Obituaries

Mar 3, 2023

Troy E. Gordon, age 80, of Caroleen, went home to with his Lord and Savior on Friday, March 3, 2023 at Accordius Health-Rutherfordton.

Troy was born Wednesday, January 13, 1943 to the late Roland Gordon and Zella Vess Gordon. He worked as a loom fixer/supervisor for Cone Mills for thirty years and as the supervising funeral assistant...

Mar 2, 2023

Patsy Waters Hipp, age 79, of Ellenboro, passed away Thursday, March 2, 2023 at the Willow Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center.

Patsy was born Monday, July 12, 1943 in Saluda, NC to the late Vedas Glenn Waters and Louise Pace Waters. She was a cook for many years at the Rutherford House Restaurant in Forest City and...

Feb 24, 2023

Jimmy Ray Upton, age 69, of Mooresboro, passed away Friday, February 24, 2023 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.

Jimmy was born Thursday, September 3, 1953 in Rutherford County to the late Charlie Upton and Laura Daggerhart Upton. He worked as a truck driver/car hauler most of his life. Jimmy grew up going to the Church of...

Feb 24, 2023

Traci Lee Simmons, age 51, of Rutherfordton, passed away Friday, February 24, 2023 at Atrium Health-Carolinas Medical Center.

Traci was born Sunday, October 10, 1971 in Cleveland County to the late Roy Lee Ramsey and Barbara Alexander Haigler. She was a graduate of A.C. Reynolds High School, class of 1990 and received an Associates Degree from Asheville-Buncombe...

Feb 23, 2023

Robert Teears, Jr., age 49, of Forest City, passed away, Thursday, February 23, 2023 at his residence.

Robert was born Sunday, November 11, 1973 in West Palm Beach, Florida to Robert Lawrence Teears, Sr. of Hendersonville and Donna Coleman of Asheville. He was the owner and operator of Teears Enterprise where he was a floor...

Feb 21, 2023

Alfred Morrison, age 87, of Ellenboro, passed away Tuesday, February 21, 2023 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.

Alfred was born Friday, August 16, 1935 in Rutherford County to the late Flay Morrison and Celia Toney Morrison. He was a graduate of Ellenboro High School, class of 1954 and served honorably in the U.S. Army. He worked...

Feb 14, 2023

Floyd “Junior” Tate, Jr., age 85, of Ellenboro, passed away Tuesday, February 14, 2023 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.

Junior was born Tuesday, December 21, 1937 in Rutherford County to the late Floyd Tate, Sr. and Lucy Gertrude Ledbetter Tate. He worked as the manager of Spindale Laundry and Dry Cleaners for over forty years. Junior...

Feb 12, 2023

Jerry Lee Powell, Sr., age 81, of Forest City, passed away Sunday, February 12, 2023 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.

Jerry was born Sunday, April 27, 1941 in Boone County, West Virginia to the late Paris Gilbert Powell and Mary Gladys Wilcoxen Powell. He worked in maintenance and as a production manager for Pepsi-Cola for forty...

Feb 11, 2023

Terry Edwards, age 45, of Forest City, passed away Saturday, February 11, 2023 at his residence. Terry was born Tuesday, October 4, 1977 in Rutherford County. He worked as a delivery driver for the Rutherford County Public School System for over twenty years and most recently for Kimbrell Furniture. Terry was an avid Duke University Basketball fan and enjoyed...

Feb 9, 2023

Fred “Freddie” Robinson, Jr., age 62, of Marion, passed away Thursday, February 9, 2023 at Mission Health-McDowell.

Freddie was born Friday, August 12, 1960 in Buncombe County to the late Fred Harold Robinson, Sr. and Nancy Lee Smith Robinson. He served honorably in the U.S. Army and had also served as an Avery County Deputy Sheriff. Freddie...

Feb 8, 2023

Teresa Evans Mickles, age 61, of Forest City, passed away Wednesday, February 8, 2023 at Rutherford Regional Medical Center.

Teresa was born Saturday, October 28, 1961 in Rutherford County to the late Jonas Yates Evans and Shirley Bradley Evans. She was a dedicated homemaker who loved her family dearly. She attended the Caroleen Congregational Holiness...

Feb 7, 2023

Wayne Junior McBee, age 67, of Forest City, passed away Tuesday, February 7, 2023 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.

Wayne was born Friday, March  4, 1955 in Cleveland County to the late Junior McBee and Dora Bradley McBee. He served honorably in the U.S. Army and worked many years at Cone Mill – Cliffside plant and...

Feb 5, 2023

J. P. Junior Bailey, age 92, of Rutherfordton, passed away, Sunday, February 5, 2023 at his residence.

J. P. was born Monday, March 17, 1930 in Rutherford County to the late George Bailey and Ruth Hardin Bailey. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and of the Baptist faith. J.P. worked many years for AGI Manufacturing...

Feb 4, 2023

James “Billy” Bradley, age 71, of Forest City, passed away Saturday, February 4, 2023 at the Charles George VA Medical Center.

James was born Friday, September 28, 1951 in Rutherford County to the late James “Bud” Walter Bradley and Inez B. Sims. He served honorably in the U.S Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. James worked as...

Feb 4, 2023

Stephen Orr, age 38, of Rutherfordton, passed away Saturday, February 4, 2023 at his residence.

Stephen was born Tuesday, February 21, 1984 in Sao Paulo, Brazil. He is the son of John and Terri Orr who reside in Charlotte. He had a compassionate heart which led him to be a full-time caregiver. Stephen was full of life...

Feb 3, 2023

Terry Smith, age 68, of Forest City, passed away Friday, February 3, 2023 at his residence.

Terry was born Tuesday, July 13, 1954 in Rutherford County to Dorris Smith who resides in Forest City and the late William “Bill” Lee Smith. He was a graduate of Chase High School, class of 1973. Terry worked for Timken Industries for...

Feb 1, 2023

Spencer Adam Lancaster, age 49, of Morganton, NC, went home to be with Lord on Wednesday, February 1, 2023 at Mission Hospital-McDowell in Marion.

Spencer was born Wednesday, July 25, 1973 in Rutherford County to the late Ricky Lancaster and Sheila McSwain. He was a graduate of R-S Central High School, class of 1991 and worked in...

Jan 30, 2023

Carolyn Lawson, age 78, of Ellenboro, passed away Monday, January 30, 2023 at Rutherford Regional Medical Center.

Carolyn was born Tuesday, January 2, 1945 in Rutherford County to the late Bunion D. Hensley and Queen Ester Mace Hensley.  She worked in textiles and then for PPG for many years. Carolyn was a member of Spindale Fellowship Holiness...

Jan 29, 2023

Bobby Davis, age 86, of Forest City, passed away Sunday, January 29, 2023 at his residence.

Bobby was born Monday, August 31, 1936 in Cleveland County to the late Everette Davis and Elizabeth Phillips Davis. He was a veteran of the Korean War while serving honorably in the US Air Force. Bobby worked as diesel mechanic for...

Jan 29, 2023

Lesa Ledbetter, age 56, of Rutherfordton, passed away Sunday, January 29, 2023 at her residence.

Lesa was born Tuesday, March 8, 1966 in Yancey County to the late Ray Street and Faye Ray Street. She worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant for many years at Fair Haven Home in Bostic. She was a member of Temple Baptist...