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...
Pressley T. Creery

Pressley T. Creery

Pressley T. CreeryPresley Thornton Creery, 78, passed away peacefully in his home on October 15, 2023. He was born in Baltimore, MD, and raised in Richmond, VA. Mr. Creery was born to the late Presley Thornton Creery and Jennie Ruth Claybrooke Creery. In addition to...

Bill Horne

Bill Horne

Bill HorneWilliam “Bill” Horne Jr, age 81, went home to be with The Lord on Friday, September 29, 2023 surrounded by his family. Bill was born on May 23, 1942, in Swannanoa, NC. He graduated from Charles D. Owen High School in 1960 and attended Western Carolina...

Charlotte P Young

Charlotte P Young

Charlotte P YoungCharlotte Pope Young, age 79, of Charlotte, NC passed away peacefully and at peace on Friday, October 6, 2023. Born December 12, 1943 in Charlotte, NC, she was the daughter of Jesse B. and Ruby (Turner) Pope. She married the love of her life, Louie...