All Obituaries

    Ray Ansel Medford, age 82, of Old Fort, North Carolina, passed away on May 30, 2020 at Autumn Care of Marion.  Born in Swain County, North Carolina on March 08, 1938, he was the son of the late Grover Roscoe Medford and Annie Jane Suttles.    A member of Bethlehem Baptist Church in Old Fort, Ray enjoyed camping and fishing.  He was known to fix about anything, and was a small engine repairman.   He is survived by his four children, Katherine...

    In the early morning hours of Sunday, May 31, 2020, William Thomas (Will T.) Winchester, age 81, passed away from this earthly life.  He was born on October 04, 1938 in Kentucky to the late E.D. and Maude Winchester.   Will married Nancy McClure in 1956 and they shared 63 years of marriage until her passing in August of 2019.   He was a graduate of the Memphis School of Preaching in 1968 and served as minister at churches in North Carolina, Missouri and...

On the afternoon of Sunday, May 31, 2020, Mrs. Margaret Elizabeth Cooper Holtsclaw, age 78 of Marion, departed from this world and was greeted by her Lord and Savior into her eternal home while at the Hospice of The Carolina Foothills inpatient unit in Forest City. The daughter of the late Fred Cooper and Ester Magnus Settlemeyer Buff, she was born in McDowell County on May 05, 1942.   A cancer survivor for over 15 years, Margaret enjoyed cooking and spending her leisure time reading....

  On the afternoon of Saturday, May 30, 2020, Mr. Donald Arthur Rief, age 79 of Marion, set sail on his final journey home to be with his Lord at his residence with his loving wife by his side. The son of the late Albert Edward Rief and Anna Prinz Rief, he was born on August 29, 1940 in West Point, Nebraska.   A devout member of Hicks Chapel Baptist Church, Don loved the Lord. His greatest desire in life was to see souls saved. Retiring from Ford Motor Company after twenty-five...

    Yvonne Valle Christensen, age 63, of Marion, North Carolina, passed away on Thursday, May 28, 2020 at her residence.  Born in Houston, Texas on March 27, 1957, she was the daughter of late Fidal Valle and Frances Smallwood Noel.    Yvonne, for majority of her life, was a homemaker.  She had worked as a babysitter, Pizza Hut and was in housekeeping for Drury Inn & Suites.  She greatly enjoyed oldies music and dancing.  Having many hobbies,...

  Mr. Robert Lorans Mashburn (a.k.a. Bobby), age 75, of Old Fort, North Carolina, entered into eternal rest on the evening of Thursday, May 28, 2020 at his residence with his loving family by his side.  Born in Old Fort, North Carolina on May 01, 1945, he was the son of the late George Lorans and Amogene Keaton Mashburn.   Bobby graduated from Mt. View School in Marion, North Carolina in 1963 and attended North Carolina Central University in Durham, North Carolina.  At...

    Jo Bivins Harmon, age 86, of Old Fort, North Carolina, passed away with her loved ones at her side at her residence on Thursday, May 28, 2020.  The daughter of the late William and Laura Burleson Bivins, she was born in Catawba County, North Carolina on March 16, 1934.    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jack Harmon; and two sons, Ronald Harmon and Phil Harmon.   Loved by all who knew her, Jo had multiple jobs along...

  Jennifer Wendling Watson, age 46, of Ellenboro, North Carolina, departed to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at Atrium Health Cleveland in Shelby, North Carolina.  Born in Henderson County, North Carolina on October 20, 1973, she was the daughter of Deborah Price Wendling of Ellenboro and the late David George Wendling.    In addition to her father, she was preceded in death by a nephew, Aaron Wendling.   Jennifer loved her kids more than...

  On the night of Wednesday, May 27, 2020, Kathy McKinney Hudgins, age 65, of Marion, North Carolina, departed to be with the Lord.  A native of McDowell County, North Carolina, born on November 02, 1954, she was the daughter of the late Barney Wesley and Ruth Mathis McKinney.    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Aaron Devon Hudgins who passed away on August 27, 2015.   A devoted Christian and loving mother, grandmother and...

    Mr. Jeffery Allen Poole, age 45, of Marshall, North Carolina, passed away unexpectedly on Wednesday, May 27, 2020 in Asheville, North Carolina.  The son of Fred and Joan Metcalf Poole of Marshall, North Carolina, he was born in Madison County, North Carolina on December 18, 1974.   He was preceded in death by paternal grandparents, Charlie C. and Ida Bell Poole; and maternal grandfather Erlis Metcalf.   A loving father, son, and brother, Jeffery truly loved...