Starlene Elizabeth (Swayney) Balderas, 42, of 37 River Park Rd., Cullowhee, and a member of the Eastern Band of the Cherokee, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, Dec. 29, 2014 at the Med West Harris Hospital in Sylva.

Starlene was the daughter of the late Calvin and Margaret Walkingstick Swayney of Cherokee. She was a homemaker and loving mother.

She is survived by her children, Trista Hernandez, Edna “Sissy” Balderas and Lucy Balderas, all of Cherokee; two uncles, Billie Joe Swayney and Floyd Swayney; aunt, Joyce Swayney; great-aunt, Inez Swayney; one nephew; three nieces and many cousins.

She was preceded in death by her grandpa, Leonard Swayney; brother, Leonard “Spud” Swayney; uncle, Richard Walkingstick.

Starlene had a visitation at the Straight Fork Baptist church from on Tuesday, Dec. 30 followed by a funeral on Wednesday, Dec. 31 at the church as well.  The service was conducted by Rev. Charles Ray Ball and an immediate burial took place in the Swayney Family Cemetery along the Big Cove loop.  Pall bearers were among the cousins and friends.

Long House Funeral Home assisted in the final arrangements.

Christophor Taylor (Skeeter) Sneed, 28, of Cherokee, passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 31, 2014 at the Med West Harris Hospital in Sylva.

Christophor is the son of James “Jimmy” Sneed and step-mother Shannon of Cherokee and mother Cindee Vitto of Wyoming. He made his home in the Whittier community and worked as assistant manager at Pizza Hut. He will be missed by his family and friends.

Christophor is survived by his son, Donavon Sneed of Wyoming; brothers, James Taylor, Justin Sneed, Jacob Sneed and Josiah Sneed, all of Cherokee; sister, Cassandra Vitto of Wyoming; paternal grandparents, grandmother, Gwen and Charles Sanders of Sylva, grandfather, Claude Ray and Mona Sneed of Cherokee; maternal grandparents, grandfather, Don and Laurie Vitto, and grandmother, Jessie Wilson, all of Wyoming; step-grandparents, Tom and Conchita Kelly of Sylva.

Christopher had a visitation at the Cherokee Baptist Church on Sunday, Jan. 4.  A funeral followed the next day with the Rev. Percy Cunningham officiating.  An immediate burial followed in the Cam Sneed Cemetery. Pall Bearers were family and friends.

Wayford Eugene Saine, 68, of 374 Lucy Long Rd. in Cherokee, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015 following an extended illness.

Wayford was the son of the late Wayford and Helen (Darnell) Saine of Buncombe County.

He is survived by his daughter, Lori Rubio with husband Mangas; grandchildren, Jullian, Taiya and Maddox Rubio and Angelica Saine, all of Cherokee, and Adam Saine of Tahlequah, Okla.; one sister, Louise Saine; caretaker, Marcella W. Saine, all of Cherokee.

He was preceded in death by his son, Marshall Eugene Saine and brother, Fred Albert Saine.

Wayford was laid to rest next to his son Marshall in the Lucy B. Long Cemetery in Cherokee.

George Gary Lambert, 61, of Winchester, Va., beloved husband to Kelsa Jones Lambert; father of Punkin Doodle, Sprout and Tbug; and papaw of Natasha and Aspen Chapman, passed peacefully with loved ones nearby, Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015 in the Winchester Medical Center.

Gary was born May 17, 1953 in Cherokee, son of the late Russell Daniel Lambert and Virginia Mae Ward Lambert.

He served 16 years in the U. S. Air Force and was an avid outdoorsman and a member of the Winchester-Frederick County Conservation Club.  Gary was an active Deacon of Boyce Baptist Church.

He is also survived by a brother, Kevin; and a sister, Sharon.

A memorial service will be held at 3pm on Saturday, Jan. 10 at Enders & Shirley Funeral Home Chapel in Berryville, Va. with Rev. Dr. Ben Jenkins officiating. Burial will be held at a later date on the Cherokee Indian Reservation in Cherokee alongside his parents.

The family will receive friends from 1-3pm prior to the service at the funeral home.

Military honors will be provided by the Clarke County Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P. O. Box 758517, Topeka, KS 66675 or to Disabled American Veterans, PO Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250.

To send condolences online, please visit www.endersandshirley.com.

