Boyd M. Ledford Jr., 72, of Hayesville passed away Wednesday, July 18, 2018 in a Murphy hospital. He was a native and lifetime resident of Clay County. Boyd served in the United States Army where he served three tours in Vietnam. He was a member of the American Legion Post 532 in Hayesville. Boyd was of the Baptist faith.

Boyd enjoyed fishing, cooking, collecting coins, and spending time with family, especially watching his grandkids play ball.

He was the son of the late Boyd M. Sr. and Odema Buchanan Ledford. He also was preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth Neil; and two brothers, Warren and Harold Ledford.

Surviving are his wife of 49 years, Margaret Ledford; two daughters, Lisa Smith and husband, Mike, and Amy Smith and husband, David, all of Hayesville; a son, Blake Ledford of Hayesville; two sisters, Joyce Karn of Knoxville, Tennessee, and Martha Patterson and husband, Tony of Waynesville, North Carolina; four grandchildren, Lindsay Alwine and husband, Brad, Brian Smith, Ethan Smith, and Brady Smith; a great granddaughter, Ellie Grace Alwine; and many nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, July 28 in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville with military rites conducted by the Hayesville VFW Post 6812, American Legion Post 532, and Murphy American Legion Post 96 and the Rev. Ricky Rogers officiating.

The family will receive friends from 10-10:45 Saturday morning, July 28 at the Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville prior to the services.

Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville in charge of all arrangements.

Genevieve Carson Stout, 95, of Murphy passed away Tuesday, July 17, 2018 in a Murphy care facility. She was a native of Mount Solon, Virginia, but had been living in Murphy since 1978. She was the valedictorian of her graduating class at Mount Solon High School. She was a graduate of Dunsmore Business College in Staunton, Virginia. Genevieve was a Postmaster with the Islamorada, Florida Postal Service, retiring in the mid 1980s. She was a member of the Ranger United Methodist Church, where she served as choir director, pianist, organist, and treasurer.

She was the daughter of the late Jesse and Lillian Vance Carson and the wife of the late Donald Eugene Stout, who died November 20, 1993. She was also preceded in death by a sister and two half-brothers.

Surviving are a daughter, Betty J. Suter of Springfield, Illinois; two sons, General Donald L. Kerrick of Jupiter, Florida and Dr. George E. Kerrick of Murfreesboro, Tennessee; five grandchildren, five great grandchildren, and two great-great grandchildren; and a cousin, Mary Dove.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 23, 2018 in the Ranger United Methodist Church with the Rev. Tim Lee officiating. The interment will be in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Gary and Richard Kilpatrick, Ken Price, Sam Davis, Fred Burton, and L.D. Beavers. Honorary pallbearers will be Ernest Ledford, Dave Tucker, and Bob Edwards.

The family will receive friends following the service in the Ranger United Methodist Church Fellowship Hall.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Genevieve Carson Stout to the Ranger United Methodist Church Choir, 156 Ranger Road, Murphy, NC 28906.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.

Corbin Grey Lipson has left this world. Corbin passed away peacefully in the arms of his mother at home, on July 5, 2018. He was four years old.

Corbin is survived by his parents, David and Nicole Lipson; by his sister, Autumn Lipson; and by his uncle, Denis Wojtan.

Corbin was born on March 20, 2014. He had 10 months of perfect health before he became ill. He survived two cardiac arrests at 11 months. It was shortly after that he was diagnosed with a terminal mitochondrial disease. It was a lifelong struggle but Corbin fought every day.

Corbin had a stoic personality. He was hard to make laugh, but that just added to the joy when he did. Some of his favorite things were Llama Llama books, slamming doors, and making a mess. His favorite time of day was sitting between his mommy and daddy watching his favorite shows before bed.

Corbin was very loving, and if you were lucky, you were able to experience one of his cuddle hugs or arm pets.

Corbin was a regular at Levine Children’s hospital in Charlotte, where he became fond of the staff and volunteers.

To know Corbin was to love him. Everyone commented on his long eyelashes and cherubic face. The world was a better place for having him. He will be greatly missed by anyone lucky enough to have known him.

If love could have saved him, he would have lived forever.

A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of arrangements.

