Krystal Tabitha Millsaps, 30, of Marble, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019.
    She was the daughter of Randy Millsaps of Bryson City, and stepdaughter of Laura Millsaps of Bryson City and the late Cammy Spence.
    She was preceded in death by her sister-in-law, Amy Jones; grandmother, Margie Jean Millsaps; and grandfather, Larry Spence Sr.
    In addition to her father and stepmother, she is survived by her fiance, Aaron Jones; sister, Shannon Silvers and husband Jeremy; three nephews, Dakoda Silvers, Chance and Coda Blair; two stepbrothers, Aaron English and Benjamin Collins; stepsister, Jessica Holt; step grandmother, Carol Spence; grandfather, Joe Millsaps; many aunts, uncles and cousins; and a special aunt and uncle, Pam and Rick DeVore.
    Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 2, in the chapel of Crisp Funeral Home in Bryson City. The Revs. Dale Green and P.D. Hampton officiated, with burial at Moss Cemetery in Marble.
    The family received friends from 10-11 a.m. Monday, Sept. 2, at the funeral home.

    Marvin Stiles, 84, of Murphy, passed away Thursday, Aug. 29, 2019, at Murphy Rehabilitation & Nursing.
    He was a native and lifelong resident of Cherokee County, and the son of the late Nathan and Hattie Cook Stiles.
    He was a U.S. Army veteran. Marvin was a member of South End Baptist Church.
    In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Myrtle Stiles; two brothers, William and Arvil Stiles; and two sisters, Annie Timpson and Norma Roberson.
    He is survived by three sons, Randal Stiles and wife Terry, Bill Stiles and wife Janice, and Steve Stiles; three daughters, Trish Golden and husband Warren, Becky Sams and husband Dan, and Shirl Nix and husband Jimmy; one sister, Hazel Cornwell; 29 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.
    Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, at Townson-Rose Funeral Home Chapel in Murphy. Pastor Harold Stiles and the Rev. Steve Sneed officiated. Burial was in Greenlawn Memorial Gardens with military graveside rites being conducted by American Legion Post 96 Murphy, American Legion Post 532 Hayesville, VFW Post 6812, Hayesville, and the Marine Corps League Marble. Pallbearers were Michael Sams, Randal Stiles Jr., Forest Stiles, James Tague, Gregory Klima and Benjamin Stiles.
    The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Monday, Sept. 2, at Townson-Rose Funeral Home Chapel in Murphy.
    You may send tributes to the Stiles family at townson-rose.com.
    Townson-Rose Funeral Home was in charge of all arrangements.

    Geneva Berrong Reese, 102, of Dallas, Ga., formerly of Murphy, passed away Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019, at her daughter’s home in Kernersville, N.C.
    She was a native of Cherokee County, but moved to Smyrna, Ga., in 1965. She was a loving mother and grandmother to five generations of family.
    She was a former member of Reid’s Chapel United Methodist Church.
    Geneva enjoyed working outside and gardening.
    She was the daughter of the late Monroe and Oma Lee Allen Berrong, and wife of the late Ernest William Reese, who died in 1964. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Patti
Reese; a son, Kenneth Reese; three sisters, Ruth Hickey, Janet Patterson, and Helen Winn; and a brother, Ralph Berrong.
    Surviving are a daughter, Marjorie Vermillion of Kernersville; two sons, Ernest Reese Jr. of Woodstock, Ga., and Harry Reese and wife Judy of Dallas, Ga.; eight grandchildren and many great- and great-great-grandchildren.
    A graveside service was held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, at Reid’s Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Robert K. Boozer officiating. Pallbearers were Mark, Eric, and Michael Reese, Robert Nappier, and Sam and Max Armstrong.
    In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Geneva Berrong Reese to Reid’s Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Alex Starks, 3500 Lower Bear Paw Road, Murphy, NC 28906.
    Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy, was in charge of all arrangements.
    An online guest register is available at iviefuneralhomeinc.com.