Rubye Butler Hornbuckle passed gently and peacefully at her home on Saturday, Jan.10, 2015. Rubye lived a full and rich 99 years. She was born March 11, 1915 in Hulbert, Okla. to Robert and Charlotte Butler.  She attended and graduated from Sequoia Boarding school in Tahlequah, Okla. and from the business college at Haskell College in Kansas City, Mo.

In 1937, Rubye came to Cherokee and was employed by the Bureau of Indian Affairs where she worked until the early 1950s. In the late 1940s, Rubye and Charlie built the Cherokee Motel, seeing many changes in the tourist business. Rubye worked until 1992.

She is preceded in death by her husband, Charles I. Hornbuckle, [Charlie] and a son Charles James Hornbuckle [Jim].

She is survived by daughter, Beth Farris and husband, Jim, granddaughter Joy Duls and husband Josh, two great granddaughters, Aiyana and Lily, and by daughter, Jenean Hornbuckle and husband Bob White.

She is also survived by daughter in law, Suzanne Hornbuckle; grandson, James Hornbuckle; two great granddaughters, Courtney Hornbuckle and Lindsay Crowe; two great great grandsons, Wayah and Cohen; granddaughter,Jennifer H. Standingdeer and husband Dean, and two great granddaughters, Charleigh and Riley.

She considered herself grandma to several of the foster children at the Cherokee Children’s Home.  Rubye was a creative needle-worker and loved to knit, crochet and sew. She was always happy in her flower gardens.

A Memorial Service will be held at 11:30 am on Saturday, Jan. 17 in the Chapel of Appalachian Funeral Services.  The family will receive friends one hour prior to the Service at the Funeral Home beginning at 10:30 am.   Rubye asks, that as memorial to her full life, you “Pay it forward, with random acts of kindness,” give a friend a flower, check in on a neighbor, or give to your favorite charity.

An online registry is available at www.appalachianfuneralservices.com

James Ronald “Jim” Smith, 75, died on Saturday, Jan. 10 with his children by his side at his Billings, Mont. home following many years of battling kidney cancer.

Jim leaves behind his son, Jeff Smith (Judy Unger) of Williston, ND; grandson Nate Smith of Billings; daughter, Jennifer Smith of Billings, and cousin Jean Holt and her children Mike, Mark, and Norma Jean of Cherokee.  He also leaves behind his beloved pups Lady, Princess, and Peanut who were by his side at all times.

He was preceded in death by his father and mother Clifford and Kate Smith and brothers Mac Smith and Billy Smith.

Jim was born and raised on the Cherokee Indian Reservation in Cherokee, North Carolina and was a proud member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.  He graduated from Sylva High School and immediately moved to Washington, D.C. to work in the mailroom for Indian Health Service.  There, he met and married Betty “Judy” Marion where they had their son Jeff.  After moving to Phoenix, they went on to Aberdeen where daughter Jennifer was born, and they soon settled and raised their children in Billings, Montana where Jim served as Area Director for the Billings Indian Health Service from the 1970s into the ’80’s.  He was an avid outdoorsman, spending most weekends with his family camping, fishing, snowmobiling, and riding motorcycles.

Special regards to his dear cousin Jean Holt, former daughter-in-law Pam Milne-Before, friends Arnold and Mary Wachacha, Marvin and Edith Maney, and all of the other wonderful Cherokee people that called him a friend but are too numerous to mention here.

A memorial will be held in Cherokee this summer in Jim’s honor.

Arrangements are by Heights Family Funeral Home & Crematory in Billings, Mont. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.heightsfamilyfuneralhome.com through “Our Families.”

John Scott Arch, 46, of Cherokee, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, Jan. 12, 2015. Born in Chicago, Ill. and a lifelong resident of Cherokee, he was the son of Dolores Arch of Whittier and the late Ronald Arch. He was a graduate of Western Carolina University and employed in the family business. He will be sorely missed.

He is survived by his brother, Steve Arch and wife Cindy of Whittier; sister, Susan Kinsland and husband Randy of Whittier; wife, Tara Arch of Bryson City; two sons, Ronald and Henry Arch of Bryson City; two nieces, Jordan and Natalie Dillard of Whittier;  and one nephew, Christopher Arch of Whittier.

