Earl Eddie Taylor, 66, of Sim Taylor Rd. in Cherokee, passed away at the Cherokee Indian Hospital following a brief illness.  His loving family was by his side.  Taylor was born on Wednesday, April 16, 1947 and passed away Monday, Nov. 4, 2013. 

Earl was the son of the late Simeon Taylor and Beulah (Teesateskie) Taylor both of Cherokee.

He was a veteran of the US Army and served during the Vietnam War from approx 1968-74.  He like many other sacrificed a great portion of their lives for his fellow country men.  He had been involved in fellowship organizations doing what he learned to do in his life – give.  Earl along fellow soldiers formed the All Nations Warrior Society based in Cherokee. The group of Native American Soldiers from many Inidan Nations provide an honor guard for fallen American soldiers and is formed by American Indian warriors.  Earl was the commander. 

Earl is survived by his loving wife Joan Denise Taylor; one daughter Sonya Martinez of KS; brothers, Mernie Taylor, Harry Taylor; sister, Alyne Taylor Tooni; grandchild, Caleb LeLand Taylor; uncles, Jess Taylor, Edward Taylor; nieces, Kitty Taylor, Carmen Tooni Davis; great neice, Hannah Youngdeer; nephews, Tyler Taylor, Charles Taylor, Jame “Jim” Tooni; great nephew, Mikey Youngdeer, all of Cherokee. 

Earl was preceded in death by his son, Tony Earl Taylor and sister, Lahoma Taylor Kindle, also by many aunts and uncles. 

A visitation will be held at the  Living Waters Lutheran Church near the intersection of Locust Rd. and Goose Creek on Wednesday, Nov. 6 starting at 5pm.  The body will remain at the church till the hour of service on Thursday, Nov. 7 at 2pm.  Pastor Jack Russell will officate.  An immediate burial will take place at the Veteran’s Cemetery on Yellowhill with the American Legion Steve Youngdeer Post 143 and members of the All Nations Warrior Society providing the buial detail.  Acting pall bearers are Tyler Taylor, Addison Horton, Mikey Youngdeer, Charles Taylor, Les Ledfor, Greg Leadingfox with honorary James “Jim” Tooni.

For those who would like to donate in the memory of Earl, they may do so through one of his chosen groups, the Osprey Ministries, Inc..  The contact may be made at ospreyminitries.org within the next 24 hours a page in memory of Earl will be posted and will provide a point of memorial. 

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

Walter Bernhisel, 46, of Cherokee went home to be with the Lord Saturday, Nov. 16, 2013 at his residence. A native of Cherokee, he was the son of the late Edward Charles and Jean Wahnetah Bernhisel. He attended the Cherokee Pentecostal Holiness Church. He was preceded in death by his sister, Sherry Bernhisel and his brother, Samuel Bernhisel. 

He is survived by his wife of 20 years, Sarah Bernhisel, three daughters, Shaina, Danita, and Linda Bernhisel; five grandchildren; sisters, Wahnetah Stamper and husband Ned, Arlena Lanning, Violet Lee, Carol Bernhisel, Syble Bernhisel, Lois Swanson; and brothers, Tony, Joe, and Ed Bernhisel.

Funeral services will be held at 2pm on Wednesday, Nov. 20 at the Cherokee Pentecostal Holiness Church. Revs. Donald Ensley, Tony Bernhisel, and Betty Drake will officiate with burial in the Yellowhill Cemetery.

The body will be taken to the church at 4pm Tuesday by Crisp Funeral Home to await the hour of service.

Ruth Hornbuckle Mata, 65, of Cherokee, passed away at the Tsali Care Center on Nov. 19, 2013 following a brief illness.  She lived on Quallatown Rd. in the Whittier community near Cherokee.

She was the daughter of the late Benjamin F. Hornbuckle and Mary (Wolfe) Hornbuckle of Cherokee and was the wife to husband Faustino Mata. She was a member of the Rock Springs Baptist church.

She is survived by her sons, Bobby Reagan and Jamie Reagan; daughters, Mary Mata and Felisa Mata; one sister, Ruby Lossiah and four grandchildren.

A visitation is planned for Thursday, Nov. 21 at the Cherokee Bible Church starting at 6pm and will last till the hour of service of 11am on Friday, Nov. 22.  Pastor Randy Miller and Mr. Richard Lossiah will officiate the services. An immediate burial will follow in the Reagan cemetery with the Pall Bearers being among the friends and family.

