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WILMA GRACE HORTON

Wilma Grace Horton, 82, of Cottage Grove, OR, formerly of Cherokee County, died Friday (January 27, 2006) in a Cottage Grove nursing facility. A native of Cherokee County, Wilma had been living in Cottage Grove for the past several years. She had resided in Murphy, Cleveland, TN, and Cottage Grove. She was the daughter of the late William Milton and Emily Carrie Simonds Crowder and the wife of the late John Horton, who died in May of 1992. They had been married for 49 years and five months. She had attended high school in North Carolina. Wilma was a professional seamstress for many years, working for Faye Swafford Industries and other textile plants. She finished a course as a certified nurse's aide and had worked in the restaurant business as a waitress and manager. She had owned and operated her own leather, vinyl, and craft business. Wilma was a very social person who enjoyed people. She especially loved and enjoyed her family and her church. She was an avid reader and presented many devotions to different groups. She was a member of the Eastern Star of Cottage Grove. She spent many hours in volunteer work in community organizations, which included teaching youngsters the basics of sewing and cooking. She was an avid gardener and displayed many of her quilts, crafts, and produce. She was a homemaker and a dedicated mother.

She was preceded in death by a daughter, Cindy Jane Horton; and two sisters, Selma Kephart and Betty Self.

Surviving are a daughter, Barbara Dockery of Cottage Grove, OR; two sons, Chester William Horton of Adairsville, GA and Gary Dean Horton of Ringgold, GA; three sisters, Arzella Wiley of Cottage Grove, Louise Payne of Murphy, and Carolyn Trantham of Asheville, NC; two brothers, Charles Crowder of Murphy and Frederick Crowder of Blue Ridge, GA; and six grandchildren, 11 great grandchildren; and two great great grandchildren.

Graveside services at 3:00 PM Tuesday (Jan. 31) in the Swanson Cemetery with Rev. Doug Payne officiating. Pallbearers: Billy Self, Laughton Crowder, Don Payne, Tommy Trantham, Melvin Payne, and Jamie Self.

The family will receive friends from 10:00-12:00 Tuesday morning at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy.

Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of arrangements.

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