Lieutenant Commander Wendell Willard Lovingood Jr., died on Wednesday, July 4^th, 2018, in Asheville, North Carolina.

He was a native of Clay County, born on August 25^th, 1929, in Warne. He was a 1948 graduate of Andrews High School.

He then joined the United States Navy. His career spanned 24 years and was part of some of the most significant events of the twentieth century. He served on over five submarines during the 1950s, including patrols in the North Atlantic, tailing Soviet submarines during the beginning decade of the Cold War. He also served on numerous Destroyers and Aircraft Carriers. He was a part of the naval blockade of Cuba during the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962. He was aboard the Naval vessel which retrieved Captain John Glenn and the astronauts from their first landing on the moon. In 1968, he was sent to Vietnam shortly after the Tet Offensive, and served in the Mekong Delta as a supply officer, supplying Navy Seals and other United States Armed Forces the equipment needed to engage Vietcong in isolated rural outposts. In 1971, he retired from the Navy, earning the rank of Lieutenant Commander, was a Bronze Star with a combat “V” and Navy Achievement Medal for meritorious service in combat.

Wendell spent the next 20 years serving the Western North Carolina community as a state employee who wrote grants and petitioned the federal government for funds to improve life in WNC. He was directly responsible for the acquiring of funds for numerous libraries, dams, water treatment facilities, public buildings, and recreational facilities all over Southwestern North Carolina.

Wendell was a member of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Catholic Church in Hayesville

He was the son of the late Wendell and Edna West Lovingood; and the husband of the late Farida Dahdah Lovingood, who died July 18, 2007.

Surviving are daughters, Lori Lovingood Jones and husband Eric of Boiling Springs, NC, and  Sharon Lovingood Hathaway and her husband Bill, of Greensboro, NC; two sons, Robert Lovingood and wife Melissa, of Madison, GA, and Stephen Lovingood and wife, Linda of Hayesville, NC; a sister, Jean Lovingood Ladd of Kernersville, NC; five grandchildren, Derrick Lovingood and wife Caitlin, of Hayesville; Layla Jones and husband, Clay Champion, of Cliffside, NC, Charlie Jones of Sylva, NC,  Billy Hathaway, of Greensboro, NC and Lucy Jones, of Cullowhee, NC; and three great grandchildren, Grady Lovingood, and Jack and Jasper Champion.

A memorial service was held at 2:00 pm Saturday, July 7, 2018 in the chapel of the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with Deacon John Barrone officiating. Military rites were conducted by the Murphy American Post 96, Hayesville VFW Post 6812, Hayesville American Legion Post 532.

The family received friends from 1:00-1:50 Saturday afternoon at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy prior to the services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made  in memory of  Wendell Willard Lovingood, Jr. to: The Charles George VA Medical Center Valor Hospice unit,1000 Tunnel Road, Asheville NC 28805.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.

Willa Mae Earley, 87, of Murphy passed away Thursday, May 24, 2018 in Athens, Tennessee.  She was a native and lifelong resident of Cherokee County. She worked for several years for Murphy Laundry. Willa Mae was a member of the Shoal Creek Baptist Church.

She was the daughter of the late Lloyd and Icie Jane Craig Crowder and the wife of the late Fred Earley, who died August 3, 2006. She also was preceded in death by three sons, Freddie, Robert, and Larry Earley; two grandchildren, two sisters; and five brothers.

Surviving are a daughter, Carolyn Bennett of Elkhart, Indiana; two sisters, Minnie Allen and Martha White, both of Dalton, Georgia; two brothers, T.J. Crowder of Farner, Tennessee and Joe Crowder of Dalton; seven grandchildren, six great grandchildren, and seven great great grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 26, 2018 in the Chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with the Rev. Jerry Beaver officiating. The interment was in Shoal Creek Cemetery. Grandsons served as pallbearers.

The family received friends from 10-10:45 Saturday morning at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy prior to the services.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.

Juanita Salisbury DeWeese, 88, of Aquone passed away Tuesday, May 8, 2018 at her residence. She was a native of Summit County, Ohio, where she lived throughout her life until her retirement to Aquone. She was a homemaker. She was instrumental in the development of the Nantahala Community Library. Juanita received the Governor’s Award for her leadership and advancement of the program. She was a member of the Briartown Baptist Church.

