Jeffrey Allen Best, age 37, of Cherokee, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, Aug. 29, 2026.

Kenneth “Kenny” Lee Baum Jr. went home to be with our Creator on Tuesday, Aug. 25, 2026, in Chesapeake, Va. He was born on Feb. 28, 1989, to his loving parents, Wendy Stamper-Baum and Kenneth Lee Baum Sr.

Regina “Granny Rick” Ledford, 76, of the Big Cove Community, went home to be with the Lord Monday, Aug. 31, 2026.

Otis Tushka, 88, born Sept. 18, 1937, of the Big Y Community, formerly of Broken Bow, Okla., passed away peacefully the morning of Thursday, Aug. 27, 2026 at Tsali Care Center. He was 4/4 Choctaw, and fluent in Choctaw.

Harold Dean Adams, 76, of Bryson City, N.C., passed away from this world on Monday, Aug. 24, 2026. He was preceded in death by his parents Ethel and G.T. Adams of the Kirklands Creek Community.

Douglas Eugene Ashe, 65, of Franklin, N.C., passed away on Wednesday, Aug. 19, 2026, at his residence after a brief illness, surrounded by his loved ones.

Ruth Eldean Tooni Lossiah, 77, of the Big Cove Community, went home to be with the Lord after a short illness. A native of Cherokee, she was the daughter of the late Russell and Geneva Cucumber Tooni.

David Eugene Swayney, 77, of Cherokee, passed away Saturday, Aug. 16, 2026. He was the son of the late John Wesley Swayney and Nellie Mae Crowe.