Chloris Matheson West passed peacefully in Atlanta, Georgia on Thursday, June 14, 2018. She was 88 years old and surrounded by family.

She was a native of Cherokee County, and the daughter of the late Wayne Ross Matheson and Lula Adkins Matheson.

She was preceded in death by her husband of nearly 60 years, Roy V. West Sr.; a son, R. Vernon West Jr.; and a sister, Shirley Matheson Nelson.

Surviving are a daughter, Kathryn Scott West and husband, Cecil G. Julian III; step-grandchildren, Paul Edward Julian and Emily Diane Julian; daughter-in-law, Susan Harris West; grandchildren, Jonathan Harris West and wife, Samantha Elizabeth Hood West, and Meredith West Berg and husband, Griffith Quentin Berg; and a great granddaughter, Freya Elizabeth West.

A graveside service will be held at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, July 21, 2018 in Valleytown Cemetery with the Rev. Mary Brown officiating.

The family requests memorials be made in memory of Chloris Matheson West to the Andrews United Methodist Church, PO Box 1310, Andrews, NC 28901.

Ivie Funeral Home, Andrews in charge of arrangements.

Richard Kerr “Richie” Story, 87, of Hayesville passed away Wednesday, May 30, 2018 at Erlanger Murphy Medical Center. He was a native of Queens, New York. Richie and his wife, Carolyn, live in Largo, Florida but are seasonal residents of Hayesville. He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the United States Navy. Richie was an electrician with IBEW Local No. 3 in New York City, retiring with 42 years of service. He was of the Christian faith.

He was the son of the late Edwin D. and Helen Catherine Kerr Story.

Surviving are his wife of 31 years, Carolyn Bruns Story; a daughter, Lisa Kitner of Fort Myers, Florida; a son, Richard E. Story and wife, Patricia of Freeport, New York; two step-sons, Sean P. MacGilvray and wife, Teresa, and Shannon J. MacGilvray, all of Queens, New York; a brother, Edwin D. Story and wife, Joan of Ocala, Florida; and ten grandchildren.

A Celebration of Life will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Sunday, July 22, 2018 at The Ridges Country Club at The Sequoyah.

Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville in charge of arrangements.

Mary Lee Wheat, 76, of Murphy passed away Monday, May 21, 2018 in Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Mary Lee was born and raised in Rocky Mount, Virginia on May 6, 1942. She moved to Sarasota, Florida at the age of 11. Mary Lee was a loving mother and homemaker. She worked for several years at Darby Buick in Sarasota. Her last job position was with Barnett Bank as a mortgage processor.

Mary Lee enjoyed attending the Tennessee Aquarium, the Chattanooga Theater Center, and the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera. She was a member of the Peachtree Memorial Baptist Church. She loved her church family and enjoyed taking part in church activities. Mary Lee was an active gardener, golfer, and decorator of the home. If it weren’t for Mary Lee, Richard says he would have a very dull house.

She was the daughter of the late John Levi and Mary Helen Holland Altice. She was preceded in death by her first husband, John C. Elslander Sr.; and two brothers, David Allen and Donald Keith Altice.

Surviving are her loving and blessed husband of 12 years, Richard H. Wheat; three daughters, Monica Lynn Adami and husband, Larry of Sarasota, Patricia Wheat Royal and husband, Henry of Orlando, Florida, and Pamela Wheat Lusk and husband, Les of Apopka, Florida; two sons, John C. Elslander Jr. and partner, Christina Bowman of Sarasota, and James Richard Wheat and wife, Helen of Mount Dora, Florida; a brother, Ronald Altice of Sarasota; five grandchildren, Colton Adami, Jonathan Royal, Daniel Royal, Joshua Lusk, and Matthew Lusk; a great grandchild, Londyn Adami; and nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date in the Peachtree Memorial Baptist Church with Dr. Chester Jones and Rev. Chris Furl officiating. A private Celebration of Life also will be held in Sarasota, Florida.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of arrangements.

Lorraine V. Watson, 76, of Murphy passed away Monday, May 14, 2018 in a Murphy care facility. She was a native of Detroit, Michigan, but had lived in Sarasota, Florida throughout most of her life until moving to Murphy in 1991. Lorraine enjoyed bass fishing with her husband and the GLOW widow’s luncheons. She was a member of the Mountainview Community Church, where she participated in Small Group Bible Study and Women’s Tea. Her most recent enjoyment was taking part in her grandchildren’s lives.

