obituaries

Feb 3, 2025

Ruby Arrington Willis, 88, of Mars Hill, passed away on February 3, 2025. She was born January 14, 1937 in Madison County and was the daughter of the late Cleophus and Dallie Willis Arrington.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Loyd James Willis, and sisters, Myrtle Metcalf and Rita Smith....

Jan 29, 2025

Bruce Dean Ogle left his Mars Hill home on January 29, 2025 at the age of 64 to be with the Lord. He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Brenda Jarrett Ogle, and daughter, Jade Ogle, as well as his parents, Joe & Christine Ogle of Mars Hill. Dean was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents,...

Jan 28, 2025

Charles Junior Coffey, Sr., 67, passed away on Tuesday, January 28, 2025. He was a lifelong resident of Madison County and the son of the late Rev. Anderson and Girtha Gunter Coffey. He is preceded in death by an infant brother, David Jerome Coffey, and sister-in-law, Cindy Coffey.

Charles is survived by his wife, Jackie Law Coffey;...

Jan 28, 2025

Lorraine Michelle Smith Reece, 55, passed away on January 28, 2025. She was born on November 27, 1969, to the late Holbert and Elma Johnson Smith.

Lorraine is survived by her sons, Christopher Lee Reece, Kenneth Dale Reece, and Lucas Blaine Reece; grandchildren, Gracelynn Mae Reece, Addalyn Mae Dockery, Kenneth Dale Reece, Jr., and Cheyenne Marie Reece;...

Jan 28, 2025

Willie Zene Ramsey, 81, of Mars Hill, passed away on January 28, 2025. She was born on November 21, 1943 in Flag Pond, TN. Willie was a daughter to the late Claude and Eunice Carver Ramsey.

Willie was a hardworking, dedicated and loving daughter. She retired from Micro Switch Manufacturing. Willie loved being outside and working in...

Jan 28, 2025

It is with a heavy heart today that we must inform all of you that Mike passed away last night following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born in Queens New York on April 25th 1940 and passed January 28th 2025 in Asheville North Carolina.

He is survived by; his wife Lynne Kaufman, his children Lisa...

Jan 27, 2025

Thelma "Louise" Kent Smith Brigman, 96, entered into her heavenly home, safe in the arms of Jesus on Monday, January 27, 2025, in Bowling Green, Kentucky. Louise was born on December 27, 1928, "out on Little Pine" in Madison County, North Carolina to Robert Wade Kent and Zora Louise Payne Kent. Louise loved living in Marshall for her first...

Jan 26, 2025

Anthony Dewayne Carver, 43, of Mars Hill, passed away on January 26, 2025. He was born on November 16, 1981 in Buncombe County. He was the son of Leroy and Judy Franklin Carver.

Anthony was a man of many talents and skills. He enjoyed fixing things and any problems someone handed him. Anthony enjoyed fishing and most...

Jan 26, 2025

Elizabeth "Betty" Wild—Marshall's first woman Mayor—devoted Catholic, sister, mom, grandma and great-grandma died January 26, one day short of her 92nd birthday.

She was involved in politics for over 25 years in her home state of Michigan before moving to Marshall, North Carolina, with her husband, Lewis Wild. She soon became a well-known political figure in Western...

Jan 22, 2025

Alma Faye (Smoot) Candler 79, passed away on January 22, 2025. She was born in

New Bern NC to the late Harry Lee Smoot and Alma Jean Burr Smoot.

In addition to her parents, Faye is preceded in death by the love of her life Billy Ray Candler

who passed away in 2019,...

Jan 16, 2025

Travis Landon Metcalf, 55, of the East Fork Community, went to be with the Lord on January 16, 2025.

He was a lifetime self employed truck driver for Metcalf Trucking, LLC. His favorite place to truck was loads to Florida. He loved to travel and go on vacations with his family to pigeon Forge and the beach....

Jan 15, 2025

Ursula Else Schmidt Plemmons, 83, of Asheville, passed away on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. She was born on September 20, 1941, in Germany to the late Wilhelm and Lina Wintermeyer Schmidt.

Ursula was a faithful and dedicated Christian who was a member of Mt. Sheba Baptist Church where she was a Sunday School teacher. She was a...

Jan 14, 2025

Betty "Louise" Capps Wilson, 83, of Marshall, NC, passed away January 14, 2025. She was the daughter of the late Denver and Dollie Marlor Capps. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Richard Baxter Wilson and a sister, Marie Capps.

Louise is survived by daughters, Carolyn Johnson (Brad), Jolena Hensley (Bruce),...

Jan 14, 2025

Catherine Whitt Emory, 97, of Weaverville, passed away on January 14, 2025 surrounded by her family. She was born on February 9, 1927 to the late John and Lucitta Arrington Whitt.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Emory who passed away in 2014; sons, Boyd Emory and Patrick Emory;...

Jan 12, 2025

Betty Lou Bradley Clark, 84, of Marshall, passed away Sunday, January 12, 2025. She was born on March 8, 1940 to the late Bill and Blanche Sams Bradley, in the Grapevine community of Madison County. She was a lifelong active member of Grapevine Baptist Church.

Betty was a devoted wife, mother, and "Nanny", who enjoyed nothing more...

Jan 12, 2025

Sandra Banks, 71, passed away on January 12, 2025. Born on April 6, 1953, she was the daughter of Blanche Bridges Sherman and the late Hugo Sherman.

She is survived by her daughters; Michelle Lutes and Tammy Griffin (Chad), her brothers; Tommy, Terry, Jeffrey and Billy Joe Sherman, her grandchildren; Justin Crain (Morgan), Mitch Griffin (Summer), Austin...

Jan 10, 2025

Lena B. Sutton Roberts, 78, of Leicester, NC, passed away, January 10, 2025. She was the daughter of the late Elbert and Eva Barnes Sutton. In addition to her parents Mrs. Roberts is preceded in death by her husband, Henry F. Roberts; sisters, Ila and Wanda Campbell; brothers, Tom, Robert, Kyle, Lawrence and Rubel Sutton.

She is...

Jan 9, 2025

Beatrice "Bea" Loven Gardner, 90, of Mars Hill, NC, passed away, January 9, 2025. She was the daughter of the late, Natt Taylor Loven, Sr. and Minnie Miller Loven. Bea was a loving mother, grandmother and great grandmother. She was a former Sunday School teacher and Choir director at Paint Gap Baptist Church and Middle Fork Baptist Church and...

Jan 8, 2025

Bobby Ray Winker, 45, of Barnardsville, passed away on January 8, 2025. He was born on December 23, 1979 in Buncombe County, to Ralph and Barbara Winker Edwards.

Bobby worked with Danny Bell in the construction industry for 13 years.

In addition to his parents, Bobby is survived by his wife, Rachel Boulerisse Winker; sons,...

Jan 5, 2025

Mary Sheahan O'Donnell passed away peacefully on January 5, 2025. Mary was an active golfer and swimmer and had an extremely quick sense of humor that would light up any room. Mary graduated from Florida Atlantic University and earned her CPA certification shortly thereafter. For many years she served as Treasury Manager and Controller of Concurrent Computer Systems before...