Joe Hannah

Waynesville, Joe Medford Hannah, age 78, passed away on Sunday, December 11, 2016 at The Homestead in the presence of his loving family. Joe was the son of the late Medford and Bonnie Sutton Hannah of Haywood County. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his three half-brothers, Lowell, Dennis and Odell Messer. Joe grew up in the Sutton Town area of Haywood County and graduated from Waynesville Township High School in 1957. Joe operated the family dairy with his brother until he was employed by Champion International Papers in 1959. Joe worked in the Waynesville plant for 41 years retiring in 2000 in his last position as safety coordinator at the Waynesville Plant. Joe was an avid outdoorsman who enjoyed camping, living on the lake, fishing and hunting. He had a craftsman soul and could make furniture, rifle reproductions, custom fly fishing poles and many other hand crafted treasures. He was a devoted husband, daddy and granddaddy. Joe is survived by his wife of 59 years, Nettie Caldwell Hannah; their two children, Gary Hannah, and his wife, Bonni, of Fletcher, and Anita Hannah Burgin, and her husband, John, of Waynesville; his best friend and brother, Bruce Hannah, and his wife, Peggy, of Waynesville and their daughters, Lisa Smathers, Teresa Prusia and Sherry Shannon. His pride and joy was his grandchildren, Carson Hannah, of Charlotte, Elliott Hannah, of Raleigh, Meredith and Julianne Burgin, of Waynesville. A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 17, 2016 at Waynesville Christian Fellowship with Clayton Davis officiating. The family will receive friends from 10:00 until 11:00 a.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Haywood County Rescue Squad, P. O. Box 931, Waynesville, NC 28786.

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