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...
Charlie B. Wright

Charlie B. Wright

Charlie B. WrightCharles Berkeley Wright (May 23, 1937 - Nov. 25, 2025) Charles Berkeley Wright of Fletcher, North Carolina died peacefully in hospice care on November 25, 2025. Charles “Charlie” Wright was born May 23, 1937 in Mills River, North Carolina to Berkeley...

Preston L. Tinsley

Preston L. Tinsley

Preston L. TinsleyPreston Lewis Tinsley of Waynesville, NC died peacefully in his home, surrounded by his family on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. If, as Shakespeare said, “All the world’s a stage”, Preston took great advantage of that stage and in his time played many...

Deanna J. Jordan

Deanna J. Jordan

Deanna J. JordanDeanna Jo Smith Jordan died in Louisville, KY on December 9, 2025. Deanna was born in Asheville, NC on September 25, 1949 to Horace William Smith, Sr., and Georgia DeBruhl Smith. She lived in Asheville for most of her life, and was a long-time member...