Long House Funeral Home of Cherokee is assisting the family in the final arrangements. 

Jackie Dugan Queen, 55, of Cherokee, went home to be with the Lord, Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013 in a Jackson County Hospital after a period of declining health. A native of Cherokee, she was the daughter of the late James Boyce and Jessie Owle Dugan. She was a member of Antioch Baptist Church on Coopers Creek. She worked for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians for 30 years. She was preceded in death by her sister Jane Dugan, and her brother James Todd Dugan.

She is survived by her husband, Scott Queen of Cherokee; Father-in-law and Mother-in-law Bill and Nancy Ammons of Bryson City; one son Jesse Queen of the Home; two daughters, Jill Sain and husband Jay of Whittier, and Jennifer Dugan of Cherokee; one step-son Austin Rickman of Bryson City; four grandchildren, Jayda, and Jayce Toineeta, and Bryce, and Blake Sain; four sisters, Joyce Sneed and husband Pinknot of Cherokee, Judy Hyatt of Cherokee, Janice Smith and husband Sonny of Cherokee, Jewell Fischer and husband James of Cherokee; two brothers Jerry Dugan and wife Joyce of Cherokee, and John Dugan and wife Kathy of Cherokee.

Funeral Services will be held at 3pm on Wednesday, Nov. 27 at Antioch Baptist Church on Coopers Creek. Rev. Danny Lambert will officiate with burial in the Birdtown Cemetery.

She will be taken to the Church at 5pm on Tuesday by Crisp Funeral Home to await the hour of service.

In lieu of flowers a donation box will be set up at the Church for Cystic Fibrosis.

Nancy Evelyn Whitetree, 82, of Cherokee, passed away on Nov. 20, 2013 at Mission Hospital following an extended illness. Nancy is the daughter of the late Robert Brindle and Mae Murphy Brindle. She is also preceded in death by husband, Charles Lee Whitetree and son, Perry Dale Whitetree.

Nancy is survived by her children; Charles Ray Whitetree, Linda Lee Whitetree, Marilyn Ann Blythe, Terry Gale Aidif, Wanda Sue Whitetree and Kerry John Whitetree; brothers, Eugene Brindle and James Brindle; sisters, Janice Jones, Louise Robinson, Virginia Evans and Irene Williams. Nancy also leaves behind 15 grandchildren and 25 great grandchildren.

A visitation was held on Nov. 22 followed by the funeral service at 5pm at Long House Funeral Home.

Naomi Queen, 76, of Cherokee passed away on Nov. 24 at her residence surround by her family whom she loved dearly. Naomi is the daughter of the late Abraham Queen and Nannie K. Queen.

Naomi is also preceded in death by brothers, Bascom Queen, Jacob Queen, Phillip Kalonaheskie, Howard Kalonaheskie and one sister, Geneva Owle.

Surviving are children; Hilda Queen, Stu Bradley, Mary Jo Taylor, Delores Queen and one sister, Frances Toineeta. Naomi also leaves behind nine grandchildren, Jeffery, Stephanie, Maceta, Austina, Erin, Josh, Kelly, Chelsea and Brianna; eight great grandchildren, Kyleigh, Maggie, Lila, Sam, Jennifer, Dorian, Zayden, Kynleigh and numerous nieces and nephews that Naomi dearly loved.

A visitation will be held on Nov. 26 at Long House Funeral Home from 6pm-9pm. The funeral service will be on Nov. 27 at Long House Funeral Home starting at 2pm.  Burial will follow in the Queen Family Cemetery. Pall bearers will be Jeffery Bradley, Josh Taylor, Dorian Walkingstick, Cameron Cooper, Jimmy Smith and Dave Long. Pastor Charles Griffin and Pastor Betty Drake will officiate.

WAYNESVILLE – Joseph (Joe) Glenn Hipps, age 81, passed away Monday, Nov. 25, 2013 at his home in Raleigh.

A native of Haywood County, he was the son of the late Robert Glenn Hipps and Leila Wright Hipps of Lake Junaluska.  He was also preceded in death by a son, Brian C. Hipps.  Joe was a 1951 graduate of Waynesville Township High School and also a graduate of Western Carolina University.  He taught and coached for ten years in High Point and Durham and during the summers, served as Theater Manager for “Unto These Hills” in Cherokee.