She was the daughter of the late Greer and Mary Jane Godfrey Salisbury and the wife of the late Burl DeWeese, who died July 25, 2004. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Mildred Marie Salisbury; and two brothers, Rexall and Ernest Lee Salisbury.

Surviving are a daughter, Noralyn DeWeese Hudkins Crouch and husband, Larry of Rochester, Indiana; a son, James Burl DeWeese and wife, Pam of Vienna, Virginia; two grandsons, James H. DeWeese and Kimberly Jackson of Pflugerville, Texas and Brady E. Hudkins and wife, Sunny of Augusta, Georgia; four great grandchildren, Sarah and Richard DeWeese, and Edward and Gwenyth Hudkins; and three step-great grandchildren, Dakota, Hunter, and Logan.

Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. Saturday, May 12, 2018 in the Briartown Baptist Church with the Revs. S.J. Waters and Larry Icenhower officiating. The interment will be in the church cemetery. Pallbearers will be Donald Cross, Sidney May, David Bryson, Timmy Solesbee, and Kirk Mintz.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 Friday evening at the Ivie Funeral Home, Andrews where the body will be until placed in the church 30 minutes prior to the services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Juanita Salisbury DeWeese to the Nantahala Community Library, 128 Nantahala School Road, Topton, NC 28781 or Four Seasons Hospice, 571 S. Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731.

Ivie Funeral Home, Andrews in charge of all arrangements.

Ruth Tatham Roper, a lifetime resident of Andrews and true historian, passed from this life on April 28, 2018 at the age of ninety.  Ruth worked for Nichols Department Store in Andrews for many years.  She was a member of Andrews First Baptist Church and a very active member in the Sunday School Group as well as the Young at Heart Group until she became unable to participate.

Ruth is preceded in death by her husband, Golmon Roper, who she married on October 2, 1948 and who passed away November 1, 2014.  She is also preceded in death by her parents, Walter and Lillie Hoyle Tatham, brothers, Roland, Steve, Leslie and George Tatham and sister, Katherine Penland.

She is survived by her son Lynn Roper and wife, Sandra; one granddaughter, Natalie Jones and husband Kenny; one step grandson, Scott Christopher; one great granddaughter, Morgan Estell Jones as well as two step great grandchildren, Allen and Alexis Christopher.  She is also survived by nieces and nephews, Jack Tatham and wife, Joyce, Joe Tatham and wife, Judy, Jeannette West, Judy Dukes, Jerry Tatham and wife, Shirley, Jane Waters and husband, Jimmy, Jimmy Penland and Lou, Teresa Tatham, Leon Tatham and wife, Treasie, Gary Tatham and wife, Margaret, Richard “Dickie” Tatham and wife, Tootie, Robert Roper and wife, Marsha, Phyllis Parker, and Gary Roper.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, May 1, 2018 at Andrews First Baptist Church with Dr. Calvin Bobo and Rev. Jerry Tatham officiating.  The interment will be in Valleytown Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Kenneth Cope, Jim Wilson, Lane Raxter, Gary Kauffman, Scott Christopher, and Eddie Wood.  Honorary pallbearers will be Ray Adams, Maurice Sherrill, Virgil Gibson, and Donald Hogan.

The family will receive friends from 12:00-1:45 p.m. Tuesday at Andrews First Baptist Church prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to:  Andrews First Baptist Church, PO Box 427, Andrews, NC  28901.

Ivie Funeral Home, Andrews in charge of all arrangements.

Kathy Smith, 64, of Andrews passed away Tuesday, April 24, 2018 in a Murphy hospital. A native of Wilmington, North Carolina, Kathy had lived in Kissimmee, Florida before moving to Andrews in 1997. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Forest City in Altamonte Springs, Florida, but had attended the Andrews First Baptist Church.

She was the daughter of Thomas E. and Hazel McDuffie Cox of Andrews. She was preceded in death by a sister, Patti Sue Ali.

Surviving, in addition to her parents, is a sister, Jenni Eve of Parker, Colorado.

A graveside service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Wednesday, May 2, 2018 in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens with Dr. Calvin Bobo officiating.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.