She was the daughter of the late August and Charlotte Praet Van Bael and the wife of the late William Bruce Watson, who died July 26, 2014. She also was preceded in death by a daughter, Leanne Watson Hand; a son, Robert William Watson; and two sisters, Florence C. Strickland and Beth S. McDaniel.

Surviving are three grandchildren, Jarred Hand and wife, Rebecca, Stacey Messer and husband, Derik, and Bobby Hand, all of Murphy; six great grandchildren, Mercedes, Johanna, Eric, Lauren, Ryan, and Rayland; a great great grandson, Bentley; and three sisters, Deanna E. Maus of Acworth, Georgia, Francis C. Baumberger of Fort Myers, Florida, and Susan H. Dawson of Charlotte, North Carolina.

Funeral services will be held at a later date in Sarasota, Florida. The interment will be Manasota Memorial Park in Bradenton, Florida.

A local memorial service will be held at a later date at Mountainview Community Church.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Lorraine V. Watson to the Warriors Veteran Outreach, c/o Dan Miller, PO Box 134, Murphy, NC 28906 or www.warriorsveteranoutreach.wordpress.com.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of local arrangements.

Raymond (Ray) Elton Maddox, 71, passed away peacefully at his home in Hayesville on Tuesday, May 8, 2018. He was born on November 22, 1946 in Magee, Mississippi to the late Giles Elton Maddox and Mildred Maddox Coppenbarger. Ray was the brother of the late Sydney Eugene Maddox, all of Jackson, Mississippi.

Ray exceled with a football scholarship and successful college career at the University of Memphis and Mississippi College while serving in the Mississippi National Guard.

Ray’s career in finance, banking, and daycare spanned from Memphis, Tennessee to Orlando, Florida. With Jan, his beloved wife of 32 years, they fulfilled their retirement dream at their North Carolina mountain home, where he honed his skills of woodworking, volunteering, and most of all, chainsaw artistry.

Ray is survived by his wife, Jan Shaw Maddox; a son, Brandon Reid Maddox of Orlando, Florida; a daughter, Heather Anne Jelinek of St. Marys, Georgia; a brother, Joel Petty Maddox of Pensacola, Florida; a niece, Monica Maddox Esche; a nephew, Mark Eugene Maddox; and five grandchildren, Gavin Jelinek, Taylor Maddox, Carly Jelinek, Luke Maddox, and Logan Jelinek.

A Celebration of Life will be held this coming weekend at the Maddox home for friends and family. Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville will announce arrangements.

Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville in charge of arrangements.

Margie Payne, 84, of Brasstown passed away peacefully Thursday, May 3, 2018 at her residence surrounded by her three devoted daughters.

Margie was a native and lifetime resident of the Brasstown Community.

Margie worked for numerous years for Four Square Community Action in Clay County before beginning a successful career in real estate. She also was instrumental in the founding of the Brasstown Fire Department.

Margie was an active member of Little Brasstown Baptist Church.

Margie enjoyed quilting, gardening, water skiing, camping, and playing cards with friends and family. She was a great friend throughout her life to all she met.

She was the daughter of the late Lela Groves Sparks and the wife of the late Max Payne, who died March 9, 2018. She was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Jennifer Mease; two sisters, Stella Sparks and Ann Stephens; and a brother, Jim Sparks.

Surviving are three daughters, Debi Mease and husband, Gary of Hayesville, and Linda McKeever and husband, Bill and Diana Brown and husband, Andrew, all of Brasstown; five sisters, Bernice Henderson, Frances Sparks, Marilyn Ivester, Laura Stamey, and Patsy Harper, all of Young Harris, Georgia; seven grandchildren, Nathan Mease, Emily Price, Lindsey Strong, and Lilly, Asher, Will, and Ellie Brown; three great grandchildren, Hayden and Lyla Price, and Mitchell Strong; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 5:00 p.m. Sunday, May 6, 2018 in the Little Brasstown Baptist Church with the Rev. Aud Brown officiating. The interment will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, May 7, 2018 in Little Brasstown Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Byron and Brock Harper, Heath Henderson, Jeff Stamey, and Brad and Curtis Stephens.

The family will receive friends from 3-4:45 p.m. Sunday, May 6 at the Little Brasstown Baptist Church prior to the services.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Margie Payne to the Brasstown Volunteer Fire Department, PO Box 55, Brasstown, NC 28902.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.