He then began his Federal government career of more than 26 years with the Department of the Interior, serving with the National Park Service at the Oconaluftee Job Corps Conservation Center in Cherokee and Harpers Ferry, West Virginia; youth programs in Washington, DC; and the Bureau of Reclamation, Director of Youth Programs in   Washington, DC and Denver, Colorado.  Joe retired in 1990 and resided in Lake Junaluska until May 2012 when he moved to Raleigh.

He is survived by his wife of 27 years, Carolyn Glover Hipps; one daughter, Debra A. Hipps of Waynesville; two sons, J. Barry Hipps and wife, Judy of Bryson City; and Timothy G. Hipps of San Antonio, Texas; a stepdaughter, Kim G. Manning of Raleigh; five grandchildren, Robert Woodard of Cary, Anna E. Hipps and J. Travis Hipps of  Chapel Hill, Betsey Flack of Dalton, Georgia, and Danielle Hipps of Savannah, Georgia; and one great-grandchild, MacKenzie Woodard of Cary.

The family will receive relatives and friends at the residence in Raleigh, on Sunday, Dec. 1 from 3-6pm.  A memorial service will be held at Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church, Lake Junaluska, at a later date.

Memorials may be made to Hospice of Wake County, 250 Hospice Circle, Raleigh, NC  27607 and Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church, P. O. Box 459, Lake Junaluska, NC  28745.

An on-line memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at www.wellsfuneralhome.com.

Mae Bell Greene Owl, 89, of the 3200 Acre Tract of the Birdtown community in Whittier passed from this earthly life on Nov. 28, 2013. She is the widow of Eugene Owl Sr.

She was preceded in death by her mother and father, Callie Phillips and William Pierce Greene as well as four brothers, Amos, Robert, Grady and Lester Greene.

She is survived by her only sister, Gladys Greene Dills of Lowell.

Mae Bell and Eugene have four children, Eugene Jr. (Sandra) of Whittier, William McKinnley (Dinna) of Clyde, Frances Aileen Marie Owl-Smith (Doyle) of Bryson City, Elizabeth Ann Owl-Myers (Rob) of Whittier, and Panama City, Fla.; 11 grandchildren; 20 great grandchildren; and nine great great grandchildren.

Mae Bell was a stay at home mother for many years and later retired from “The Cherokees Factory” in Cherokee. She loved her family above all and had a passion for flower gardening. She is loved and remembered for her spirited nature and generous heart.

Visitation and services to follow were held at the chapel of Crisp Funeral Home, Sunday, Dec. 1. Rev. Merrit Youngdeer officiated with burial in the Birdtown Cemetery.

McKinley Edwin (Mac) Swimmer, 75, of the Big Cove Community went home to be the Lord on Thursday, Nov. 28 at his residence following a period of declining health. A native of Swain County, Mac is the son of Amanda Sequoyah Swimmer and the late Luke Swimmer.  Along with his father, Mac is preceded in death by three brothers; John, Herbert and Ronald Swimmer, a sister Mary Ellen Swimmer Wolfe and one son Robert Dale Swimmer.

McKinley (Mac) graudated from Cherokee High School and then went on to graduate from North Georgia Tech in Clarkesville, Ga. McKinley served one term as a Council member for the Big Cove community.  He also served as a tribal policeman. He was an active member of the community, serving as a coach for basketball and softball.  Before leaving Cherokee, McKinley was a Deacon at Straight Fork Baptist Church in Big Cove. He was an ordained Minister in New Mexico and before retiring he and his wife spent 30 years in the missionary field where he was Pastor for 3 different churchs in; Dulce, NM (Apache Reservation), Albuquerque, NM and Fruitland, NM (Navajo Reservation). Also, while in New Mexico, he was a Deacon at the First Indian Baptist Church in Albuquerque,served as Vice president of the Inlow Indian Baptist Camp in New Mexico and served as president of the Indian Quarterly Fellowship in New Mexico.  More recently, McKinley served as moderator for the Tennessee River Baptist Assocation in 2010, McKinley was a member of the Cherokee Baptist Church.

McKinley is survived by his wife of 55 years, Juanita French McGillis Swimmer of Cherokee, 2 sons; McKinley (Eddie) Swimmer, Jr. and wife Regina of Cherokee and Stephan Swimmer and wife Robin of Cherokee. Two grandsons; Kyle Swimmer from Laquna, NM and Aaron Swimmer from Keams Canyon, Ariz..  Also surviving are; McKinley’s mother, Amanda Sequoyah Swimmer, Sisters; Merina Myers, Flora Bradley and Marilyn French. Brothers; Virgil and Donald Swimmer. McKinley also leaves behind many nieces and nephews.