Edward Lynn Johnson, age 70, of Madisonville, TN passed away 3:56 p.m. Sunday, April 8, 2018 at Erlanger Hospital. He retired from Levi Strauss and was a veteran of the U.S. Army having served in Vietnam.

Preceded in death by parents, Ernest Akins Johnson and Lena Mae Dockery Johnson; son, Edward Lynn Johnson, Jr.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Imogene “Jean” Johnson Lyle Smith, Minis Lucille Campbell and Alvin Campbell, Deloris Ann Mashburn, Ted Whitener; brothers and sisters-in-law, Clifford Clinton Johnson, Leroy and Thelma Ruth Johnson, Earl Junior Johnson and Barbara Sue Johnson, and Joyce Johnson; one infant brother; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Charles Erskine and Helen Frye Bookout.

Survivors: wife, Georgia Lynn Bookout Johnson; children, Stanley Akins Johnson and wife Kathy, Eunaiviee Ann Raper and husband, Jeff, all of Murphy, NC; grandchildren, Jesse James, Tara Raper, Tasha Raper, Jordan Johnson, Alyssa Johnson; sisters, Elizabeth Sue Whitener, Mary Catherine Burger and husband, Charles Leland Burger; brothers and sisters-in-law, Randall Lamar Johnson and wife, Mescal, Kenneth Maurice Johnson; Ernest Bilton and wife, Amanda, Art and Frankie Johnson Sneed, and Ed Huggins; several nieces and nephews; brothers-in-law and sister-in-law, Mitch and Katie Anderson, of Sweetwater, and Webster Bookout, of Englewood.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, April 14, 2018 at Biereley-Hale Chapel with Rev. David Watson, and Rev. Doyle Lloyd officiating. Interment was in New Bethel Cemetery with military honors by V.F.W. Goldstar Post 5156, D.A.V. Chapter 93 and American Legion Post 106.

The family received friends 12-2 p.m. Saturday at Biereley-Hale Funeral Home, Madisonville, TN prior to the services.

Leviathan Daniel Wade “Goob” Hendrix, four-month old son of Spenser Hendrix and Heaven Johnson of Murphy, passed away Wednesday, March 21, 2018.

Surviving are his paternal grandparents, Leonard Hendrix and fiancé Angel of Statesville, North Carolina and Lynn Hendrix of Murphy; maternal grandparents, Joshua Johnson of Brasstown and Brandy Seppala of Brasstown; two aunts, Jade and Ada Hendrix, an uncle, D.J. Hendrix, a cousin, Bentley Hendrix; and two godfathers, Alex Kremer and Jordan Hughes. He is also survived by his great grandparents and his great great grandparents.

A private family service was held at Ivie Funeral Home.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.

Frankie M. McMillan, 82, of the Unaka Community passed away Sunday, February 25, 2018 in a Murphy care facility. She was born in Gum Log, Georgia, but was raised in Polk County, Tennessee. Frankie was a stay-at-home mom who became a teacher, Master Educator, 4-H leader, Girl Scout leader, softball coach, volunteer firefighter, and community volunteer. Frankie served on numerous boards within the county, including Tri-County Community College. She was of the Christian faith and was a member of Unaka Baptist Church, where she served many years as a Sunday School teacher.

She was the daughter of the late George and Beaulah Thomas Miller and the step-daughter of the late Madelyn Allen Miller. She was the wife of the late Dallas F. McMillan Sr., who died October 26, 1996. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Edith Jane McMillan; and two brothers, George Junior Miller and Jerry Miller.

Surviving are a son, Dallas F. “Buddy” McMillan Jr. and wife, Jennifer of Murphy; a sister, Shirley “Woot” Rhodes and husband, J.B. of Polk County, Tennessee; two grandchildren, Connor John McMillan and Camryn Lane McMillan; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 7:00 PM Thursday, March 1, 2018 in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with the Rev. Rondall Brown and Dr. Chester Jones officiating and Eastern Star Funeral Ceremony by Order of Eastern Star Martha Chapter 246. Graveside services will be held at 11:00 AM Friday, March 2 in Unaka Community Cemetery. The men of Unaka Fire Department will serve as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 5:00-6:45 Thursday evening at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy prior to the services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Frankie M. McMillan to the Tri-County Community College Scholarship Fund, 21 Campus Circle, Murphy, NC 28906.