Obituaries

Apr 21, 2022

Brenda Self, age 61, of Mooresboro passed away Thursday, April 21, 2022 at Rutherford Regional Medical Center.

Brenda was born Tuesday, October 18, 1960 in Rutherford County to the late Gene Blanton and Maudie Wishion Blanton. She was a dedicated homemaker for her family. Brenda’s love was taking care of and raising children. She also...

Apr 15, 2022

William Frank McDaniel, Sr., age 84, passed away Friday, April 15, 2022 at White Oak Manor in Shelby, NC.

Frank was born September 4, 1937 in Rutherfordton, NC. He is preceded in death by his parents. Audie Manson McDaniel and Mary Frances McDaniel; wife, Meredith Hunt McDaniel and great-grandson, Lockman Taylor McDaniel.

He is survived...

Apr 15, 2022

Terry “Wild Turkey” Thompson, age 62, of Spartanburg, SC, passed away Friday, April 15, 2022 at his residence from a chronic medical condition.

Terry was born Saturday, March 26, 1960 in Spartanburg to the late Wofford A. Thompson and Betty Painter Thompson. He worked as a diesel mechanic for over twenty years for Johnny K’s...

Apr 15, 2022

Russell “Cotton” Downey, age 77, of Rutherfordton, passed away Friday, April 15, 2022 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills in Forest City.

Russell was born Friday, December 22, 1944 in Rutherford County to the late Lewis Downey and Willie Lou Allen Downey. He was a graduate of R-S Central High School. Russell owned and operated...

Apr 14, 2022

JoAnn Pitts Smart, age 83, of Dobbinsville Road, Ellenboro, went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, April 14, 2022 at Prisma Health in Greenville.

JoAnn was born Monday, April 18, 1938 in Rutherford County to the late Preston Allen Pitts and Jenny Hollifield Pitts. She was a graduate of Tri-High School, class of...

Apr 14, 2022

Donna Sprouse McDaniel, age 59, of Ellenboro, passed away Thursday, April14, 2022 at her residence.

Donna was born Tuesday, July 31, 1962 in Rutherford County to the late John Wilton Sprouse and Catherine Doggett Sprouse. She was a graduate of Chase High School, class of 1980. Donna worked as a supervisor at Clearwater Paper in Shelby, NC...

Apr 9, 2022

Bobby Blanton, age 86, of Ellenboro, passed away Saturday, April 9, 2022 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.

Bobby was born Friday, June 14, 1935 in Cleveland County to the late Carl Green Blanton and Docia Patterson Blanton.  Bobby loved fishing, hunting, camping, he was a true outdoors person. He served honorably in the U.S. Navy and...

Apr 6, 2022

Samantha Marie Bolyard, age 28, of Forest City, NC passed away Wednesday April 6, 2022.

Samantha is the daughter of James and Chrystal Bolyard.  She was born Tuesday, December 14, 1993 in Asheville, NC.  She loved her daughter and family. She enjoyed going to the beach, having her fingernails painted and she loved gum.

Samantha...

Apr 6, 2022

After a courageous 7 year battle with Stage 4 Metastatic Breast Cancer, Phyllis Garrett Hill, age 58, of Forest City, NC passed away on Wednesday, April the 6th 2022, surrounded by her loving family which she referred to as her “team”.

Phyllis is preceded in death by her father James Authur Garrett Jr., and survived by her...

Mar 28, 2022

Cynthia Gail Hogan Smathers, age 75, of Spindale, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, March 28, 2022 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills after several years of declining health.

Born Friday, January 3, 1947, she was the daughter of the late James and Kathleen Hall Sisk and the late Roy Hogan.  She was also...

Mar 23, 2022

Jennie Pearl Ledford, age 94, of Mamie Hamilton Road, Bostic, passed away Wednesday, March 23, 2022 at Restwell Assisted Living in Rutherfordton.

Jennie was born Friday, October 28, 1927 in Rutherford County to the late Adam Tessneer and Ada Hyder Tessneer.  She was a graduate of Sunshine High School, class of 1945 and worked in textiles for...

Mar 21, 2022

Dale Kiser, age 58, of Forest City, peacefully went to his Heavenly home on Monday, March 21, 2022 at Rutherford Regional Medical Center.

Dale was born Tuesday, April 23, 1963 in Rutherford County to the late Mary Jo Lynch Kiser and Dan Kiser who resides in Forest City. Dale was a graduate of East Rutherford High School,...

Mar 19, 2022

Lawrence Hodge, age 81, of Rutherfordton, passed away Saturday, March 19, 2022 at Rutherford Regional Medical Center.

Lawrence was born Monday, September 9, 1940 in Rutherford County to the late Esper Hodge and Katherine Laughter Hodge. He was a graduate of R-S Central High School, class of 1960. Lawrence was a gifted Master Carpenter and worked in...

Mar 15, 2022

On March 15th, 2022, Garland Franklin Byers, Sr., went home to be with the Lord and the many friends and family who have passed before him. Mr. Byers set off on this journey in his childhood home, the same house in which he was born on July 12th, 1931.

Mr. Byers was the beloved patriarch of the...

Mar 14, 2022

Rev. Ralph W. Boyd, Jr., age 80, of Bostic, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, March 14, 2022 at Willow Ridge Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Rutherfordton.

Ralph was born Wednesday, November 5, 1941 in Henderson County to the late Ralph Worth Boyd, Sr. and Lucille Baker Boyd. He worked as a carpenter...

Mar 12, 2022

Robert Harold Wazlavek, a longtime resident of Parker, FL, before being displaced by Hurricane Michael, has died at his daughter’s home in Mooresboro, North Carolina. He was 92.

A native of Massillon, OH, he graduated Washington High School, worked for Republic Steel and was a member of the United Steel Workers. He joined...

Mar 10, 2022

Lynn McCracken Lucas, age 70, passed away Thursday, March 10, 2022 at her residence.

Lynn was born Wednesday, December 26, 1951 in New Kensington, Pennsylvania to Daniel W. McCracken who resides in Rutherfordton and the late Marian Cribbs McCracken. She was a graduate of Riverside High School, near Pittsburgh, PA and held an earned Bachelor of Arts...

Mar 9, 2022

Wayne Greene, age 78, of Ellenboro, passed away Wednesday, March 9, 2022 at his residence.

Wayne was born Friday, February 11, 1944 in Cleveland County to the late Thomas Marshall Greene and Ruby Garver Greene. He co-owned Golden Eagle Textiles and was the owner and operator of Big G Rug Company for many years. He enjoyed playing...

Mar 8, 2022

Frances “Fran” McPhail, age 70, of Forest City, passed away Tuesday, March 8, 2022 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.

Fran was born Tuesday, December 11, 1951 in Franklin, New Hampshire to the late Urban S. Tibbetts and Amy Proctor Tibbetts. She was a home provider for twenty-four years, serving clients of Lakes Region Community Services in...

Mar 7, 2022

Kelly Callahan Guffey, age 52, of Ellenboro, passed away Monday, March 7, 2022 at Rutherford Regional Medical Center.

Kelly was born Thursday, January 8, 1970 in Rutherford County to the late Joe Callahan and Geraldine Roach Callahan. She was a graduate of Chase High School, class of 1988 and received a Cosmetology Diploma from Isothermal...