A visitation was held on Sunday, Dec. 1 at the Cherokee Baptist Church.  McKinley remained at the church to await the hour of service on Monday, Dec. 2.  Acting as pall bearers were McKinley’s nephews.

By request of the family, they ask ,in lieu of flowers please make donations to your local P.A.W.S, Hospice or favorite local charity, in memory of McKinley E. Swimmer.

Irene Bradley, 52, of the Birdtown Community passed away Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2013 in a Buncombe County Hospital. A native of Cherokee, she was the daughter of the late Alice Mae Arch. She attended the Cherokee Church of God.

She was preceded in death by her son, Tom Bradley; and two brothers, Jim and Bob Arch.

She is survived by her husband of 21 years, Eddie Bradley; one son, Justin Arch of Cherokee; one sister, Ada Arch of Cherokee; five grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held at 12pm on Friday, Dec. 13 at Bradley Cemetery. Rev. Noah Crowe will officiate.

Crisp Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

Arthur H. Buchanan Jr., 66, of 130 Happiness Hill Rd., Sylva, passed away on Friday, Dec. 13, 2013 following an extended illness.  His loving family was by his side. 

Arthur was the son of the late Arthur H. Buchanan, Sr. and Eva (Frizzell) Buchanan of the Sylva community. He was the loving husband to Brenda (Olvey) Buchanan.  He made his way through life as a construction worker building homes and he was a member of the Living Church of God.

His presence will be missed by his family and all that called him friend.

Along with his wife Arthur is survived by his sons, James Buchanan of Asheville, Arthur H. Buchanan III and wife Debbie, of Sylva; daughter, Barbara Bassett and husband, Scott of Sylva; two grandchildren, William M. Ashe Jr. and Rebecca Ashe; one brother, David L. Buchanan and wife Wanda of Sylva.

He is also preceded in death by brother, Charles R. Buchanan; sisters, Marion Lee Buchanan and Loretta Joan Buchanan.

Arthur will have a public visitation on Monday, Dec. 16 from 12-2pm in the chapel of Long House Funeral Home in Cherokee.  A funeral service will follow the visitation at 2pm in the chapel of Long House Funeral Home with the Rev. Martin Fannin and Rev. Ron Poole officiating.

The family is respectfully requesting that in lieu of flowers donations be made in memory of Arthur to Long House Funeral Home at 407 Wolftown Rd., Cherokee, NC 28719 to assist in the final expenses of his services.

Michael Delaine Hazelwood, 39, of Cherokee passed away on Dec. 10, 2013. Michael is the son of Phillip Hazelwood and Melody Clark and is also survived by his children, Dillion Watwood and Alesha Webb; grandchildren, Aubrey, Jeremiah and Tyson; and two brothers, Eric and Matthew.

Michael is preceded in death by his grandfather, Bill Hazelwood.

A visitation and funeral service will be held on Thursday, Dec. 19 starting at 10 am with service starting at 12pm at Long House Funeral Home.

Pall bearers will be Caleb Hazelwood, Blake Hazelwood and Jeffery Wills. Dee Hazelwood will officiate.

Deborah Anne Bradley, 60, passed away unexpectedly on Dec. 17, 2013 at her residence on Moody Reed Road in the Wolftown community.  Deborah is the daughter of the late John Richard Bradley Sr. and Mary Edith Bradley. Along with her parents, Deborah is preceded in death by one brother, Larry Edward Bradley.

Deborah is survived by her children; Ronald Dean Allison, Brian Keith Allison and John “Bear” Allison,  all of Cherokee; brother, John Richard Bradley Jr.;  aunts, Sadie Jackson, Barbara Robie, Jean Bryant and Clara Jean Huskey; uncles, Ham Bradley, Red Bradley and Shorty Bradley. Deborah also leaves behind five grandchildren.

A visiation was held on Dec. 20 with the funeral service following at Long House Funeral Home. Burial followed at the John Bradley Cemetery. Pall bearers were George Burgess, Glen Bradley, Bo Crowe, Alan Brown, Brian Waldroup and Chris McCoy.  Red Bradley officiated.

