Obituaries

Obituary Listing

Clifford Toney, 78

Clifford Toney, 78

Mar 29, 2026

Clifford Toney, 78, of Duncan's Creek, passed away peacefully at his home, the same place where he was born and spent his life, on Sunday, March 29, 2026.

He was a son of the late Coy and Nicie Toney. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by by his brothers Dean Toney and Lewis Toney; his sister Ethylene...

Randy Lee Goode, 63

Randy Lee Goode, 63

Mar 27, 2026

Randy Lee Goode, 63, of Rutherfordton, died Friday, March 27, 2026.

He was the son of the late L.B. and Francis Jones Goode.

He is survived by his wife, Sherry Goode; his children, Lee Parker, Dustin Walker and his wife Jessica Greene, and Heather Goode; his brothers, Donnie Goode and his wife Jennifer, and Danny Goode; his grandchildren, Chase Walker, Areiah Ramsey,...

Hazel M. Sisk, 86

Hazel M. Sisk, 86

Mar 25, 2026

Hazel M. Sisk, 86, of Bostic, died Wednesday, March 25, 2026.

She was the widow of Charles Sisk, and a daughter of the late Ross and Cleo Morrison. In addition, she was preceded in death by 3 sisters, Eunice Hughes, Ethel Ensley, and Jeanette Conner; and 4 brothers, Yates Morrison, Spurge Morrison, Hubert Morrison, and Jimmy Morrison. Hazel retired from Stonecutter...

Suzanne Beam Covington, 87

Suzanne Beam Covington, 87

Mar 7, 2026

Suzanne Beam Covington, 87, of Ellenboro, died Saturday, March 7, 2026 at Fair Haven Home, Bostic.

She lived in the same house on the family farm for 87 years, the same house she was born in, an only child of Rachel Beam on Thursday, January 5, 1939. She graduated from Ellenboro School in 1957 and then went to Howard Business School...

William Tesseneir, 86

William Tesseneir, 86

Mar 5, 2026

William Clarence Tesseneir, 86, of Rutherfordton, died Thursday, March 5, 2026.

He was the widower of Eva Swink Tesseneir, and a son of the late Vester and Nadine Greene Tesseneir. 

He is survived by his daughters, Emily Boone of Forest City and Dawn Laughter of Rutherfordton; his sisters, Lora Turner of Rutherfordton, Dorothy Yelton of Forest City, and Juanita Bunnell of Bostic;...

James Brandle, 84

James Brandle, 84

Mar 4, 2026

James Brandle, 84, of Golden Valley, died Wednesday, March 4, 2026.

He was the widower of Joyce Suttle Brandle, and a son of the late Floyd and Elizabeth Gurley Brandle. In addition, he was also preceded in death by his brothers, Dean Brandle and Horace Stallings; and a brother-in-law, Jim Bradley.  James owned the Amaco of Alexander from 1972-1977, and owned...

Keith Griffin, 74

Keith Griffin, 74

Mar 3, 2026

Keith Griffin, 74, of Rutherfordton, died Tuesday, March 3, 2026.

He was the son of the late Danny and Bea Griffin. Keith was a graduate of Pisgah High Class of 1969, and later earned an Associates degree at Isothermal Community College. He retired from Timken after 36 years of service.

He is survived by his wife, Libby Ledbetter Griffin; and his son,...

Darlene Gowan, 73

Darlene Gowan, 73

Feb 21, 2026

Darlene Gowan, 73, of Forest City, died Saturday, February 21, 2026.

She was the widow of Homer Lee Gowan, and a daughter of the late Glenn and Francis Gordon Baynard. She was a member of Bethany Baptist Church and had been President of the American Legion.

She is survived by her sons, Chris Gowan of Forest City, and Duane Gowan of Bostic;...

Bobby D. Hoyle, 89

Bobby D. Hoyle, 89

Feb 8, 2026

Bobby D. Hoyle, 89, of Rutherfordton, died Sunday, February 8, 2026.

He was the son of the late William David Hoyle and Easter Bell Hoyle. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sisters, Virginia Womack, Louise Pettit, and Ruth Head; his brothers, J.C. Hoyle, Morgan Hoyle, Oliver Hoyle, and Norman Hoyle. Bobby was a member of...

Johnny Lee McCurry, 78

Johnny Lee McCurry, 78

Feb 7, 2026

Johnny Lee McCurry, 78, of Charlotte, died Saturday, February 7, 2026.

He was the son of the late Johnny Hugh McCurry and Bertha Melton McCurry, in addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by his brother Bill McCurry; and a nephew Curtis McCurry.

