homer and Hester Francis West, and was also preceded in death by her husband, Donald Roberts...
Frances Taylor
May 4, 2017
Waynesville, NC – Frances F. Taylor, age 96, passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2017, just hours shy of her 97th birthday, at Haywood Lodge and Retirement Center. A native of Liberty, NC and a resident of Asheboro, NC in Randolph County; she was the daughter of the late Shelley Calvin and Ora Brower Frazier. She was...
Noah Price
May 4, 2017
Clyde, Noah Dill Price, born on August 16, 1928, passed away on Thursday, May 4, 2017. A native and lifelong resident of Haywood County, he was the son of the late Taylor and Harriet Henline Price. He was also preceded in death by seven brothers and eight sisters. Dill was a carpenter. He is survived by his...
Earl Ledford
May 2, 2017
Maggie Valley, Earl Avett Ledford, 83, passed away on Tuesday, May 2, 2017 at Mission Hospital surrounded by his family. A native of Haywood County, he was the son of the late Samuel Milas and Margaret Matilda Rathbone Ledford. He was also preceded in death by five brothers and three sisters. Earl served as a flight instructor...
Wells Funeral Homes & Cremation Services Obituaries
Browse our collection of obituaries in North Carolina and surrounding areas in Haywood County. Updated regularly, our obituary listings help you stay connected, celebrate memories, and honor the lives and legacies of your loved ones.
Sign Up for Obituary Notifications
Stay informed with gentle updates—delivered only when needed, never more.

A Year of Grief Support
Sign up for one year of weekly grief messages designed to provide strength and comfort during this challenging time.