McAdoo Driver, 93, of Cherokee, passed away peacefully at the Tsali Care Center on Dec. 23, 2013 with his loving family close to him.

McAdoo was the son of the late Ned Driver and Caroline (Toineeta) Conseen.  He had attended Yellowhill Baptist prior to his being at Tsali Care.  He was a veteran of the US Army and served his country proudly.  He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and uncle and has gone on to be with those that have gone before him.

He is survived by his children, Sharon Driver French and husband, Ed (Peanut) and McAdoo L. Driver and wife Vickie; one brother, Adam Conseen of Va.; seven grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren, 13 great-great grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his wife Amelia Hill Driver and siblings, Nancy Conseen, Emily Conseen McCoy, Ruth Driver Bushyhead, Irvin Conseen, Richard Driver and Wes Driver.

A funeral service was held on Dec. 24 at the Yellowhill Baptist Church in the sanctuary.  The Rev. James “Bo” Parris officiated, and an immediate burial followed in the Veteran’s Cemetery at the church.

Long House assisted the family in the arrangements of services.  The quickness of the happenings are done with the respect of McAdoo’s wishes and aren’t meant to offend anyone.

Lee Teesateskie, 95, of the Snowbird community passed away on Jan. 5, 2014 at the Cherokee Indian Hospital surround by his loving family. Lee is the son of the late Jesse Teesateskie and Polly Catt Teesateskie.  Lee served this country during World War II in the Army Air Corp. He was a member of the 333^rd Bomber Squadron as part of the Army Aviation unit and engaged in over 18 missions as a Tail gunner.

Lee is preceded in death by his wife, Caroline Teesateskie; brothers, Joe Teesateskie, William Teesateskie, Joseph Teesateskie and Soloman Bird; sisters, Lillian Ledford, Sarah Smoker, Dinah Wachacha, Suzanne Goodson and Rebecca Bird Teesateskie.

Lee is survived by his children, Peggy Lee Teesateskie of Snowbird, Gary Lee Teesateskie of Woodstock, Ga. and special children John Francis Smoker and Martha W. Ledford both of Snowbird; one sister, Amy Smoker of Snowbird; six grandchildren and one great grandchild.

A visitation will be held on Tuesday, Jan. 7 at the Little Snowbird Baptist Church starting at 5 pm.  Lee will remain at the church until hour of service on Jan. 8 at 2 pm. Burial will follow in the Teesateskie Family Cemetery.  Pall bearers will be Darrell Teesateskie, Richard Smoker, Shane Welch, Calloway Ledford, Jackson Teesateskie and John Bird. Pastor James “Bo” Parris, Pastor Paul Teasdale and Pastor Michael Rattler will officiate.

Long House Funeral Home assisted family with arrangements

Marie Walkingstick Pheasant, 26, of Cherokee passed away on Dec. 29, 2013.

Marie is the daughter of the late Sam Walkingstick and Barbara Stansberry. Along with her parents, Marie is preceded in death by son, Judiah Edward Pheasant.

Marie is survived by her children, Ernest Pheasant Jr. and Aryahnie Loraine Pheasant; husband, Ernest Pheasant; one brother, Sammy Walkingstick and wife Fran; two sisters, Lucille Wolfe and husband Bill and Mary Lou Smith.

A visitation was held on Jan. 5, 2014 at Acquoni Baptist Church from 1-2pm.  The funeral service followed at 2pm. Burial was the in Walkingstick Cemetery located on Old #4 Rd in the Birdtown community. Family acted as pall bearers. Pastor Ed Kilgore and Pastor James “Bo” Parris officiated.

Long House Funeral Home assisted  with arrangements.

Henry Oocumma, 48, passed away on Dec. 30, 2013 at the Tsali Care Center following an extended illness. Henry is the son of the late John Welch Oocumma and Alice Littlejohn Oocumma.

Henry is also preceded in death by brothers, William Oocumma and Jimmy Oocumma; one sister, Marjorie Littlejohn and one nephew, Keith Oocumma.

Surviving are brothers, David Oocumma, Ray Oocumma, Jeremiah Oocumma and Azalea Oocumma; one sister, Caroline Oocumma; nephews, Troy Arch and wife Kelly, Eugene Oocumma and Anthony Oocumma; niece, Sarah Sneed; great nieces, Miah Sneed, Kiara Sneed and Keilani Sneed and great nephew, Darian Oocumma.

