4 july 18, 2013
• yANCEY cOUNTY nEWS
Obituaries
Andy Faller
We said goodbye to Andy “Moose” Faller, as he left in his Ford F-250 Moosemobile looking for another two-lane road to drive with hope in his heart that he will find another fork in the road which will deliver the feeling of mystery, hope and excitement that he loved. This is not his first trip down a two lane road. He has taken many extended driving trips across this big country since he retired in 1987. During World War II he dropped out of high school to enlist in the Navy Air Program. Following extended training he was assigned to a squadron as a radiogunner in a carrier-based torpedo bomber. After his tour he reenlisted in the Navy Reserve for four more years flying TBFʼs at Floyd Bennett Field, N.Y. After the war he finished high school and continued his education at Seton Hall University while raising a family of four children. Andy worked for A.C. Nielsen Co., based in New York City for 40 years overseeing operations in New York, Chicago and San Francisco. He also was on special assignment with Nielsen in Japan, England, Ireland and Canada. He served as executive vice president of the company for many years. After retiring, Andy and Cass settled in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina near Burnsville. He immediately began to volunteer his considerable talents by tutoring students at Mt. Heritage High School to help improve their literacy. This was the beginning of the Evening School Project, which was cofounded by Andy in 1992 and continues today. It is supported through outside donations to help students who dropped out of school. He also volunteered at the North Carolina Arboretum with the Bonsai Director and at the Yancey County Chamber of Commerce, both for over 10 years. He served two terms on the board of the Toe River Arts Council and helped create the Cultural Resource Commission. One of his many passions was photography. Each summer he would enroll in a photography workshop at the Penland School of Crafts or venture out on one of his driving trips traveling the 2 lane roads taking photographs and recording his conversations with hundreds of people he met. He drove through all the lower 48 states, Alaska, and Canada, accumulating over 500,000 miles.
Andy leaves his loving wife, Cass, four children, 13 grandchildren, 3 great grandchildren, two brothers, an d one sister, in addition to an enormous number of wonderful friends. Andy’s wish is for continued support of the Yancey Evening School (YES) and The Hospice of Yancey County. Contributions in his memory can be made to the Andy Faller Memorial Fund at 570 Doan Town Road, Burnsville, N.C. 28714. Memorials will be split between the two organizations with great hopes for their continued success. A celebration of life service will be held at a later date and will be announced. Yancey Funeral Services is serving the Faller family. Andy lived his life with this motto: Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming....’Wow, what a ride!”
Paul Albert Reecer Jr.
Paul Albert Reecer Jr., 71, passed away on Saturday, July, 13, 2013, at Blue Ridge Regional Hospital. A native of Ocala, Fla., he was a son of the late Paul Reecer and Elise Cherry Reecer. He was also preceded in death by a brother, Mike. Paul was passionate about auctions, where he collected many antiques such as guns and jewelry. He was a salesman for trucks and trailors and he also raised horses but most of all Paul loved his grandchildren. Surviving are his sons: The Rev. Jeff Reecer, and wife, Susan, of Burnsville, Allan Reecer of Burnsville and Darin Reecer of Chicago; two daughters: Carrie Reecer and Carey Harmon of Lakeland, Fla.; two brothers: James Reecer and wife, Patty ,of St. Petersburg, Fla., and Anthony Reecer of Indianapolis Ind.; a sister Margaret Reecer of Tennessee; grandchildren Megan and Lauren Reecer, Joseph Ferrich, Candice Munford and Christen Harmon; and two great grandchildren, Johnny and Peyton Harmon. Funeral will be at 4 p.m. on Monday, July 22, at South Estatoe Baptist Church. The Rev. Jeff Reecer will officiate. Burial will be in the South Estatoe Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 3-4 p.m. at the church prior to the funeral service. Memorial donations may be made to Shriners Childrens Hospital c/o South Estatoe Baptist Church, 32 South Estatoe Baptist Church Rd., Burnsville, NC 28714.
Danny Ray Letterman
Danny Ray Letterman, 48, of the Cane Branch Community, died Friday, July 12, 2013, at his home. A native of Mitchell County, he was a son of James Ray Letterman of Burnsville and the late Lillie Mae Butner Letterman, who passed away in May of this year. Danny loved his family, his church and was a true witness for the Lord. He enjoyed hiking, beautiful waterfalls and never complained. Surviving in addition to his father are his wife, Ida Holloway Letterman; stepmother, Ruby Letterman of Burnsville;
step-son, Joshua Swink; sister, Carolyn Ann Jones and significant other, Greg Young, of Spruce Pine; stepsister Donna Huskins of Burnsville; stepbrother Donald Braithwaite and wife, Kelly, of Spruce Pine; niece Sarah Morrissey and husband, Jamie, of Morganton; nephew Bradley Jones and wife, Deidra, of Kingsport, Tenn.; great niece and nephew Caleb and Emma Morrissey. Several special cousins, aunts and uncles also survive. Funeral was Monday in the Chapel of Yancey Funeral Service. The Rev. Randall Robinson will officiate. The family will receive friends from 6 until 8 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home. Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday in the Crabtree Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery. Memorial donations may be made to the American Kidney Fund, 11921 Rockville Pike Suite 300, Rockville, MD 20852.
Nelleen T. Robinson
Nelleen T. Robinson, 94, of the Swiss Community, passed away Thursday, July 11, 2013, at St. Josephs Hospital. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Clyde and Nola Tomberlin Robinson. Nelleen was also preceded in death by two brothers and sisters. She was a retired employee of Yancey County schools and a member of Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Surviving are three nephews whom she raised: Ronnie Luyckx of the home, Gary Luyckx and wife, Darlene, of Leicester, and Roy Burton Hensley and wife, Faye, of Hudson. Funeral was Sunday in Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church. The Rev. Jerry Shelton officiated. Burial was in the ShepherdRobinson Family Cemetery.
Shirley Murphy Loftis
Shirley Murphy Loftis, 76, of White Oak Creek Road, died July 11, 2013, at Mission Hospital, surrounded by her family after an extended illness. A native of Yancey County, she was a daughter of the late Lawerence and Dora Self Murphy, and the wife of Fred Loftis who passed away in 2007. She was also preceded in death by a son: Freddy Loftis; and, a daughter: Diane Sheldon. Shirley was an avid gardener, a community leader, a loving mother, sister, grandmother and great-grandmother. Surviving are two daughters, Sylvia Cox and husband, Bob, of Asheville, and Rebecca Lynn Miller and husband, Casper, of Weaverville; a son: Thomas “Audie” Murphy of Burnsville; 7 grandchildren: Jerry Angel and wife, Crystal, Chance Blevins, Victoria Murphy, Darby Cox, Sydney and Kasey Miller and Ashley Richards; 5 great grandchildren: Alyssa, Katelyn and Fredrick Angel and Jeremiah and Kaitlyn Richards; 3 sisters: Rena Mace, Dorothy Young and Cartha Biddix; and several nieces and nephews also survive. Funeral was Saturday in the Chapel of Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home. Father Ross Jones officiated. Burial was in the Goode Cemetery. Memorials may be made to Hospice of Yancey County, 856 Georges Fork Road, Burnsville, NC 28714.