Obituary Listing
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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...
Alvin Yelton, 73
Nov 28, 2025
Alvin Bruce Yelton, 73, of Golden Valley, passed away, November 28, 2025.
He was born on Tuesday, June 10, 1952 in Rutherford County, and was the son of the late J.E. and Prue Yelton. He was also preceded in death by siblings Wanda Tuck and Jasper Yelton Sr.. Growing up in Rutherford County, he was a loyal member of Fairview Baptist...
Billy Nodine, 71
Nov 23, 2025
Billy Ray Nodine, 71, of Bostic, went to be with his Lord and Savior Sunday, November 23, 2025.
He was the son of the late Clyde and Grace Nodine, and was also preceded in death by a brother, Tommy Wayne Nodine; and a sister, Patricia Whitaker.
He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Janet Nodine; his daughters, Cassandra Smith...
Becky Ruppe Bradley, 79
Nov 23, 2025
Becky Ruppe Bradley, 79, of Bostic, died Sunday, November 23, 2025.
Wife of Claude Bradley, and daughter of the late Henry Miles Ruppe and Pearl Melton Ruppe. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Angela Denise Bradley. Becky was a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church.
She is survived by her husband, Claude Bradley; her daughters,...
