Obituaries

Betty Joyce Buchanan, age 92, of Marble Mine Road in the Bandana Community of Bakersville, NC, went peacefully home to be with her Lord on February 12, 2026, surrounded by family at Blue Ridge Regional

Glenn Robert Braswell, 91, of Henredon Road in Spruce Pine, passed away on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at the Memorial Campus of Mission Hospitals in Asheville, NC. Born on December 19, 1934, in Mitchell County,

Robert Thomas Trice, age 67, of the Frank Community, went Home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, February 11th, 2026 at his home. A native of Avery County, he was a son of the

Rickey Brown, age 61, of Bill Allen Branch, passed away at his home on Monday, February 9th, 2026. A native of Yancey County, he was a son to Dean Mack and Jacquetta “Keta” Perkins Brown.

James Michael Serafini, 74, of Burnsville, gently entered eternal rest on Monday, February 9th, 2026, at Mission Hospital in Asheville. Born in Detroit, Michigan, he was the beloved son of the late James and Flora

Wanda Hughes Carpenter, age 94, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Wanda was a daughter of the late Jack and Hazel Hughes. In addition to her parents, she was

Brian Wilson, age 58, of Burnsville, passed away on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2026 at CarePartners Solace Center in Asheville. A native of Yancey County, he was a son of Elbert Wilson of Burnsville and Irene

Regina Ballew Pendley, age 66, of Vaughn Road in Spruce Pine passed away Wednesday, February 4, 2026. Born on July 4, 1959 in Stanley County, she was the daughter of the late Edd Ballew and

Richard ‘Rich’ Ackner, age 84, of Bakersville, passed away Thursday, February 5, 2026 at the home of his daughter in Hendersonville. Born on December 3, 1941 in Troy, NY, he was the son of the

Betty Norris Beam, age 89, of Ivy Laurel Drive in Spruce Pine, the Ingalls community, passed away Thursday, February 5, 2026. Born on June 6, 1936 in Avery County, she was the daughter of the

Helen Louise Westall Fender, age 93, of Burnsville, North Carolina, went home to be with Jesus on Friday, February 6, 2026. Helen was born on July 29, 1932, in Yancey County, North Carolina, to the

Frank James Briggs, age 85, of Green Mountain, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 31, 2026 at his home surrounded by his loving family. A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the

Lydie “Wendell” Gouge, 85, of Grassy Creek, passed away on February 3, 2026, surrounded by family and friends. Born April 1, 1940, he was the son of the late Fred and Ruth McKinney Gouge. A

Donnie Walter Cook, age 68, of Pineola Community, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, January 30th, 2026. He was the son of the late Walter and Martha McKinney Cook. In addition to his parents, he was

Calvin Wilson, age 84, of South Toe, entered into his eternal reward on January 30, 2026, having faithfully completed his work on this earth. He was welcomed into the throne room of Heaven by his

Robert Ronald Slagle, age 84, of McRae Court in Spruce Pine, passed away Friday, January 30, 2026 at his home surrounded by his loving family. Born on March 7, 1941 in Mitchell County, he was

Grace Louella Buchanan, age 88, of the Newdale Community, passed away peacefully with her family by her side on Thursday, January 29th, 2026. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter to the late

Robert Carl “Bob” Thomas, age 90, of Burnsville, North Carolina passed away peacefully at his home on Wednesday, January 28th, 2026, with his family near his side. A native of Watauga County, he was born

Captain Ernest “Professor” H. Cates, USMC Ret., 92, passed away on Monday, January 26, 2026 at his home in Bakersville, NC. He was born on May 11, 1933 in Floral Park, NY. He was preceded

Marietta Young passed away peacefully on Sunday, January 25, 2025, at Carmel Hills in Charlotte at the age of 92. She was born June 8, 1933, in Big Sandy, WV, to the late Elmer and

Betty Jean Rowe, age 78, of Bakersville, went Home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, January 28th, 2026. She was the daughter of the late Claude and Naomi McKinney. In addition to her parents

With a sad heart, we announced the passing of George A Wilson. George has been sick for a long time after having two strokes. We think God felt like he had suffered long enough. He

David Raymond Rutkowski, age 93, of Suspense Dr., passed away peacefully on Monday, January 26th, 2026 at CarePartners Solace Center in Asheville surrounded by his loving family.  A native of Lake Como, PA, he was

Sandra McMahan Gibbs, age 75, of Burnsville, passed away after an extended illness on Monday, January 26th, 2026. She was one of five children of the late Vincent and Ruby Silver McMahan who were raised

Jeanetta Buchanan Fortner, age 86, of Burnsville, entered her heavenly home on Sunday, January 25, 2026. Born on August 21, 1939, at the former Bakersville medical clinic, Jeanetta was the daughter of Jesse and Alberta Whaley Buchanan. A

Anna Lou Hughes, age 93, a devoted woman of faith and a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, passed away peacefully in her home, surrounded by her loved ones, on Saturday, January 24, 2026. She

 Cread Wilson, age 82, of Forest City, passed away on January 23, 2026 at his home. He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl and Hazel Wilson; brothers, Reece Wilson and Charles Wilson; his

Dennis Carroway, age 80, of Burnsville, went Home to be with the Lord unexpectedly on Thursday, January 22nd, 2026 after a period of declining health.  A native of Yancey County, he was a son of

Harold G. Smith, age 87, of Georges Fork Community, passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, January 23rd, 2026. He was the son of the late Howard Samuel and Edna Mae Gouge Smith. In

Deanna Joyce Tidwell Broughton, age 85, of Spruce Pine, North Carolina, went Home to be with the Lord and was reunited with her late husband, Joe Broughton, on January 18, 2026, at Memorial Mission Hospital

Katherine Thomas, 83, passed away on January 19, 2026 at her home in Bakersville, NC. Kitty, as she was known was born on August 08, 1942 in Mountain City, TN to the late Joe and

Charles James Rhyne, age 82, of Three Mile Community, went Home to be with Lord on Sunday, January 18, 2026, at his home surrounded by his loving family, after a 17 Year courageous battle with

Erma Jean Houser, age 85, of Green Mountain, went home to be with her Lord; surrounded by her loving family on Monday, January 19th, 2026. She was a daughter to the late John and Carrie

Dorothy Fisher Tehandón age 83, formerly of Anna Illinois and for the past few years of Spruce Pine, NC, went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, on January 11, 2026. Born on

Joyce Ann Hughes (Joy) 61, of the Licklog Community went to be with her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ on Friday, January 16, 2026. Joy was born on January 13, 1965 to the late Ted

Janice went to her heavenly home on January 16, 2026.She was born to Gordon and Wilma Howell on August 6, 1957. Janice was a special needs person who was a blessing to all who knew

David McCoy Piercy, 76, passed away on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital in Spruce Pine, NC. David was born on August 26, 1949, in Avery County, NC to the late Allen

Derek Hughes, age 67, of the Windom Community, passed away on Wednesday, January 14th, 2026 at his home, surrounded by his loving family. He was a son to Jack and Thelma Styles Hughes. Derek was

Joyce Ann Deaton Norris, formerly of Yancey County, entered into the gates of Heaven in the early hours of January 17th, 2026. She passed peacefully in the company of her daughters and was no doubt

Ruby Pearl Fox Edwards, age 94, of the Pensacola Community, passed away peacefully on Saturday, January 17th, 2026 at The Greens of Spruce Pine. She was a daughter to the late Elzie and Arlie Hensley