    M.G. Decker, 84, of Sylva, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, at Vero Health and Rehabilitation.
    He was the husband of the late Nancy Bryson Decker, and the son of the late Luther and Violet Decker.
    M.G. attended Wesleyanna United Methodist Church and was retired from the United States Postal Service.
    He enjoyed gardening and working ouside, especially mowing grass. He dearly loved his family.
    In addition to his wife and parents, he was also preceded in death by one brother, J.D. Decker.
    He is survived by two sons; Greg (Janet) Decker and Mark (Laura) Decker; two daughters, Melissa (Steve) Jackson and Deborah Lynn Decker; and eight grandchildren, Luke Decker, Laura White, Allison Decker, Kristen Decker, Michelle Decker, Sawyer Jackson, Colt Jackson and Kandi Cash. Eight great-grandchildren also survive along with one sister, Meredith Palmer, and several nieces and nephews.
    Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Wesleyanna United Methodist Church cemetery with the Rev. John Mitchell officiating.
    The family will visit with friends immediately following the service.
    In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to  St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
    An online registry is availble at appalachianfuneralservices.com.
    Appalachian Funeral Services is serving the family.

    Maggie Peak Gaddis Cothren, 90, of Murphy, passed away Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, at Tennova Healthcare in Cleveland, Tenn.
    She was born Oct. 19, 1928, in Spring City, Tenn., to the late Thomas Jefferson Peak and Emma Lou Gaddis Peak.
    Mrs. Cothren was a homemaker. She loved singing, sewing, gardening, flowers, cooking and square dancing.
    Mrs. Cothren was a member of Simonds Chapel Baptist Church and The Order of The Eastern Star Martha Chapter No. 246 OES.
    Mrs. Cothren was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Avery Cothren and Clyde Gaddis; son, Jerry Clyde Gaddis; and sisters, Margaret Sayre and Bertha Hitchcock.
    Survivors are her children, Lillian Mae Wright of Mineral Bluff, Ga., David W. Gaddis of Copperhill, Tenn., Lynda Wood (Stanley) of Murphy, and Glenda Rose Ledford of Murphy. Three grandsons, four granddaughters, 10 great-grandchildren, one great-great- granddaughter; three nephews; and other extended family also survive.
    The family received friends from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, at Akins Funeral Home of Copperhill, followed by Funeral Rites provided by Martha Chapter No. 246 Order of the Eastern Star.
    Funeral services were conducted at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, from Akins Funeral Home of Copperhill Chapel, with the Rev. Jerry Rice officiating. Music was by the Golden Sisters. Interment followed in the Salem No. 2 Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers were Stanley Wood, Darrell Stallard, Seth Stallard, Keith Gaddis, Michael Stiles and John Hitchcock.
    Condolences may be sent to the family at akinsfuneralhome.com.
    Akins Funeral Home of Copperhill was in charge of the arrangements.

    Maggie Peak Gaddis Cothren, 90, of Murphy, passed away Friday, Aug. 30, 2019, at Tennova Healthcare in Cleveland, Tenn.
    She was born Oct. 19, 1928, in Spring City, Tenn., to the late Thomas Jefferson Peak and Emma Lou Gaddis Peak.
    Mrs. Cothren was a homemaker. She loved singing, sewing, gardening, flowers, cooking and square dancing. She was a member of Simonds Chapel Baptist Church and the Order of the Eastern Star, Martha Chapter No. 246.
    Mrs. Cothren was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Avery Cothren and Clyde Gaddis; son, Jerry Clyde Gaddis; and sisters, Margaret Sayre and Bertha Hitchcock.
    Survivors are her children, Lillian Mae Wright of Mineral Bluff, Ga., David W. Gaddis of Copperhill, Tenn., Lynda Wood (Stanley) of Murphy, and Glenda Rose Ledford of Murphy; three grandsons, four granddaughters, 10 great-grandchildren, one great-great-granddaughter; three nephews; and other extended family.
    The family received friends from 5-7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 3, at Akins Funeral Home of Copperhill, followed by Funeral Rites by Martha Chapter No. 246 Order of the Eastern Star.
    Funeral services were at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, from Akins Funeral Home of Copperhill Chapel, with the Rev. Jerry Rice officiating. Music was by the Golden Sisters. Interment followed in Salem No. 2 Baptist Church Cemetery. Pallbearers were Stanley Wood, Darrell Stallard, Seth Stallard, Keith Gaddis, Michael Stiles and John Hitchcock.
    Condolences may be sent to the family at akinsfuneralhome.com.
    Akins Funeral Home of Copperhill was in charge of arrangements.

