Obituaries

Celebrate and remember those from our precious alma mater who have passed. We send our deepest condolences to the families and friends.

Kate D. Welch

Kate D. WelchKate Deitz Welch, 91, of Bryson City peacefully passed from this earthly life on June 6, 2026, at home with her family present. Kate was born March 15, 1935, to the late Hoyle and Inez Deitz of Dillsboro. She graduated from Western Carolina University in...

Sally M. Monteith

Sally M. MonteithSally Campbell, age 108, a Jackson County high school English and Journalism teacher for 34 years died at her home on Friday, June 5th. A native and lifelong resident of Sylva, she was the daughter of the late Sam and Ida Monteith and the wife of...

Philip D. Buchahan

Philip D. BuchahanPhilip Dean Buchanan was born on Dec. 26, 1943 in the lovely town of Sylva in the North Carolina mountains to Thomas Dewey Buchanan and Inez Vesta Carver Buchanan. He attended Western Carolina University for his undergraduate work. Here, his...
Betty M. Hines

Betty M. Hines

Betty M. HinesRock Hill, SC – Betty Mulkey Hines, 91, passed away on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, at her home in Rock Hill, SC. Memorial service will be held at St. John’s United Methodist Church on Thursday, December 12 at 2:00 with the receiving of friends to follow....

Carl “Wayne” Britt

Carl “Wayne” Britt

Carl "Wayne" BrittCarl Wayne Britt, 55, of Woodfin, NC, passed away suddenly on December 2, 2024, at Mission Hospital, Asheville, NC. Wayne was born in Poncé, Puerto Rico, and had lived in several locations around the world, but for the past 20 years had resided in...

Shannon “Gale” Armstrong

Shannon “Gale” Armstrong

Shannon "Gale" ArmstrongShannon Gale Armstrong, age 82, of Asheboro passed away on December 1, 2024 at the Randolph Hospice House. Gale was born in Tarboro, NC on September 15, 1942 to Rupert and Mary Charles Brooks Armstrong, who preceded her in death. She graduated...