William Prevost

Waynesville-William Sidney ''Bill'' Prevost, age 89, of Bradford Circle, died Saturday, April 3, 2004 at Haywood Regional Medical Center after a brief illness.

He was born October 26, 1914 in Waynesville, and grew up and spent his life in Hazelwood and Waynesville. He was the youngest of four sons born to Rosalie Whitener ''Two-Mommie'' and R. L. ''Pop'' Prevost. He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and returned home during the depression to work in the family business, Unagusta Manufacturing Company. With the help of his brothers, Ralph, Whitener ''Red'', and Aaron, along with hundreds of Haywood County men and women, Unagusta became a leading furniture manufacturer. After selling Unagusta in the sixties, he and Pat, his late wife of 63 years, founded Maggie Valley Country Club. Along with the Moody family, and his late son Ross, he established the resort as a major tourist destination.

He remained active and committed throughout his life to promoting the Smoky Mountains as a regional draw for tourists. Although he and his wife were avid golfers, who enjoyed traveling and golfing across the country, he remained convinced of Haywood County's supreme beauty and appeal. He enjoyed the local outdoor attractions as a Scoutmaster with Troop 318 in Waynesville, and was active on the Daniel Boone Council of the Boy Scouts of America. He was a US Navy veteran having served during WWII.

Surviving are three children, Dr. William S. Prevost, Jr. and his wife Becky of Waynesville, Susan P. Clarke and her husband, Ron of Jacksonville, Florida, and Tom Prevost and his wife Cecile of Santa Maria, California. He was especially beloved to his eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, as a wise and gentle patriarch.

Memorial services will be held at 4:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 10, 2004 at the Grace Episcopal Church in the Mountains Memorial Garden. The Reverend Dr. Howard W. White, Jr. will officiate. The family will receive friends 30 minutes prior to the services on Saturday, in the church parish hall.

It is requested that in lieu of flowers, contributions be made to the Bill and Pat Prevost Nursing Scholarship at Haywood Community College, 185 Freedlander Drive, Clyde, NC 28721.

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