Virgil G. Gibson, age 75, of Andrews, died Saturday, July 7, 2018 at his residence.  He was a native of Clay County, but since the age of six, had lived in Andrews.  Virgil was the owner/operator of Gibson Furniture, which was founded in 1950, until his retirement in 2007. He was a fifty-year member of the Andrews First Baptist Church where he had served as deacon for over forty years and had served on the building committee.  Virgil enjoyed hunting, fishing and working in his shop.

He was the son of the late Roy A. and Eva Eller Gibson. He was also preceded in death by a brother, David Gibson; and a sister, Mildred Allison.

Surviving are his wife of fifty-seven years, Reba Orr Gibson; a daughter, Melinda Waldroup and husband, Mitch of Andrews; two sisters, Martha Vaught of Macon, Georgia and Mary Stiles of Sylva, North Carolina; two grandchildren, Trevor Waldroup and wife, Emily and Nicole Gibson and husband, Brett all of Andrews; four great grandchildren, Addie and Jackson Waldroup, and Lily and Lincoln Gibson.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, July 10, 2018 at Andrews First Baptist Church with Dr. Calvin Bobo and Dr. Al Hood officiating. The interment was in Valleytown Cemetery. Pallbearers were Eddie Wood, Mitch Orr, Lane Raxter, Jim Wilson, Larry Dailey, and Phillip Hodge. Honorary pallbearers were active and inactive deacons of Andrews First Baptist Church.

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

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Virgil G. Gibson to the Gideons International, PO Box 164, Murphy, NC  28906.

Ivie Funeral Home, Andrews in charge of all arrangements.

Missy McClure, 50, of Murphy passed away Thursday, June 28, 2018 in a Murphy hospital. She was a native and lifetime resident of Cherokee County. Missy was a loving wife and mother.

She was the daughter of Evelyn and husband, Tom Reed of Murphy and the late Bill Smith. She was also preceded in death by a brother, David Smith.

Surviving, in addition to her mother and step-father, are her husband, Randy McClure; a daughter, Hannah McClure of Murphy; a son, Seth McClure and wife, Shonda of Murphy; a granddaughter, Myah McClure; a sister, Tammy Spivey of Hayesville; a brother, Danny Smith and wife, Sabrina of Blairsville, Georgia; and many nieces and nephews.

Funeral services were held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, July 1, 2018 in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with the Rev. Tony Ware officiating. The interment was in Peachtree Community Cemetery. Pallbearers were Tim Sutton, W.G. Mack, Doug Gibson, Dustin Smith, and Daniel and Victor Nemkovich.

The family received friends from 1-2:45 p.m. Sunday, July 1, 2018 at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy prior to the services.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.

Juanita P. Gibson, daughter of Arthur and Millie Ryder Phillips went home to Heaven on Sunday, June 17, 2018.

She worked at Levi’s for many years and Brumby’s Textile. She was co-owner of Mack’s Quick Lunch. Juanita loved her flowers, working in her garden, and her little dog, Bandit.

In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by a daughter, Sandy Morrow; a son, Michael Gibson; three sisters, Eunice Perry, Inamae Ratcliff, and Mary Haygood; and three brothers, Junior, Mack, and James Phillips.

Surviving are her loving husband of 63 years, Mack Gibson; a daughter, Angela Graves of Murphy; two sons, Clyde Gibson and wife, Pam of San Diego, California and Steve Gibson and wife, Vickie of Murphy; a sister, Wanda Murphy and husband, Frankie of Murphy; a brother, Don Phillips and wife, Eileen of Murphy; 14 grandchildren and many great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, June 20, 2018 in the Chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with the Rev. Lee Tanner officiating. The interment will be in Sunset Cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 Tuesday evening at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.

Winona Arrowood McClure, 80, of Murphy passed away Wednesday, June 13, 2018 in a Hall County, Georgia hospital. She was a native of Cherokee County. She was a member of Mount Liberty Baptist Church. Winona loved spending time with her family and enjoyed her cats.

She was the daughter of the late Thomas Melvin and Juanita Cook Hedden.  She also was preceded in death by a son, Richard Dean Arrowood; and a sister, Cleo Ledford.

Surviving are her husband, Jim McClure; a brother, Bob Hedden and wife, Patsy of Kennesaw, Georgia; two grandchildren, Matt Arrowood of Acworth, Georgia and Tangela Arrowood of Lakeland, Georgia; two step-sons, James G. McClure Jr. and Robert McClure, both of Alpharetta, Georgia; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, June 16, 2018 in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with the Rev. Ronald Patterson officiating. The interment will be in Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Matt Arrowood, James McClure Jr., and Justin Galloway.

