Obituaries
Recent obituaries in North Carolina
The obituaries in the North Carolina Area reflect the region's diverse population, featuring individuals from a variety of ethnic, religious, and cultural backgrounds. Some were pioneers in their fields, while others dedicated their lives to community service or philanthropy. Their stories serve as a reminder of the richness and complexity North Carolina's history and identity.

George Stamey
Jan 2, 2004
Canton - George "Speedy" Stamey, age 77, of Lane Street died Friday, January 2, 2004 at St. Joseph's Hospital. He was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County and the son of the late Mardy and Claudia Estella Hall Stamey. He was preceded in death by five brothers and two sisters. He was a World War...

Clarence Buchanan
Jan 2, 2004
Waynesville-Clarence Alonzo Buchanan, age 92, died Friday, January 2, 2004 at Haywood Regional Medical Center. He was a native of Jackson County and a son of the late Cicero and Annie Bradley Buchanan. He was married to the late Bessie Rogers Buchanan who died in 1975 and was also preceded in death by a son, Roger Buchanan,...

Troy Cordell
Dec 30, 2003
Candler-Troy Lewis Cordell, age 67 died Tuesday, December 30, 2003 unexpectedly at his residence. He was a native of Haywood County and had lived most of his life in Buncombe County. He was a son of Floy Haney Cordell of Newfound and the late Cecil Troy Cordell. He retired from Eaton Corp. after 27 years and later...

Vera Kirkpatrick
Dec 30, 2003
Clyde-Vera Franklin Kirkpatrick, age 58, died Tuesday, December 30, 2003 at Cape Fear Valley Medical Center. A native of Haywood County, she was the daughter of the late Thomas and Leona Conard Franklin. She was also preceded in death by three brothers, Herman, Henry, and Robert Franklin. She was a unit secretary at Haywood Regional Medical Center...
Luther West
Dec 30, 2003
Canton- Luther Reeves West, age 82 died Tuesday, December 30, 2003 at Mission Hospitals. He was a native of Buncombe County and had lived in Haywood County most of his life. He was a son of the late Fred and Onie Henson West and was preceded in death by two sons, Dale and Darrell West and a...

Erma Rolland
Dec 29, 2003
Canton-Erma Lee Blankenship Paxton Rolland age 89 died Monday, December 29, 2003 at Silver Bluff Nursing Home. She was a daughter of the late Dallas and Mary Ella Stiles Blankenship. She was preceded in death by her late husband, G. E. Rolland, two sisters, Nell Sawyer, and Ellen Nobeck; two brothers, J.C. Blankenship and Reverend Forest Blankenship....

Muriel Nicholls
Dec 28, 2003
Canton - Muriel Johnson Nicholls, age 90, formerly of Bailey Street, died Sunday, December 28, 2003 at Penick Village Retirement Home in Southern Pines. She was a native of Benson, North Carolina and was the daughter of the late Charles and Mary Ester Smith Johnson. She was also preceded in death by her husband, C. Capehart "Nick"...
Jon Retterer
Dec 28, 2003
JON LEAR RETTERER Waynesville-Jon Lear Retterer, age 64, of 18 Atari Road, died Sunday, December 28, 2003 at Haywood Regional Medical Center. A native of Aurora, Illinois, he was the son of the late John H. and Clarice Mildred Toncry Retterer. He was employed by Pyra Film as a sales representative for 20 years and most recently...

Larry Hance
Dec 28, 2003
Waynesville-Larry Ernest Hance, age 49, of 19 Scates Street, died Sunday, December 28, 2003 at Haywood Regional Medical Center. A native of Wayne County, Michigan, he was the son of the late Hobert and Frances Cope Hance. He was an army veteran. He is survived by two brothers, Jerry and Gary Hance of Dalton, Georgia.
Vera Massie
Dec 28, 2003
Canton-Vera R. Massie, age 86 of the Cruso community died Sunday, December 28, 2003 at Haywood Regional Medical Center. She was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County. She was a daughter of the late John Pinkney and Delia Heatherly Revis and was also preceded in death by one grandson, Ricky Massie, four brothers and four...
Owen Roberts
Dec 27, 2003
Waynesville-Owen Rexford Roberts, age 90, of Silver Bluff Nursing Home, died Saturday, December 27, 2003 at his residence. He was a native of Buncombe County and former resident Cary, NC. He was the son of the late Thomas A. and Carrie Harris Roberts. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Dowe A. Roberts. He was...

