Obituaries

Apr 2, 2024

Tara Nichole Westmoreland Bradley, 40, of Marion, passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at Mission Memorial in Asheville.

Tara was born on April 14, 1983 in Spartanburg, SC to her loving parents, Allen Westmoreland and Sherry Purkhiser Westmoreland. 

Tara enjoyed her trips to the beach and she loved comedy shows and going to concerts. It was important to her to keep...

Apr 2, 2024

Jacqueline Smith Presnell, 91, of Marion, passed away Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at her daughter’s residence.

 

A native of Marion, she was born October 7, 1932 to the late Reuben Smith and Dolly Lewis Smith.

 

Jackie retired from the McDowell Hospital where she worked in housekeeping after nearly 20 years of service. She thoroughly loved worshipping the Lord at the First Christian...

Mar 31, 2024

Edward “Eddie” Ervin Self, 61, of Marion, passed away Sunday, March 31, 2024 at his residence.

 

He was born in Spruce Pine on May 12, 1962 to Earlene Hall Self Buchanan and the late Bobby Jones Self.

 

Eddie worked for nearly 40 years as a Project Structural Engineer primarily with North Carolina Department of Transportation. He was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed...

Mar 30, 2024

Daniel “Big Dan” Stafford, age 39, of Marion, passed away peacefully, Saturday March 30, 2024 with his family by his side. He was born in Marion NC on March 19, 1985 and was the son of Thomas and Brenda Hollifield Stafford.

 

Daniel was the Co-Owner of Elite Excavating and Hauling. He loved the outdoors  especially playing football and going to the...

Mar 30, 2024

Mar 30, 2024

Alice Mae Horne Logan, 78, of Marion, left this earthly life on Saturday, March 30, 2024 at Autumn Care of Marion.

 

She was born in Rutherford County on April 15, 1945 to the late William Alfred Horne and Rosie Littlejohn Horne. She is also preceded in death by her husband of 42 years, Leo Logan, Jr., who passed in 2013; and...

Mar 30, 2024

Norma Patricia Epley Ward, “Pat,” 84, of Marion, NC, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Pat passed away with her loving daughter by her side. 

Pat was born in Burke County to her loving parents, Roy and Katie Haskins Epley.

Pat was a loving, devoted Christian wife, and a loving, caring Mother, Nana, and Great...

Mar 29, 2024

     Philip Ferguson Taylor, 56, of Old Fort, passed away Friday, March 29, 2024, at his residence.

 

     Philip was born in Buncombe County, NC to the late Claude Ferguson Taylor and Priscilla Morris Taylor. Philip loved to cook and was a classic car enthusiast. He enjoyed watching movies and going to the beach. Most of all, Philip loved...

Mar 29, 2024

Mrs. Michele McNeil Hollifield, age 63 of Marion, passed away on Friday, March 29, 2024. She was born in McDowell NC on December 12, 1960 and is the daughter of the late Maurice McNeil and is survived by her mother Ann Gilbert Stone. She is preceded in death by her spouse Larry Hollifield.

 

Michele was known for her fun-loving personality and...

Mar 28, 2024

On the morning of March 28, 2024, Cynthia (Cindy) Ann Brown Elliott, age 66, lost her courageous battlewith cancer. Cindy was born on February 3, 1958, and was one of seven children born to Fred and AnneBrown of Marion, North Carolina, who predecease her. Living all of her life in Marion, North Carolina,Cindy attended McDowell County Schools where she graduated...

Mar 27, 2024

Mark Edward Dale, 62, of Old Fort, passed away at his residence on Wednesday, March 27, 2024.

Mark was born in High Point, NC on June 21, 1961 to the late Sanford William Dale and Rose Marie Huskins Dale. 

His enjoyments were fishing and working on small engines. He will be missed by his family and friends.

Left to cherish his memory, including...

Mar 27, 2024

Gary Lynn Bivins, 69, of Old Fort, passed away Wednesday, March 27, 2024 at the CarePartners Hospice Solace Center in Asheville.

He was born in Marion on March 30, 1954 to the late Ervin Bivins and Imogene Sneed Bivins. Gary will always be remembered as a loving brother, uncle and friend of the community.

A funeral service will be held on Monday,...

Mar 27, 2024

Inez Byrd McPeters “Mamaw Mc,” 87, of Marion, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday morning, March 27, 2024.

 

She was born in Old Fort on March 25, 1937 to the late Robert “Bob” Byrd and Ellie Haynes Byrd. She is also preceded in death by her husband, James “Jim” McPeters; a son, Michael Alan McPeters; a grandson, Andrew Michael...

Mar 25, 2024

Virginia “Ginny” Stockton Sigman, 76, of Marion, passed away Monday, March 25, 2024 at Mission Hospital in Asheville.

 

Ginny was born in McDowell County on August 1, 1947 to the late William Lee Stockton and Ruth McKinney Stockton.

 

Ginny was a Godly woman who loved everyone she met. She especially loved children, and she ran a daycare for many years. She loved...

Mar 25, 2024

Edith Priscilla Maney Ridley, of Lake Lure, peacefully departed this life on Monday morning, March 25, 2024.

 

She was born in Clay County on January 29 to the late George Maney and Dorothy Parker Maney. Edith formerly worked in the furniture industry. She was a faithful member of Shingle Hollow Congregational Holiness Church. She received great joy by working with her...

Mar 25, 2024

Mary Magdalene Walker Hudgins, 78, of Marion, passed away in the early morning hours of Monday, March 25, 2024 at the CarePartners Hospice Solace Center in Asheville.

 

She was born in Buncombe County on July 3, 1945 to the late Elijah Walker and Ethel Marie Calloway Walker. She was also preceded in death by a son, Joe Whitaker. Mary enjoyed flowers...

Mar 24, 2024

John Matthew Salimbeni, 77, of Asheville, passed away at his residence on Sunday, March 24, 2024.John was born in Canton, Ohio on June 11, 1946 to the late Russell Salimbeni, Sr. and the late Suzi DiRuscio Salmbeni. He is also preceded in death by his wife, Nancy Lackey Salimbeni.John worked in health care as a physicians assistant and was a...

Mar 24, 2024

William “Bill” Earnest Burnette, Jr., 84, of Nebo, passed away on Sunday, March 24, 2024 at Deer Park Health and Rehabilitation.

 

A native of McDowell County, he was born January 19, 1940 to the late William Earnest Burnette, Sr. and Thelma Harmon Burnette.

 

Bill formerly worked at Cross Cotton Mill, and he later retired from Drexel Furniture. He enjoyed wood-working in his...

Mar 22, 2024

Pauline Cina Burnette Davis Hudson, 95, of Marion went to be with the Lord at her residence on the night of Friday, March 22, 2024.

 

Pauline was born in Yancey County to the late Preston H. Burnette and the late Hattie Ellen Rector Burnette on September 27, 1928. She is also preceded in death by five brothers and a grandchild.

 

Pauline enjoyed...

Mar 21, 2024

   In the early morning hours, Thursday March 21, 2024, our Beloved Cynthia Padgett Straughan cast aside her earthly bruised and battered body to arise and be carried to her new eternal home in the Heavens with her Precious Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, and Loved ones gone before!

Born: March 4th 1966 to Vina Eller Padgett and the Late Harold...