The family will receive friends from 1-1:45 p.m. Saturday at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy prior to the services.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.

Janella D. Verner, 58, of Murphy passed away Monday, May 28, 2018 at her residence. She was a native of Clinton, Tennessee, but moved to Murphy in 2000 with her husband. She worked for 16 years as a detention officer for Cherokee, Clay, and Graham Counties in North Carolina and also Fannin County, Georgia. Janella was a member of the Hiwassee Dam Fire Department. She enjoyed doing arts & crafts, baking, making custom cakes, and canning. She also enjoyed passing on her knowledge to her kids and loving her grandchildren.

She was the daughter of Edna Miller of Knoxville, Tennessee and the late James Floyd May.

Surviving, in addition to her mother, are her husband, John Verner; three daughters, Michelle Williams and husband, Ryan of New Orleans, Louisiana, Jessica Cable and husband, Leonard of Andrews, and Vanessa Verner and Henry Lindsay of Murphy; a son, Chris Bradley of Farner, Tenessee; a sister, Beth Martel Bailey of Hickory, North Carolina; two brothers, Tim Rogers of Cleveland, Tennessee, and Dana May of Clinton, Tennessee; six grandchildren, Harry J. Verner, Hendrix Lee Bradley, Dakota Michael, Jayden Christopher, and Alexis Dyanna Page, and Natalie May Ashe; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 7:00 p.m. Friday, June 1, 2018 in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with the Rev. Larry Wilson and Edward Cable officiating. A private inurnment will be in Bryson City, North Carolina at a later date. Pallbearers will be deputies and detention officers from Graham County. Honorary pallbearers will be Joe Wood, John Avery, Chris Swanson, Dustin Smith, and Doug and Mitchell Prince.

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

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Janella D. Verner to the Wounded Warrior Project, PO Box 758517, Topeka, Kansas 66675-8517 or support.woundedwarriorproject.org/Donate.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.

Rachel Virginia Taylor, 77, of Murphy passed away Tuesday, May 22, 2018 at her residence. She was a native of Gilmer County, Georgia, but had lived in Atlanta before retiring back to Murphy with her husband in 1995. She worked as an operator for Southern Bell for 16 years. She was a member of the congregation Church of God at New Hope. Rachel loved the Lord and always welcomed others into her home with open arms.

She was the daughter of the late Charlie and Gladys Pritchett Dockery. She was also preceded in death by a granddaughter, Cathy Virginia Taylor Warman; three sisters, Aline Lakin, Callie Dockery, and Inez MacArthur; and a brother, Wilburn Dockery.

Surviving are her husband of 54 years, Colon Taylor; two sons, Randy Taylor and wife, Charlotte, and Gordon Taylor, all of Murphy; a sister, Dora Coraham of Chatsworth, Georgia; a brother, Lester “Bud” Dockery of Calhoun, Georgia; a grandson, Randy Taylor Jr. of Marble; two great grandsons, Dennis Warman and Jethro Warman; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Saturday, May 26, 2018 in the Chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with the Rev. David Watson officiating. The interment will be in Unaka Community Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Leroy and Michael Whitener, Danny and Darrell Dockery, Donnie Palmer, and Dustin McMillan.

The family will receive friends from 12-1:45 Saturday afternoon at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy prior to the services.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.

Thelma Elizabeth Jones, age 91, of Andrews, passed away Friday, May 11, 2018 at her residence. She was a native of Haywood County and lived in the Andrews area most of her life. She was the best mother possible to five children. Thelma was a baby sitter and was known as “Momma Jones’ to many children. She was a member of the Eastern Star and was a Candy Striper at District Memorial Hospital in Andrews for a number of years.  She taught Sunday School and was very active in her church.

She was the daughter of the late Robert and Ethel Inman Allison and was the wife of the late Kenneth Jones, who passed away April 25, 2008.  She was also preceded in death by a granddaughter; a great granddaughter; and nine brothers and sisters.

Surviving are three daughters, Diane West and husband, Roger of Andrews, Carolyn Moore of Waynesville, and Louise Stewart and Glenn Disney of Augusta, Georgia; two sons, Terry Jones and wife, Glenda of Murphy and David Jones and wife, Billie of Dillsboro, North Carolina; ten grandchildren, 19 great grandchildren, and five great great grandchildren.

Funeral services were held at 6:00 p.m. Monday, May 14, 2018 at the Chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Andrews with Rev. Chris West officiating.  The interment was in Valleytown Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jerry Brooks, Gary Phillips, Levi Whitaker, Jason Savugot, Jason Queen, and Allen Crawford. Honorary pallbearers were Kenny Whitehead and Roger West.