Funeral mass will be held at 11am on Saturday, Jan. 17 at Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Cherokee with Father James Cahill and Father Peter Shaw officiating.

The family will receive friends from 6-8pm on Friday, Jan. 16 at Crisp Funeral Home.

Online condolences are available at www.crispfuneralhome.org.

Henry James Bradley Jr., 45, of the Paintown community, went home to be with the Lord Wednesday, Jan. 14, 2015 in a Buncombe County hospital. A native of Cherokee, he was the son of Kina Smoker Bradley of Cherokee and the late Henry James Bradley Sr. He was a member of Old Antioch Baptist Church. He was preceded in death by his grandparents Fred Sr. and Elizina Bradley.

In addition to his mother, he is survived by his step father, Fred Bradley Jr. of Cherokee; four children, Stephan McCoy of Cherokee, Keenan, Logan, and Brady Bradley of Cherokee; two grandsons, Jaylan McCoy and Cullan Bradley of Cherokee; brothers, Gregory Dean Bradley, Jason Norman Bradley, Freddie Youngdeer, Wilson Sneed, all of Cherokee.

Funeral services will be held at 2pm on Saturday, Jan. 17 at Old Antioch Baptist Church. Revs. Denny Crowe and Ben Reed will officiate with burial in the family cemetery.

The family will receive friends from 5pm – 12am Friday at the church.

Crisp Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Ella Frances Bryson Hyatt, 87, passed away Saturday, Jan. 17, 2015. Mrs. Hyatt was born in Jackson County on April 20, 1927 to the late June and Lydia (Buchanan) Bryson.

Raised in Jackson County, she was a teacher in Cherokee for the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and she and her husband, the late John Hyatt Sr., raised their five children on Shoal Creek Road.

In addition to her parents and her husband, Mrs. Hyatt is preceded in death by her three brothers; Herbert, Clyde and Lloyd Bryson and her sister, Irene McClure.

She is survived by her five children; John (BJ) Hyatt of Woodbine, Ga., Sharon (John) Shearouse of Ocala, Fla., Eric (Carol) Hyatt of Athens, Ga., James Hyatt of San José, Calif., and Charles (Kourtni) Hyatt of Asheville. Eight grandchildren; Jef, Drew, Daniel, Christie, Laura, Jessie, Corrynne and Alex, and three great grandchildren, Wesley, Aaralyn and Roman, also survive.

A funeral service will be on Wednesday, Jan. 21 at 11am at Shoal Creek Baptist Church in Whittier with the Revs. Steve Jamison and Charles Stephens officiating. Family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be in Thomas Memorial Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to: The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 1311 Mamaroneck Avenue, Suite 310, White Plains, NY 10605 or by going to their website.

An online registry is available at www.appalachianfuneralservices.com

Jonathan Larch Taylor Jr., born July 30, 1973, went home to his Mansion in Glory with his Saviour on Wednesday, Jan. 21, 2015.

He is survived by two sons, Derrick Taylor and Damon Taylor of Cherokee; three grandchildren, Zaynon Taylor, Jacoby Taylor and Anayah Taylor;  mother and father, Jonathan Taylor Sr. and Cleo Proctor Taylor; sisters, Frances Taylor, Sherry Southards and husband Chris, Edith McCall and husband James, Savannah Wilnoty and husband Michael, brothers Dennis Edward Taylor and wife Katrina, and Larch Taylor all of Cherokee; several nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly, along with aunts and uncles and special uncle Dan McCoy.

He is preceded in death by grandparents Olin and Emma Proctor of Bryson City and Larch and Dixie Taylor of Cherokee and a dear Nephew Michael Dennie Wilnoty of Cherokee.

He was an avid sports fan of the Atlanta Braves, Pittsburg Steelers, Tennessee Volunteers and North Carolina Tar Heels. He coached many boys in youth football and baseball in Cherokee and was very proud of them.

Funeral services will be held at the Aquoni Baptist Church in Cherokee on Friday, Jan. 23 at 2pm of which he was a member. Reverends Denny Crowe and Ed Kilgore will officiate with burial in the Mary Blythe Cemetery.

Family will receive friends from 5pm – 12am on Thursday night at the church.

He will be greatly missed by his large family and friends.

