Mr. Arnold Lee Hovis, 76, of Hayesville, passed away Saturday, Feb. 5, 2022, at Erlanger Western Carolina Hospital. Mr. Hovis was born Dec. 29, 1945, in Stanley, N.C. to the late Howard Lee Hovis and the late Mary Ellen Loftin Hovis. Coming from the Gastonia area, he lived in Cherokee County for the past 42 years. Arnold was a retired minister and active member of Tomalta Baptist Church. He enjoyed preaching and witnessing. He was a U.S. Army Veteran serving in the Vietnam area. His favorite pastimes were hunting, fishing, woodworking and spending time with his grandchildren.
Survivors include his wife, Amanda Shannon Hovis; children, Michael Eugene (Cheryl) Hovis, Angela Denise Hovis, Nancy Jane (Ronald) Arthur and John Mason Hovis; siblings, Johnnie Marion Hovis, Mary Lenoir Griggs and Alice Jane Lockridge; grandchildren, Tracy Laree (Michael) Cates and Kayla Maree Hovis; great-grandchildren, Alyak Noah and Carson Cates.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9 at the Tomalta Baptist Church with Pastor Harold Stiles officiating. Music will be provided by Diane Debty, Vicky Olive and family. Interment will follow in Western Carolina Veterans State Cemetery at Black Mountain, N.C.
Pallbearers will be A.J. Arnich, Randy Brown, Jim Palmer, John Johnson, Walter Debty, Phill Craig and Coby Brown. Honorary pallbearers will be Alan Brown and The Men's Adult Sunday School class at Tomalta Baptist Church.
The family will receive friends from 1-3 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 9 at the Tomalta Baptist Church in Marble.
Arrangements entrusted to the Cochran Funeral Home of Murphy: www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.