Obituaries

Apr 20, 2021

Wilbur Lee Earls, age 76, of Mooresboro, passed away Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at his residence. Wilbur was born Sunday, August 13, 1944 in Cleveland County to the late O.P. Earls and Sarah Estelle Godfrey Earls. He was a graduate of Crest High School, class of 1962 and served his country honorably in the US Army and was a veteran of...

Apr 20, 2021

David Leland Higginbotham, age 69, of Forest City, passed away Tuesday, April 20, 2021 at Rutherford Regional Medical Center.

David was born Thursday, August 2, 1951 in Blytheville, Arkansas to the late Thomas Leland Higginbotham and Billie Ruth Cochran Lofton. He honorably served as a fire specialist/paramedic in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War. David...

Apr 18, 2021

Brenda F. Salmon, age 78, of Forest City, passed away Sunday, April 18, 2021 at her residence. Brenda was born Thursday, October 22, 1942 in Fayetteville, NC to the late Homer Frazier and Ruth Clark Frazier. She worked at Fast Foods Inc. in administration for many years before retirement. Brenda was also a Certified Nurses Assistant and was a...

Apr 13, 2021

Mary McCutcheon Browning, age 55, of Forest City, NC passed away suddenly on Tuesday, April 13, 2021.

She is survived by her husband, Wesley Browning; three sons, Jared Hudgins (Kaitlyn), Tyler Hudgins (Sarah) and Andrew Browning. Mary is also survived by her sister, Cheryl Bradley; two brothers, David McCutcheon and Ray McCutcheon (Renea). She has three nephews,...

Apr 10, 2021

Clyde E. Huskey, age 89, of Forest City, passed away Saturday, April 10, 2021 at his residence. Clyde was born Saturday, September 25, 1931 in Knoxville, Tennessee to the late Charles Luther Huskey and Dee Esther Shelton Huskey. He was a graduate of Bearden High School and served in the U.S. Army. He was a veteran of the Korean...

Apr 8, 2021

Jeff Estep, age 46, of Forest City, passed away Thursday, April 8, 2021 at his residence. Jeff was born Saturday, June 8, 1974 to Judy Tate Estep who resides in Forest City and the late Michael Stephen Estep. He was a graduate of Chase High School, class of 1993 and had worked several years for American Zinc Products (AZP)....

Apr 5, 2021

Roy Greene, age 73, of Ellenboro, passed away Monday, April 5, 2021 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.

Roy was born Friday, November 28, 1947 in Gaston County, to the late William Russell Greene and Virginia Caldwell Greene. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army and served his country honorably during the Vietnam War.  Roy worked...

Apr 3, 2021

Boyce Wishion, age 76, of Forest City, passed away Saturday, April 3, 2021 at Atrium Health-Charlotte.

Boyce was born Thursday, November 2, 1944 in Rutherford County to the late Norrie Wishion and Minnie Belle Laughters Wishion. He worked as a heavy equipment operator most of his life and was a supervisor for the Forest City Street Department...

Apr 2, 2021

Matthew “Matt” Jones, age 39, of Lake Worth, Florida, passed away Friday, April 2, 2021 in Palm Springs, Florida.

Matt was born Friday, April 24, 1981 in Rutherford County to Wanda Conner Jones who resides in Lake Worth, FL. He worked in construction as a carpenter for many years. Matt enjoyed various sports and was an avid fisherman....

Mar 31, 2021

Montgomery Joshelyn Coggins, infant daughter of Joshua and Nikki Coggins, of Shelby went home to be with her Heavenly Father on Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at the Levine Children’s Hospital in Charlotte.

Montgomery was born Saturday, March 27th at Atrium Health-Shelby. She was dedicated to God through the holy sacrament of baptism on March 31st and is...

Mar 31, 2021

Jimmy Rumfelt, Sr. age 85, of Forest City, passed away Wednesday, March 31, 2021 at his residence.

Jimmy was born Friday, November 15, 1935 in Rutherford County to the late Horton Rumfelt and Lillie Williams Rumfelt. He served honorably in the US Army and was a Korean War Veteran. Jimmy worked most of his life in textiles...

Mar 26, 2021

Nell Horton, age 86, of Forest City, passed away Friday, March 26, 2021 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.

Nell was born Saturday, May 19, 1934 in Rutherford County to the late Lona Mae Lowery. She was a graduate of Tri-High School and a faithful and active member of Harris First Baptist Church. Nell worked many years...

Mar 26, 2021

Andrew Pletts, age 74, of Forest City, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, March 26, 2021 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.

Andrew was born Friday, September 20, 1946 in Prestwick, Scotland to the late David and Jean Pletts. He served in the Royal Air Force for twenty-two years before his retirement. Andrew also...

Mar 26, 2021

Perry Mashburn, age 74, of Columbus, NC, passed away Friday, March 26, 2021 at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center.

Perry was born August 24, 1946 in Rutherford County to the late Paul G. Mashburn and Reba Green Hicks. He was a veteran of the Vietnam War having served his country honorably in the U.S. Army. Perry worked for...

Mar 26, 2021

Cheryl Litterio, age 71, of Rutherfordton, passed away Friday, March 26, 2021 at Hospice of the Carolina Foothills.

Cheryl was born Wednesday, June 8, 1949 in Boston, Massachusetts to the late Edward Schreiber and Barbara Henderson Schreiber. She worked as a (CNA) Certified Nursing Assistant for many years and enjoyed reading and solving mysteries.  Cheryl loved her family...

Mar 25, 2021

Dave Kager Cox, Sr., age 78, passed away Thursday, March 25, 2021 at his residence.

Dave was born Thursday, December 17, 1942 in Polk County to the late Will Blackwell and Nellie Mae Cox Stafford. He served honorably in the U.S. Army for twenty years before retirement. Dave was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He enjoyed...

Mar 24, 2021

Nell Bagwell Gragg, age 65, of Forest City, passed away Wednesday, March 24, 2021 at Atrium Health-Cleveland in Shelby.

Nell was born Sunday, July 31, 1955 in Rutherford County to Hazel Holtzclaw Bagwell who resides in Chesnee and the late John Bagwell. She was a graduate of Chase High School, class of 1973 and a member of...

Mar 21, 2021

Dorothy Ann Thrift, age 86, of Rutherfordton, passed away Sunday, March 21, 2021 at Atrium Health-Cleveland in Shelby.

Dorothy was born Sunday, December 30, 1934 in Rutherford County to the late Ralph and Morea Scruggs. She was a graduate of Cliffside High School, class of 1952 and worked in textiles for many years before retiring from the...

Mar 19, 2021

Julia Marie Hagan, age 33, of Forest City, passed away, Friday, March 19, 2021 at her residence.

Julia was born Friday, April 17, 1987 in Rutherford County to Douglas Hagan and Christine Hebenstreit Hagan who reside in Forest City. She was a graduate of Chase High School and Isothermal Community College. Julia was a manager for Dominos...

Mar 18, 2021

Johnnie Buff, age 80, of Bostic, passed away Thursday, March 18, 2021 at her residence.

Johnnie was born Tuesday, July 16, 1940 in Rutherford County to the late Curtis Sanford Buff and Lottie Stanley Buff. She was a graduate of Harris High School, class of 1958 and a graduate of Kings Business College in Charlotte. Johnnie worked...