The family received friends from 4:00-5:45 p.m. Monday at the Ivie Funeral Home, Andrews prior to the service.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Thelma Elizabeth Jones to the Gideons International, PO Box 164, Murphy, NC  28906.

Ivie Funeral Home, Andrews in charge of all arrangements.

Kenneth James Laney, 55, of Marble passed away Sunday, April 29, 2018 at his residence. He was a native and lifetime resident of Cherokee County. Kenneth had worked at Lee’s for 17 years and later worked with his brother at Laney’s Lawn Service, until he was injured in a motor vehicle accident. He was a member of the Old Fashioned Baptist Church. Kenneth enjoyed hunting and boating.

He was the son of Fred Laney of Murphy and the late Millie Craig Laney. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Janice Laney; the maternal grandparents, Ned and Estia Henson Craig; and the paternal grandparents, Will and Verdie Bivens Laney.

Surviving, in additon to his father, are a son, Kevin Laney of Brasstown; a sister, Jean Laney Evans of Murphy; two brothers, David Laney and wife, Teresa and Harold Laney and wife, Lori, all of Brassstown; a granddaughter, Morgan Laney; an aunt, Bertha McHan of Andrews; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, May 2, 2018 in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with the Revs. Aud Brown and Eddie Cook officiating. The interment will be in Little Brasstown Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Steve Gibson, Arvil Chastain, Tripp Ledford, Robby Evans, Isaac Rhodes, and Steve Laney.

The family will receive friends from 6-8 Tuesday evening at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy.

The family requests memorials be made in memory of Kenneth James Laney to the American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060-9979.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.

Barbara Jane Husband, 79, of Murphy passed away Monday, April 16, 2018 in a Blairsville, Georgia hospital. She was a native of Youngstown, Ohio, but lived most of her life in Fort Lauderdale, Florida before moving to Cherokee County in the 1990s. She was a talented artist and a devoted wife, mother, and grandmother. She was of the Catholic faith.

She was the daughter of the late Stanley John and Florence Burscky Rosko. She also was preceded in death by a son, Douglas John Husband.

Surviving are her husband, Joseph E. “Bud” Husband; five daughters, Kimberlee Mastronardi of Murphy, Lori Chevy of Fort Lauderdale, Florida, Barbara Ellen Boudrot of Murphy, Kristin Sullivan of Orlando, Florida, and Jenny Marie Dalton of Murphy; two sons, Daniel J. Husband of Fort Lauderdale, Florida and John Joseph Hart of Detroit, Michigan; a sister, Judith Rosko of Ohio; three brothers, Stanley, Richard, and Tom Rosko, all of Ohio; 16 grandchildren and six great grandchildren.

A private family memorial service will be held.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of arrangements.

Shannon Sudderth, 46, of Murphy passed away Tuesday, April 10, 2018 in an Asheville, North Carolina hospital. She was a native and lifetime resident of Cherokee County. She had worked for Phoenix Supportive Living and Murphy Medical Center. Shannon was a member of the Mount Zion Baptist Church and sang with the Messengers for Christ.

She was the daughter of Janet Herron Sudderth of Murphy and the late Bill Sudderth. She was also preceded in death by an infant son, Braxton Melike Sudderth; and a sister, Vanessa Patterson.

Surviving, in addition to her mother, are two brothers, Jermale Sudderth of Murphy and Jonathan Moreland of Hayesville; and several nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Funeral services were held at 3:00 p.m. Saturday, April 14, 2018 in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with the Revs. John P. Webb and Javan Harper, and Minister Jackie Sullivan officiating. The interment was in Mount Zion Baptist Church Cemetery.  Pallbearers were Reggie Cox, Reggie Cain, Craig Daniel, Eddie Eller, Chris Lloyd, and Brandon Oliver. Honorary pallbearers were Scotty McDonald, Ervin Brown, Martin Allen, Kevin Nicely, and Scott Grant.

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

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.

Shirley Dillard Starks, 63, of Murphy passed away, Wednesday, April 04, 2018 at her residence. She was a native and lifelong resident of Cherokee County. Shirley loved spending time with her grandchildren and was proud to have spoiled each one of them. She loved reading and doing crossword puzzles while eating popcorn.

She was the daughter of the late Jack and Onabe Coleman Dillard. She was also preceded in death by a sister, Dale Dillard and a brother, Larry Dillard.

Surviving are her husband, Arnold “Boo” Starks; a daughter, Tonda Starks of Murphy; two sons, Chris Starks and wife, Misty, and Jeremy Starks and wife, Becca, all of Murphy; a brother, Michael Dillard and wife, Martha of Blairsville, Georgia; six grandchildren, Madison and Silas Starks, Chole, Brittany, and Kennedy Starks, and Chandler Starks; and several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.