Crisp Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Pallbearers will be Buford Smith, Chad George, Jack Jackson, Timmy Ray Smith, Michael Wilnoty, Dawson Wilnoty, Chris Southards, James McCall, J.R. Hornbuckle and Dirk Welch.

Richard C. Lambert, 55, of 33 Saunooke Drive in Cherokee, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2015 while fighting an extended illness at the Cherokee Indian Hospital. Rick was the son of the late J.D. Lambert and Mary Fuller Lambert of Cherokee, NC.

Rick is survived by his wife Peggy Lambert with grandchildren, Braelyn and Marley Murphy; daughters, Jessica Lambert, Allyson Lambert, Shakira “Miss Bea” Bradley and Chavis Wright; sister, Denise (Poncho) Ballard; brothers, Buddy (Debbie) and Mark (Sherry) Lambert all of Cherokee and brother, Lumpy (Tia) Lambert of Waynesville; Rick also leaves behind 10 grandchildren, Jade and Madison Ledford, Trevan and Riley Lambert, Brandon, Jessa, Aydn and Elle Sampson and Kylie and Kendra Wright.; aunts Carol Long and Brenda Grady. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Rick will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him.

He is preceded in death by daughter Brianna Bradley, brother, Will Lambert and his aunt/foster mother, Miriam “Babe” Wolfe.

A funeral service was held for Rick in the chapel of Long House Funeral Home on Thursday, Jan. 8. Rev. Jimmy Lambert officiated the services.

(Note: This obituary was updated with new information on Friday, Jan. 23.) 

Unita Carrie Hyde Holcomb, 73, of Cherokee, , formerly of Robbinsville, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 22, 2015 at her residence.

A native of Graham County, she was the daughter of the late William Robert and Carrie Rose Hyde.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Frank Holcomb, and her brothers, Robbie Hyde and Walter Hyde.

She was an enrolled member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

She is survived by her brother, Dewalt Hyde of Robbinsville; and her sister, Edith Deyton of Robbinsville.  She has several nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 1pm on Tuesday, Jan. 27 at the Townson-Smith Chapel.  The Reverend GD Phillips will officiate.  Burial will follow at Old Mother Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 12-1pm on Tuesday, at the Chapel, prior to the service.

Townson-Smith Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.  An online register is available at www.townson-smithfuneralhome.com.

Freeman Littlejohn, 55, of Cherokee, passed away on Jan. 12, 2015 at the Med West Harris Community Hospital in Sylva following an extended illness.

Freeman was the son of Jim Bigwitch and Ollie (Littlejohn) Bigwitch of Cherokee.  He was a carpenter of general construction but it was said he could do anything. He was a friend to those that knew him and made friends with many.  He will be sadly missed.

Freeman is survived by his wife Tashauna (Cunningham) Littlejohn; natural children, daughter, Ginger Cucumber with husband Derrick; sons, Phillip Littlejohn, Kenny Griffin and Kevin Smith; step children, Jacelyn, Braylon and Cyrus James; brothers, Andrew Littlejohn and Allen Ramsey; sisters, Joyce Taylor with husband Bob, Clara Sequoyah, Mary Wolfe with husband Jonah, Brenda Ramsey and Annee Young; grandchildren, Cory Johnson, Emre Johnson and Kollin Griffin; great-grandson, Mitchell Johnson; nieces, Shannon and Sharron Littlejohn; nephews, Mathew and Curtis Littlejohn, Blaine Wolfe and Bo Taylor all of Cherokee.

He was preceded in death by brother, Phillip “Mitch” Littlejohn and Clarence “Britches” Cucumber; twin brother, Leshea Littlejohn; grandmother, Eliza Jane Youngdeer.

Freeman had a visitation in the chapel of Long House Funeral Home on Wednesday, Jan. 14 followed by a funeral service the next day on Thursday, Jan. 15 with Pastor Greg Morgan, of Rock Springs Baptist, officiating.  The funeral was followed by an immediate burial in the Bigwitch Family Cemetery along Blue Wing Rd. of the Wolftown Community with Curtis Littlejohn, Ben Fuller, Kevin Smith, Michael Morgan, Nicodemus Bushyhead, Steven Watty, David George, Sam Toineeta, Don Ross and Joel Queen acting as the pall bearers

The family has made a request that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Cancer Support Group of Cherokee or the Rock Springs Baptist Church.