He is survived by his sister-in-law, Lucy McCurry of Charlotte; his nephews, Randy McCurry and his...

Cynthia Bradley Lovingood, 69

Cynthia Bradley Lovingood, 69

Jan 29, 2026

Cynthia Bradley Lovingood, 69, of Forest City, died Thursday, January 29, 2026.

She was the daughter of the late James and Sybil Holland Bradley. 

Cynthia is survived by her husband, Kenneth Lovingood; her sons, Dwight Bradley  and Brandon Lovingood, both of Forest City, and Andrew Bradley of Shelby; her brothers, Anthony Bradley of Bostic, Bruce Bradley of Forest City, and Brian Bradley...

Darcus Murray, 97

Darcus Murray, 97

Jan 27, 2026

Darcus Eugenia Murray, 97, of Bostic, died Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

She was the daughter of the late Gaston and Maggie Green Murray. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her daughter, Rose Lee Murray Vickers; two great grandchildren, Travis Scott Vickers and Kristi Lynn Vickers; four of her sisters, Viola Street, Lottie Baynard, Florence Hoyle, and...

Gail Freeman Dotson, 75

Gail Freeman Dotson, 75

Jan 8, 2026

Mona Gail Dotson, 75, of the Sunshine Community, went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, January 8, 2026. 

She was born August 4, 1950. Gail was the daughter of the late Joseph Wade Freeman and Vernelle Lovelace Freeman.

She is survived by her son, Robert Wade Dotson (Bobby) and his wife Jennifer of Greenville SC. She is also survived by...

Mary Sue Price, 87

Mary Sue Price, 87

Jan 3, 2026

Mary Sue Burke Price, 87, of the Duncan’s Creek Community, passed away at the UNC Blue Ridge Hospital in Morganton on Saturday, January 3, 2026.

Born on November 1, 1938 in Rutherford County, she was the daughter of the late Frank Burke and Annie Sue Campbell Burke.

Mary Sue attended Hollis School, Sunshine School, and graduated from Ellenboro High School in 1956....

John Permenter, 61

John Permenter, 61

Dec 22, 2025

John Permenter III, 61, of Bostic, died Monday, December 22, 2025.

He was the son of the John Wilson Permenter Jr., and Marilyn Louise Cooper Permenter. John was working at Wow Bao in Forest City as a machine operator. 

John is survived by his wife Liza Caalaman Permenter; and his daughter, Hannah Marie Permenter of Gastonia. 

A Memorial Service will be conducted at...

Wayne Matthews, 39

Wayne Matthews, 39

Dec 20, 2025

Wayne Matthews, 39, of Spindale, died Saturday, December 20, 2025.

He was the son of Viva and Eric Wheat of Gaffney, SC. He was preceded in death by his father-in-law, Larry Philbeck. He served as a corrections officer at the Rutherford Correctional Center in Spindale for five years. He was a big Dallas Cowboys and South Carolina Gamecocks fan. 

In addition to...

Lynn Epley Hill, 59

Lynn Epley Hill, 59

Dec 15, 2025

Lynn Epley Hill, 59, of the Westminister Community, died Monday, December 15, 2025.

She was the widow of Mike Serpinas and a daughter of the late Larry Gene Epley and Beverly Watson. Lynn worked at Spring Industries in Gaffney for many years, and later was a private caregiver.

She is survived by her son, Jamie Hill of Rutherfordton; her daughter, Lyndsey Hill...

Javan Calton, 83

Javan Calton, 83

Dec 9, 2025

Javan Calton, 83

Forest Javan Calton, 83, of the Sunshine community, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. He was born on April 27, 1942, in the family homeplace where he lived until his last year on earth.

He was the son of the late Fitzhugh Lee Calton and Hattie Koone Calton, and was also preceded in...

Shirley Crotts, 74

Shirley Crotts, 74

Dec 4, 2025

Shirley Jean Crotts, 74, of Bostic, died Thursday, December 4, 2025.

She was the daughter of the late Ralph and Nell Ledford Ollis, in addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her sons, William Scott Golden and Christopher Golden; and a sister, Rhonda Queen; and a brother, Michael Ollis. Shirley was a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church...

Patsy Robbins, 82

Patsy Robbins, 82

Nov 28, 2025

Patsy "Pat" Jean Murray Robbins, 82, of Sunshine, passed away Friday, November 28, 2025, at Holly Springs Senior Citizens' Home. She was born in Sunshine on September 14, 1943. She was the daughter of the late Oscar George Murray and Beatrice Sanders Murray. In addition to her parents, Pat's brother, Harold Murray, preceded her in death.

Those left to cherish Pat's...