Obituaries

Olean Hughes Arrowood, age 96 of the Buladean Community went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, February 26, 2026. A native of Mitchell County, NC she was a daughter of the late Waites

Barbara Jean Duckworth Blair passed away unexpectedly at her residence, after a period of declining health on Monday,  February the 23rd, 2026. She was a daughter of the late Gurney and Martha Norman Duckworth. She

John Wils Honeycutt, age 83, of Poplar, passed away on Tuesday, February 24th, 2026 at his home.  He was a son of the late James and Lilly Adkins Honeycutt. In addition to his parents John

Rev. James “JD” McClellan, 81, of Spruce Pine, passed away Monday, February 23, 2026 at his son’s residence in Marion. He was born in Mitchell County on April 1, 1944 to the late Lee McClellan

David Anthony Lay (70) of Burnsville, NC, went to be with Jesus on January 28th, 2026, after battling Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) for the past few years. David was born on September 16, 1955, in

James “Melvin” McNeill Sr, age 89, passed away on Saturday, February 21st. Melvin was born November 22, 1936, in Lee County NC to the late Johnny and Rosie McNeill. Church, faith, prayer and the Bible

Peter “Pete” Villano, 48, of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, passed away unexpectedly on February 20th, 2026. Born on June 21, 1977, he was the son of the late Ray Villano, who passed away in November 2020. He

James Harold Julian Oakley, age 73, of Green Mountain, passed away on Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at Mission Hospital in Asheville.  A native of Bradenton, FL, he was a son of Judy Oakley of Palmetto,

Gary Switzer, age 79, passed away suddenly at his home in Burnsville, North Carolina on Saturday, February 21, 2026. Gary was born on May 9, 1946 in Parma, Ohio. He was the son of the

David Hensley, age 81, of Fox Creek, went Home to be with the Lord on Saturday, February 21st, 2026 at Mission Hospital in Asheville. A native of Yancey County, he was a son of the

Linda Diane Garland Leach age 70 of Rockdale Rd, Bakersville, NC went home to be with her Lord and Savior February 18, 2026. Linda was a native of Mitchell County, NC and a daughter of

Anita Faye McFalls, 62, of Spruce Pine, NC passed away on Thursday, February 19, 2026. A native of Mitchell County, she was a daughter of the late Earnest Franklin and Mary Elizabeth McFalls. In addition

Melba English Davis  – Henline – Hughes Funeral Service   Melba English Davis, 88 of Charles Creek Rd, Bakersville, NC went home to be with the Lord February 19, 2026. She was born in Avery

Richard Luther Bailey, age 83, of the Micaville Community, is now resting in the arms of Jesus. He passed on Thursday, February 19th, 2026 at his home. A native of Yancey County, he was a

Bud Phillips, age 91, born on December 9, 1934, in Mitchell County, North Carolina, passed away on February 18, 2026. He leaves behind a legacy of love and service that will be cherished by his

William David Carson, Jr. (Bill) died on February 12, 2026, in Oxford, North Carolina. Bill was born December 5, 1938, at Ball Memorial Hospital in Muncie, Indiana, to William David Carson and Almeda (Converse) Carson.

Ellen Byrd Miller, age 69, of the Red Hill Community, went Home to be with her Lord on Tuesday, February 17th, 2026.  A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Charles

Michael Gene Laws, a loving husband and father, passed away on February 17, 2026, at his residence. Born on October 7, 1946, in Yancey County, he dedicated his professional life to the furniture industry, demonstrating

Doris Jean Ricker, Née Kibbe, born in Arkwright, New York in 1931, passed away peacefully at the age of 95 on February 16th, 2026. She was preceded in death by her loving husband, Gordon Ricker

Tylor R. Holzhauser, age 27 of Leicester, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, February 13th, 2026.  He was a son of Joshua and Tina Marie Riddle. Tylor was proceeded in death by a brother-in-law Brian Hughes

Bryan Isenhour, age 68, of Conover, passed away on Saturday, February 14th, 2026 at the home of his daughter. A native of Catawba County, he was a son of the late Olin and Shirley Ann

Michael Street, age 70, of the Red Hill Community, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 14th, 2026 at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. A native of Mitchell County, he was a son of the late Arthur

Vanessa Dawn Eggers, age 49, of Burnsville, North Carolina, passed away on Sunday, February 15, 2026, in Burnsville. Born on November 25, 1976, in Watauga County, North Carolina, Vanessa was the daughter of the late

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