Doyle C. “Buddy” Burch, 87, of Hiawassee, Ga., and formerly of Murphy, died Saturday, May 20, 2017, at his residence.
He was a native of Middlesboro, Ky., but lived in Murphy most of his life before moving to Towns County, Ga., in 2002.
He was a veteran of the Korean War, serving in the United States Army.
Buddy was a chiropractor with a doctorate in chiropractic medicine, and worked as the manager of Burch Motors for more than 40 years.
He was a member of McConnell Baptist Church.
He was the son of the late James Doyle and Mildred Colson Burch, and husband of the late Velma Umphfres Burch, who died Dec. 7, 2009. He also was preceded in death by a sister, Betty Lou Dickey.
Surviving are his wife, Virginia Hyatt Burch; a stepdaughter, Elizabeth Young Simpson and husband Michael of Jamestown; two step grandchildren, Faith and Jacob Simpson; a niece, Cindy Dickey of Murphy; two nephews, Dr. Robert Harry Dickey of Waynesville and Stephen Bryon Dickey and wife Nancy of Murphy; two great nieces, Emily Dickey of Raleigh and Abigail Dickey of Charlotte; two great-nephews, Ryan Dickey of Black Mountain and Jasen West of Newberry; two great-great-nieces; a sister-in-law, Marcella Parrott of Sun City, Ariz.; and two brothers-in-law, Bass Hyatt and wife Sandra, and David Hyatt, all of Brasstown.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, May 24, in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy, with the Rev. Danny Byers officiating. The interment will be in Sunset Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Dr. Russell Hughes, Blake Hughes, Ryan Dickey, Jasen West, David Allen Hyatt and Seth Hyatt. Honorary pallbearers will be James Hughes, Harry Ingram, George Worley, Garry McClure, Ed Nitzsche and Wayne Shumake.
The family received friends from 6-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 23, at Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made in memory of Doyle C. “Buddy” Burch to Gideons International, P.O. Box 164, Murphy, NC 28906.
Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy, is in charge of all arrangements.
An online guest register is available at www.iviefuneralhomeinc.com.