Carl Gibson
Dec 27, 2003
Waynesville-James Carl Gibson, age 94, formerly of Inman Branch Road, died Saturday, December 27, 2003 at the Brian Center of Waynesville. He was a native of Haywood County and was the son of the late Montie Raymond and Bessie Smith Gibson. He was also preceded in death by his wife, Julia Inman Gibson, who died in 1992,...
Sheila Warren
Dec 26, 2003
Horse Shoe - Sheila Smith Bolinger Warren, age 42, died unexpectedly Friday, December 26, 2003 at her residence. She was a native of Buncombe County and had lived in Henderson County for the past 12 years. She was the daughter of Nicholas Bolinger and the late Judy Gail Smith. In addition to her father, she is survived...

Audie Pressley
Dec 26, 2003
Candler-Audie Sisk Pressley, age 75, died Friday, December 26, 2003 at the Canton Christian Convalescence Center. She was a native of Haywood County and had lived in Buncombe County most of her life. She was a daughter of the late Harrison and Etta Rowe Sisk. Mrs. Pressley was the wife of the late William Lee Pressley who...

Louise Crayne
Dec 26, 2003
Waynesville-Louise Reagan Crayne, age 73, of 46 Playground Street, died Friday, December 26, 2003 at her residence. A native of Sevier County, Tennessee, she had lived most of her life in Haywood County. She was the daughter of the late George and Rebecca Parton Reagan. She was also preceded in death by a son, Joseph ''Joey'' C....
Irene Reeves
Dec 26, 2003
Canton-Irene Smathers Reeves, age 88 died Friday, December 26, 2003 at Britthaven of Clyde after a period of declining health. She was the daughter of the late B. Delaney and Ethel Brannon Smathers, a pioneer family of Haywood County. She was the wife of the late Robert Letcher "Letch" Reeves who died in 1985. She was also...

Christine Keith
Dec 25, 2003
Waynesville-On Thursday, December 25, 2003, Jessie Christine Medford Keith went to heaven to be with her son, Jackie Joe, her daddy and her mama, Newman Vance and Zennie Lottie Robinson Medford, her brothers, Fred and Jack Medford, her sister, Margaret Howell, and her nephews, Joseph Pittard and Johnny Medford. She is survived by a daughter and son-in-law,...

Elizabeth Raines
Dec 25, 2003
Canton-Elizabeth Kuykendall "Betty" Raines, age 75, of 84 N. Main Street died Thursday, December 25, 2003 at Haywood Regional Medical Center. She was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County. She was the daughter of the late Thomas Kuykendall and Bonnie Messer Plemmons and step-father, Paul Plemmons. Mrs. Raines was the wife of the late J....
Frances Watkins
Dec 23, 2003
Canton-Frances Irene Warren Watkins- age 85 formerly of 20 Frank St. died Tuesday, December 23, 2003 at Mission Hospitals. She was a native of Buncombe County and had lived most of her life in Haywood County. Mrs. Watkins was also the last of 12 children of Harley and Mattie Ann Joyce Warren. She had been a waitress...

Russell Burchfield
Dec 23, 2003
Waynesville-Russell Larry Burchfield, age 79, of 136 Lum Boone Circle, died Tuesday, December 23, 2003 at Haywood Regional Medical Center. A native of Haywood County, he was the son of the late Harrison and Eva Campbell Burchfield. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Wyatt. He was a millwright at Dayco for more than...
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