Hazel Stillwell, 61, of Hayesville passed away Wednesday, April 25, 2018 at her son’s residence. She was a native of Connelly Springs, North Carolina where she had lived before moving to Hayesville approximately 45 years ago. Hazel was a corrections officer with Clay County Sheriff’s Department for the past 11 years. She was a member of Meadow Grove Baptist Church. Hazel enjoyed fishing and she was an excellent wife and mother.

She was the daughter of the late Roy and Eula Smith Chapman and the wife of the late William Shadrick Lowe, who died in 1991. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Kristyl Lowe.

Surviving are a former husband, Bill Stillwell; a son, Will Shane Lowe and wife, Analisa of Murphy, North Carolina; two sisters, Evelyn Henson and husband, Arthur of Morganton, North Carolina, and Willa Roberts and husband, John of Torrington, Connecticut; a brother, Robert Chapman and wife, Dianne of Valdese, North Carolina; a granddaughter, Sierra Lowe; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A memorial service was held at 11:00 AM Saturday, April 28, 2018 in the chapel of the Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville with Rev. Ricky Rogers officiating.

The family received friends from 9:30 AM-10:50 AM Saturday, April 28 at the Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville prior to the services.

Ivie Funeral Home, Hayesville in charge of all arrangements.

Doyle White, 69, of Andrews passed away Friday, April 20, 2018 at Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, Georgia. He was a native and lifetime resident of Andrews.

Doyle began working at the age of 16 for Higdon’s Construction, where he had retired in 2017.

He was a member of Valleytown Baptist Church.

Doyle enjoyed playing cards with his friends.

He was the son of the late Grover and Bettie Breedlove White. He was also preceded in death by an infant daughter, Amy Marie White; and three brothers, Bob, Ray, and Rick White.

Surviving are his wife, Gladys White; two sons, Robert White and wife, Donna of Dallas, Georgia and Matthew White and wife, Mary of Andrews; a brother, Ralph White of Augusta, Georgia; six grandchildren, whom he loved, Brittany, Ashlyn, Caitlyn, Landon, Haydon, and Lauren White; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, April 22, 2018 in the Chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Andrews with the Rev. Eddie Hardin officiating. The interment was in Valleytown Cemetery. Pallbearers were Larry Allen, J.D. Queen, Bill Mintz, Steve Mashburn, Dick Strahan, and Ronnie Barton. Honorary pallbearers were Gerald and Bobby Hedden, Carl Patterson, Everett Mortimer, Alton Boyette, and Steve Jordan.

The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Saturday, April 21 at the Ivie Funeral Home, Andrews.

Ivie Funeral Home, Andrews in charge of all arrangements.

Ralph Gilbert McGill, 85, of Murphy passed away Wednesday, April 04, 2018 in a Murphy care facility. He was a native and lifelong resident of Cherokee County. Ralph was a veteran of the Korean War serving in United States Air Force.  He was a 32^ndDegree Mason and member of the Montgomery Lodge #426. Ralph had worked as a brick mason and was a member of Mount Moriah Baptist Church.

He was the son of the late James Charles “Charlie” and Blanche Hester Johnson McGill and the husband for 60 years of the late Doris Christine McAffee McGill, who died October 03, 2012. He was also preceded in death by a son-in-law, Clayton Coffey.

Surviving are two daughters, Karen McGill Jordan and husband, Bob of White, Georgia, and Debra McGill Coffey of Douglasville, Georgia; a son, Charles McGill and wife, Tracy of Demorest, Georgia; a sister, Doris Sherwood and husband, Jonathan, of Venice, Florida; five grandchildren, Rebecca Pfaff, Cynthia Jordan, Angela Stump, and husband, Josh, Kari Knight and husband, Brad, and Eric McGill; and three great granddaughters, Elizabeth Pfaff, and Jordan and Kaylee Spearman.

Funeral services were held at 3:00 pm Sunday, April 08, 2018 in the chapel of the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with Rev. Joe Simonds officiating. The interment was in the Mount Moriah Baptist Church Cemetery with military rites provided by the American Legion Post 96, Murphy DAV Chapter 73, Hayesville American Legion Post 532, Hayesville VFW Post 6812 (Allison Bristol) and masonic rites were conducted by the Montgomery Masonic Lodge No. 426. Pallbearers were Gary Dillard, Tim Simonds, Eric McGill, Brad Knight, Josh Stump and David Brackett. Honorary pallbearer was Charles Forrister.

The family received friends from 1:00-2:45 Sunday afternoon at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy prior to the services.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.