James Smoker, 69, of Cherokee passed away on Jan. 22 after an extended illness. James is the son of the late Charlie Smoker and Sarah Teesateskie.

James is survived by sisters, Jeanette Jumper of Robbinsville and Kina Bradley of Cherokee; brother John Smoker of Cherokee.

James is preceded in death by brother, Abraham Smoker and sister Melinda S. Bigwitch.

A visitaion was held on Sunday, Jan. 25 at the Church of the Lamb in Robbinsville  with the the funeral service following.  Burial followed at Ledford Cemetery. Friends and family were among Pall Bearers. Pastor Scott McGeary and Pastor Noah Crowe officiated.

Wayford Eugene Saine, 68, of 374 Lucy Long Rd. in Cherokee, went home to be with the Lord on Friday, Jan. 2, 2015 following an extended illness.

Wayford was the son of the late Wayford and Helen (Darnell) Saine of Buncombe Co.

He is survived by his daughter Lori Rubio with husband Mangas; grandchildren, Jullian, Taiya and Maddox Rubio and Angelica Saine all of Cherokee, and Adam Saine of Tahlequah, Okla.; one sister, Louise Saine; caretaker, Marcella W. Saine all of Cherokee.

He was preceded in death by his son, Marshall Eugene Saine and brother, Fred Albert Saine.

Wayford was laid to rest next to his son Marshall in the Lucy B. Long Cemetery in Cherokee.

Esther D. Roach, 57, of Cherokee, passed away on Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2015 following an extended illness. Esther is the daughter of the late James A. Screamer and Cornelia Mae Lossiah Rattler.

Esther is survived by her children Terrence Howard Roach of Kentucky, William Preston Roach and Kenneth Marcel Roach both of Cherokee; brother, Dennis James Rattler, Sr.; nephews, Dennis James Rattler, Jr. and Sammi Rattler; niece Brandy Savage of Oklahoma; grandchildren, Josyah, Preston, Daylon, MacKinley and Kennedy Roach all of Cherokee.

Esther is preceded in death by sisters, Norma Rattler and Woodie D. Rattler.

The funeral service was held at Waterfalls Baptist Church on Jan. 16.  Burial followed in the Rattler Family Cemetery. Pall Bearers were William Roach, Joe Otter, Joe Plummer, Kenny Roach, Brandon Welch and James Plummer. Pastor Red Bradley officiated.

Long House Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.

Alfred William “Bill” Owl, 60, of 170 Sam Brady Rd. in Cherokee, passed away unexpectedly on Jan. 27, 2015 at the Mission Campus of Mission Hospitals in Asheville.

Bill, born in Trenton, NJ, was the son of the late Alfred Gaither Owl and Mildred (Haden) Owl. He was the loving husband to his wife Dorothy (Brady) Owl of Cherokee.  Bill worked as a construction laborer and truck driver to make a living.  He was a motorcycle buff who enjoyed the sports culture and riding. He will be missed by family and friends.

Bill is survived by his children, Alfred Owl Jr., Tonya Owl Walk, Star Sampson, Skye Owl, Cowboy Brady, Missy Payne, Clint Brady, Winky Allison and Billy Joe Brady all of Cherokee; brothers, Clarence Murphy of Cherokee and Glenn Owl of Georgia; sisters, Deb Littlejohn of Cherokee and Darlene Owl of Trenton, NJ; aunts, Ethelyn Roberts and Betty Jan Coco; uncles, Charles Owl and Ervin Owl, all of Cherokee; and 20 grandchildren.

Along with his parents, Bill was preceded in death by one sister, Brenda Owl Youngdeer.

A visitation will be held for the general public on Friday, Jan. 30 in the Chapel of Long House Funeral Home from 6-9pm.  The family requests flowers for the home or that, in lieu of flowers, donations be sent to the Cancer Support Group of Cherokee care of Betty’s Place, 40 Goose Creek Rd., Cherokee, NC 28719.

Long House Funeral Home is assisting the family in the final services.

Sally George Shehan, 54, of 731 Wright’s Creek Rd., Cherokee, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, Jan. 30, 2015 at her residence.

Sally was the daughter of the late Guy George Sr. and Sally (Tramper) George of Cherokee and the companion and loving wife of James Timothy Shehan for more than 27 years. She was a homemaker and loving mother. She will be missed by her family, friends and loving dogs, Biscuit, Lil Bit and Dennis.