A burial was held on Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013 at the Cucumber Cemetery located in the Blue Wing community. Patricia Crockett conducted the graveside service.

Long House Funeral Home assisted family with arrangements

Travis R. Wolfe, 37, of Cherokee passed away on Dec. 22, 2013 at Memorial Mission Hospital in Asheville. Travis is the son of Herman Wachacha Sr. of Robbinsville and Berdina Wolfe of Cherokee. .

Along with his parents, Travis is survived by his daughters; Trinity C. Henson, Jordan Wolfe and Tara L. Wolfe; two sisters, Megan L. Wachacha and Cynthia L. Wachacha, both of Cherokee; one brother, Herman Wachacha Jr. of Robbinsville; nieces, Maritsa S. Wachacha and Kristian Martinez; nephews, Elijah L. Wachacha and Jose L. Martinez. Travis also leaves behind many aunts and uncles.

Travis is preceded in death by grandparents, Henry and Dinah Wachacha of Robbinsville, Eli and Irene Wolfe of Cherokee as well as aunts and uncles.

A visitation was held on Dec. 26, 2013 at Bethabara Baptist Church starting at 5 pm. Travis remained at the church until 9 am on Dec. 27, 2013.  He was then moved to Zion Hill Baptist Church in Robbinsville to await the hour of service. Burial followed at the Ledford Cemetery in Snowbird. Pall Bearers included Moose Lambert, Patrick Teesateskie, Victor Wildcatt, Inez Cisneros, Bernardo Cazares and Jesus Yanez. Pastor Noah Crowe and Pastor Michael Rattler officiated.

Long House Funeral Home assisted family with arrangements

Barbara C. Strickland, 78, passed away peacefully on Dec. 26, 2013 at the Tsali Care Center in Cherokee, following Several years of declining health.

Her death came on the heels of a glorious Christmas Day filled with close family and loving friends. Barbara was the eight of nine children born to Arnold and Myrtle Keener of Owl Branch Road.

In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by husband, Ed Strickland of Orlando, Fla.; former husband and father of her son, Ray W. Cline of Bryson City; two sisters, Helen Francis (Mrs. H.T. “Hobe”) Collins of Franklin and Jessie Margaret (Mrs. Clarence) Clement of Hickory and Cherokee; one half brother, Charles Hornbuckle; one half sister, Lottie Hornbuckle Mason, also of Cherokee. 

She is survived by one son, Kenneth Ray Cline and wife, Danute’ Cline of Unicoi, Tenn. and her beautiful granddaughter, Lidija Cline, 9, also of Unicoi, Tenn.; three brothers, James A. (Janene) Cooper, Candler Ray (Bertie) Cooper, Robert W. (Tommye) Cooper, all of Cherokee; three sisters, Ida Lee “Dixie” (Newman) Arneach, Wilma Doris Morris and Anna Sue Owle, also all of Cherokee.

Long House Funeral Home assisted the family with arrangements.  At Barbara’s request and the family concurs, in lieu of flowers please send memorials to Tsali Care Center.

Robert Bigmeat, 77, of Cherokee, passed away on Jan. 4, 2014. Robert is the son of the late Robert Bigmeat and Charlotte Welch Bigmeat.

Robert is survived by his wife Nancy Blackfox Bigmeat and children; Jeff Blackfox, Coon Bigmeat, John Bigmeat, Wesley Wildcatt, Lish Oocumma and Alexa Armachain; grandchildren, Cassandra Blackfox, Kristan Blackfox, Corneila Rattler, Linda Armachain, Kyle Bigmeat and Keith Bigmeat; great granchildren, Dylan Wachacha, Ethan Armachain and a special great granddaughter Shaelynn Postoak. Robert also leaves behind many friends.

Along with his parents, Robert is preceded in death by children; Christine Lynn Bigmeat, Carrie Leigh Bigmeat and Justin Blackfox; brothers, Mark Bigmeat and Welch Bigmeat; sisters, Tiney Bigmeat, Ethel Bigmeat, Mable Bigmeat, Elizabeth Jackson and Louise Bigmeat.

A visistation will be held on Jan. 6 at Rock Springs Baptist Church from 5-11pm.  The funeral service will be on Jan. 7 at 12pm.  Burial will follow at the Bigmeat Cemetery. Pastor Greg Morgan, Pastor James “Bo” Parris and  Pastor Noah Crowe will officiate.

Long House Funeral Home assisted family with arrangements