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GRACIE  COOK PAYNE HOWARD

 
Gracie Cook Payne Howard, 84, of Murphy died Monday (Oct. 8, 2007) in a Murphy medical center.  She was a native of Swain County, but had lived in Cherokee County since 1951.  She was the daughter of the late George and Anna Baine Cook and the wife of the late Estes Payne, who died Dec. 19, 1944 and Grady Howard, who died Oct. 1, 1994.  She was a retired textile worker and homemaker.  Gracie was a member of the Bear Paw Baptist Church.

She was preceded in death by a son, Bobby Eugene Payne.
 
Surviving are one daughter, Betty Roberson and husband, James of Murphy;  five sons, Wayne E. Payne and wife, Mary of Douglasville, GA, and Harold Howard, R. L. Howard and wife, Debbie, Wade Howard and wife, Linda, and Doug Howard and wife, Shirley all of Murphy;  two step-sons, Dennis Howard of Gastonia, NC and Grady Howard Jr. of Candler, NC;  and 20 grandchildren and 35 great grandchildren.
 
Funeral services at 11:00 AM Thursday (Oct. 11, 2007) in the Chapel of the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy with the Revs. Cecil Coleman and Everette Morrow officiating.  Graveside at 2:00 PM Thursday in the Laurel Branch Cemetery in Bryson City, NC.  Grandsons as pallbearers and honorary pallbearers.
 
The family will receive friends from 6-8 Wednesday evening at the Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy.
 
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials made in memory of Gracie Cook Payne Howard to the Alzheimer’s Association, Western Carolina Chapter, Mountain Region Office, 31 College Place, Suite D320, Asheville, NC 28801-2644.
 
Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy in charge of all arrangements.
 

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