    M.G. Decker, 84, of Sylva, went home to be with the Lord on Monday, Sept. 2, 2019, at Vero Health and Rehabilitation.
    He was the husband of the late Nancy Bryson Decker, and the son of the late Luther and Violet Decker.
    M.G. attended Wesleyanna United Methodist Church and was retired from the United States Postal Service.
    He enjoyed gardening and working ouside, especially mowing grass. He dearly loved his family.
    In addition to his wife and parents, he was also preceded in death by one brother, J.D. Decker.
    He is survived by two sons; Greg (Janet) Decker and Mark (Laura) Decker; two daughters, Melissa (Steve) Jackson and Deborah Lynn Decker; and eight grandchildren, Luke Decker, Laura White, Allison Decker, Kristen Decker, Michelle Decker, Sawyer Jackson, Colt Jackson and Kandi Cash; eight great-grandchildren; one sister, Meredith Palmer; and several nieces and nephews.
    Graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 7, at Wesleyanna United Methodist Church cemetery with the Rev. John Mitchell officiating.
    The family visited with friends immediately following the service.
    In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to  St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105.
    An online registry is availble at appalachianfuneralservices.com.
    Appalachian Funeral Services served the family.

    Vernon Howard, 69, of Marble, passed away Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, in Chattanooga, Tenn.
    Vernon was the son of the late Greely Howard and Joyce Wiggins Howard.
    He enjoyed fishing and loved his family, especially his grandchildren. He worked for Mayfield Milk for many years and was known as “The Milkman.”
    He was an U.S. Army veteran. Vernon loved the Lord and was a member of Tomotla Baptist Church, where he was a deacon and choir director.
    He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Ella Howard; daughter, Vicki Olive and husband Brad; sons, David Howard, and Richard Howard and wife Ashley; grandchildren, Sara Hardy, Christian Olive, Tori Olive, Lily Howard, Molly Howard and Serenity “Pickle” Howard; brothers, Ed Howard and wife Jan; and sisters, Sheila Morris and husband Bobby, and Gladys Waldroup and husband
Nathan.
    Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 12, at Tomotla Baptist Church. The Revs. Doug Howard and Harold Stiles will officiate. Pallbearers will be Lonnie Mintz, Bobby Stalcup, Phil Craig, Richard Mathis, Alan Williams and Jim Palmer. Honorary pallbearers will be the men’s Sunday school class of Tomotla Baptist Church. Burial will be in Tomotla Community Cemetery with military graveside rites conducted by Tomotla Community Cemetery conducted by American Legion Post 96, Murphy; American Legion Post 532, Hayesville; VFW Post 6812, Hayesville; and the Marine Corps League, Marble.
    The family will receive friends from 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 11, at Tomotla Baptist Church in Marble.
    In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shriners Hospital for Children, 2900 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa FL 33607.
    You may send tributes to the Howard family at townson-rose.com.
    Townson-Rose Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

    Carol Ann Day, 74, of Murphy, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 4, 2019, at her residence.
    She was born in Staten Island, N.Y., to the late Michael and Anna Tristaino Fava. Carol was a member of Ranger Baptist Church and a former member of Order of the Eastern Star, Martha Chapter.
    In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Jimmy Lee Day.
    Carol is survived by her sons, Victor Marrone and Kevin Michael Flachofsky; one daughter, Theresa Ann Marrone; grandchildren, Jennifer Mikulo, Chase Keiser, Shawn Marrone and Samantha Blahnik; and great-grandchildren, Clark Anne Blahnik, Alyasa Mikula, Hunter Keiser and Zayne.
    A celebration of life will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at the Cherokee Lake Park Pavilion.
    You may send tributes to the Day family at townson-rose.com.
     Townson-Rose Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

