Ethel Sheffey

1936 - 2023

Ethel Sheffey passed away Sunday, Dec. 10, 2023, at her home in Robbinsville, N.C.
She was surrounded by loving family and friends, not only throughout her life, but especially during her final days.
Ethel was born Sept. 19, 1936 to Burgess Gather and Winnie Elizabeth Sharp Hensley at the Hensley Cove settlement, which was about 1 ½ miles from the end of Poison Branch Road, where the road forks to the left.
In 1953, she met her good friend Clarris Sheffey's brother, George. George Sheffey returned to Milltown after being stationed in Germany, where he served in the United States Army.
At that chance meeting, George took one look at Ethel and knew she would one day be his wife. And that day came: Jan. 2, 1954. Their family started in March of 1955 when they welcomed the first of four children, Deborah Ellen.
Ethel also graduated from Robbinsville High School that same year. In time, the family would include Larry Kent, Pamela Anell and Kevin Burt.
Ethel worked briefly as a waitress at the Tapoco Lodge, and also at American Components Incorporated. But her real and most-satisfying work was being a stay-at-home mother, as well as a caregiver for her parents.
George's work at Alcoa took the family to Rhymers Ferry, Calderwood and Tapoco, but the family eventually settled back in Robbinsville on Poison Branch, just miles from Ethel's birthplace.
In the late 1950s, Ethel became acquainted with Jehovah's Witnesses and began sharing in the ministry with Debbie and the first of two sons, Kent. Ethel and her husband George were baptized on the same day in March 1999.
Ethel will always be remembered as a hard worker, a tireless caregiver, and the "best cheerleader" for her family. As a doting mother and grandmother, she could be counted on for babysitting, and granting "unusual" breakfast requests like "macaroni and cheese." Family members weren't the only beneficiaries of Ethel's kindness. Strangers openly shared their problems with Ethel, when they realized she was a compassionate listener.
Ethel enjoyed life and the rich experiences from traveling cross-country with her husband; with her sisters to Pigeon Forge, Cades Cove and Maple Springs; going on Caribbean cruises with family, children and grandchildren; and enjoying outings closer to home like gem mining.
And whenever she could, she did not pass up an opportunity to share with any who would listen to the good news about God's Kingdom and about Jehovah God.
Ethel was preceded in death by her husband of 46 years, George Sheffey; daughter, Deborah Ellen Sheffey Cable; son, Larry Kent Sheffey; and sister, Sharon Elizabeth Hensley Harris.
She leaves to mourn a large and loving family. Surviving are sisters, Anna Mae Hensley Wright from Louisville, Tenn., and her families; and Dorothy Lee Hensley Wiggins from Greenbrier, Ark., and her families; son-in-law, Dwayne Cable; grandchildren, Julian "Brett" Cable and Austin Bryan Cable (girlfriend, Jeri-Ann Sullivan; great-grandson, Lucas Dean Cable); Chandra Anell Cable (boyfriend, Sean Cooper); and Alaina Afton Cable Miller (husband, James Miller; great-grandson, Rowan Elias Miller); grandson, Kendall Gather Sheffey (wife, Gabriela); great-granddaughter, Lily Isabella Voyles; great-grandchildren, Kendall Gabriel Sheffey and Summer Rose Sheffey; granddaughter, Autumn Cheyenne Sheffey (and great-grandchildren Bentley Isaiah Sheffey, Kendra Rayne Sheffey, Sawyer Layne Sheffey and Delanie Layke Sheffey); daughter, Pamela Anell Sheffey Eller (husband, Travis; and grandchildren, Laresia Tyne Eller and Lance Bradon Eller); son, Kevin Burt Sheffey and grandson, Harry James "Jimmy" Verner (fiancé, Mackenzie); and quite a few special nieces, nephews, cousins and friends, whom she dearly loved.
Services will be held at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses (500 Maltby Road, Marble, N.C.) at 2 p.m., Saturday, Dec. 23, 2023.
Townson-Smith Funeral Home is honored to be serving the Sheffey family.
An online register is available at townson-smithfuneralhome.com.