All Obituaries

              Clinton David Bledsoe, age sixty-four, passed Friday, April 9, 2021.             Clinton was born November 12, 1956, to the late Eleanor Irene Brenner Bledsoe and David Clinton Bledsoe in Kansas City, Missouri. He attended Fulton High School. Clinton was a fisherman and a musician, and a member of Sunny View Church. He was a twenty-six-year resident of Arden, and...

            Tommy “Pappy” Swangim, age eighty-six, died Thursday, April 8, 2021, at home in Pisgah Forest, North Carolina.             Tommy was born in Mills River to Nellie and Doll Swangim. He grew up surrounded by his four sisters and two brothers whom he dearly loved. At a young age, he learned to play guitar and played in several bands throughout the years including Band Masters. He joined...

            Charles W. Warren of Asheville, North Carolina, died April 7, 2021. He was ninety-five.             Charles was born February 7, 1926, to Mary Joanna Roberts Warren and Colombus Washington Warren in Asheville. He serviced in the United States Navy and worked with the VA Hospital. He was a member of the Baptist Church.             In...

Christina Michelle Griffin Catalano passed away peacefully at her home on April 6, 2021. She was born August 27, 1973 at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, NC. She was the daughter of Gary Michael (Mike) Griffin and stepmom Helen Griffin. She was a graduate of Spartanburg High School where she received an Art Scholarship. She also was a graduate of the University of SC School of Nursing, where she received her Bachelor of Science Degree in Nursing. She always believed her greatest...

              Joseph Buxton “Joe” Morgan of Hendersonville, North Carolina, died April 5, 2021, at the age of forty-nine.             Joe was born October 5, 1971, to the late Shawn Davis McWhirt and Vernon Lee Morgan at Portsmouth Naval Hospital in Portsmouth, Virginia. He graduated from Cox High School in Virginia Beach, and spent time living in Norfolk, Virginia...

            Gary Joseph Spaugy, twenty-year resident of Hendersonville, North Carolina, died April 4, 2021, at the age of seventy.             Gary was born June 27, 1950, to Virginia Lou Prueter Spaugy and Willis Junior Spaugy in Shelby County, Ohio. He graduated from Russia High School (Russia, Ohio) with the Class of 1969, and after some college he joined the military. He served...

            Rebecca “Gail” Garren Lanning of Fletcher, North Carolina, passed March 31, 2021, at her brother’s home. She was sixty-two.             Gail was born May 11, 1958, to Mary Elizabeth Calton and Fred William Garren, in Henderson County, North Carolina. She graduated from West Henderson High School, and worked with the Eaton Corporation. Gail was an active member of Fletcher First...

Linda Lockett, age 78, died on Friday, March 26, 2021 at Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community, Asheville, NC. She was born on April 26, 1942 in Manhattan, NY to Hyman and Blanche Kasanoff. Linda received her BA Degree from Milton College, Milton, WI and her MS in English from the University of Wisconsin, Madison. Linda was an outstanding teacher/trainer who impacted students and participants in the U.S. and around the world. She taught English in traditional middle schools as well as...

            Elizabeth Ann Davis Huntley, “Libby,” passed away March 26, 2021, surrounded by family at her home in Arden, NC. She was 74.             Libby was born January 26, 1947 to Loyd and Jean Shetley Davis. A native of Madison County, she was a mountain girl at heart, and therefore a lifelong resident of Buncombe County and Western North...

Obituary for Richard Leon Smith 1960 - 2021     Richard Leon Smith died peacefully on March 25, 2021 at Autumn Care of Marion, NC following a brave battle with colon cancer.  Richard was born in Atlanta in 1960 to Marjorie Eunice Smith Elliott and Henry Leon Smith, Jr.  He grew up in Second Ponce de Leon Baptist Church and completed high school at Woodward Academy in 1978.  Following his graduation from The Citadel in 1982, he served as a navigator...