    Geneva Berrong Reese, 102, of Dallas, Ga., and formerly of Murphy, passed away Sunday, Sept. 1, 2019, at her daughter’s home in Kernersville.
    She was a native of Cherokee County, but moved to Smyrna, Ga., in 1965. She was a loving mother and grandmother to five generations of family.
    She was a former member of Reid’s Chapel United Methodist Church.
    Geneva enjoyed working outside and gardening.
    She was the daughter of the late Monroe and Oma Lee Allen Berrong, and wife of the late Ernest William Reese, who died in 1964. She was also preceded in death by a daughter, Patti
Reese; a son, Kenneth Reese; three sisters, Ruth Hickey, Janet Patterson, and Helen Winn; and a brother, Ralph Berrong.
    Surviving are a daughter, Marjorie Vermillion of Kernersville; two sons, Ernest Reese Jr. of Woodstock, Ga., and Harry Reese and wife Judy of Dallas, Ga.; eight grandchildren and many great- and great-great-grandchildren.
    A graveside service was held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 4, at Reid’s Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Robert K. Boozer officiating. Pallbearers were Mark, Eric and Michael Reese, Robert Nappier, and Sam and Max Armstrong.
    In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Geneva Berrong Reese to Reid’s Chapel United Methodist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Alex Starks, 3500 Lower Bear Paw Road, Murphy, NC 28906.
    Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy, was in charge of all arrangements.
    An online guest register is available at iviefuneralhomeinc.com.

    Ricky E. Crawford, 67, of Murphy, passed away Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2019, at his residence.
    He was a native of Jackson County, Ga. Ricky lived in Athens, Ga., for more than 20 years, while working for Bridges Funeral Home.
    He then moved to the area in 1996, where he worked for Ivie Funeral Home for more than 20 years.
    He was a member of Tomotla Baptist Church, where he enjoyed playing the bass guitar. Ricky enjoyed building model cars, collecting old cameras and especially photography.
    He was the son of Mattie Crawford of Athens, Ga., and the late Howard Crawford. He was also preceded in death by a son, Avery Crawford.
    Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his wife of 44 years, Debra Crawford; two sons, Emery Crawford of Murphy, and Aaron Crawford and wife Rei of Berea, Ky.; a sister, Marsha Waters and husband Tommy of Athens, Ga.; and several nieces and nephews.
    Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at Tomotla Baptist Church with the Rev. Harold Stiles officiating.
    The family will receive friends from noon-1:45 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at Tomotla Baptist Church prior to the services.
    Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy, is in charge of all arrangements.
    An online guest register is available at iviefuneralhomeinc.com.

    John Fillyaw, 69, of Murphy, passed away Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, in a Murphy care facility.
    He was born in California, but considered himself a native of Orlando, Fla., as he was raised there since before age 1.
    John was a Korean era veteran, serving in the United States Army as a linesman in the demilitarized zone.
    John worked for the Florida Park Service for 33 years as law enforcement, park manager, but was a park ranger at heart.
    Following his retirement in 2008, he moved to the mountains in Murphy, which he loved.
    John attended Calvary Chapel Murphy and loved his church family.
    John loved working with his hands and building furniture.
    He was the son of the late John Harry Fillyaw and Lillian Mae Fillyaw Schneider.
    Surviving are his wife of 34 years, Janet Fillyaw; two daughters, Jennifer Pearl and husband Brian of Vero Beach, Fla., and Dawn Grenet and husband Tim of Ormond Beach, Fla.; two sons, Wesley Smith and wife Tina of Atlanta, Georgia and Ryan Smith and wife Jamie of Hobe Sound, Fla.; two sisters, Joann Hunt and husband Mike of Orlando, Fla., and Catherine Wilkins and husband Gayden of West Plains, Mo.; two brothers, Donald Fillyaw and wife Janis of Niota, Tenn., and Allen Fillyaw of Riceville, Tenn.; and eight grandchildren.
    A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at Calvary Chapel Murphy with Pastors Jim Coy and Trent Abling officiating. Military honors will be provided by Hayesville VFW Post 6812, Hayesville American Legion Post 532, and Murphy American Legion Post 96.
    The family will receive friends from noon-1 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 14, at Calvary Chapel Murphy prior to the services.
    In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of John Fillyaw to the Calvary Chapel Murphy, 5718 U.S. 64, Murphy, NC 28906.
    Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy, is in charge of arrangements.
    An online guest register is available at iviefuneralhomeinc.com.