Sally also leaves behind her children, daughter, Shakira Dawn Hull with Jonah Teesatuskie and son, Robert Douglas Hull Jr. and wife Erica (Pheasant) Hull, all of Cherokee; one sister, Eloise Maney; eight grandchildren, Heaven Leigh Sulphur, Anthony William Sulphur, Nicholas Shawn Sulphur, Keilani Janay Teesatuskie, Gavin Hunter Teesatuskie, Aleiyah Lanae Hull, Alaina Rhaelynn Hull, and Andyn Jacob Pheasant, all of Cherokee.

With her parents, Sally was preceded in death by brother, Guy George Jr.; sisters, Lucinda (George) McCoy, Donna Roberta (George) Walkingstick, Martha Agnes (George) Swilling.

Sally will be placed in the Old Antioch Church for a visitation on Monday, Feb. 2 starting at 5pm for the general public and will remain there till the time of service on Tuesday, Feb. 3 at 12pm.  An immediate burial will follow in the Guy George Sr. cemetery near the family home on Wright’s Creek.  Service will be conducted by Rev. Denny Crowe and Brother Ben Reed of Old Antioch.  Pall Bearers will be among the friends and family.

Long House Funeral Home assisted the family in the final arrangements.

Mary Ellen (Littlejohn) Queen, 77, of Cherokee, went home to her Creator on Feb. 4, 2015 at the Cherokee Indian Hospital with her family close by her side.

Mary was the daughter of the late Guy Littlejohn and Katie (Calhoun) Littlejohn of Cherokee.  She was a fluent Cherokee speaker who loved all children and animals. Her favorite past time was watching Ko-La-Nv-Yi stickball teams practice and play ball games. Mary enjoyed traditional foods, traveling, watching her grandchildren make traditional crafts, gardening and bird watching. She will be sadly missed.

She is survived by her granddaughter Angela M. Kalonaheskie; great grandsons, Damion Kalonaheskie, Sebastian “Styles” Kalonaheskie, Myron “Pie” Kalonaheskie; foster daughter, Ronda Calhoun (Tracy); grandson, Noah Ledford, III (Nicole); granddaughter, Chicoah Ledford (Hunter); great grand children, Walela Ledford, Achilles Thomas, Lawson, Ledford; special friends, Josephine Kalonaheskie, Dolly Taylor and Rick Cabe.

Mary was preceded in death by daughter, Katie J. Queen; granddaughter, Miranda Leigh Kalonaheskie; grandson, Jason David Kalonaheskie; two brothers; one sister; and son-in-law, Jonah “Bone” Kalonaheskie.

By request of her granddaughter, a short visitation was given for Mary at Long House Funeral Home on Wednesday, Feb. 4 for those friends that may have not been able to see her sooner.  Following Mary’s request, she was buried shortly following her death in the Littlejohn Family Cemetery in the Big Cove Community. The pall bearers were: Tim Hill, Damion Kalonaheskie, Pat Hill, Harley Davis, Waylon Long, Nick Hill, Sky Figueroa, Jackson Figueroa with honoray pall bearers being Sebastian Kalonaheskie, Myron Kalonaheskie and Pedro Figueroa.

Lewis Hillard Long, 71, of Cherokee, passed away unexpectedly on Feb. 10, 2015 following a period of declining health while staying at the Brian Center in Waynesville.

Lewis was the son of the late Allen Long and Dinah (Lossiah) Long and born into the Big Cove Community of Cherokee.

Lewis is survived by sisters, Elnora Nations with husband Candler, Frances Reed and Elista Long; brother-in-law, Clark Junaluska.  He also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.

Lewis was preceded in death by three brothers, Jerry Long, Will Long and Frank Long; two sisters, Sara J. Poe and Lottie Long and a nephew, Henry Long.

A visitation will be held on Thursday, Feb. 12 at the Big Cove Missionary Baptist Church starting at 4pm.  Lewis will remain until the funeral service on Friday, Feb. 13 at 11am. A burial will follow at the Long Family Cemetery with pall bearers being among Denny Reed, Casey Long, Gavin Squirrel, Sean Poe, Gregory Panther, Bo Nations, Will Lambert, Melvin Lambert and Henry Long Jr.  The Rev. James “Bo” Parris will officiate.