June Phillips Cabe

It is with great sadness that we announce our beloved mother, June P. Cabe, 87, of the Savannah community, passed away peacefully surrounded by her children on October 10, 2025.

She was a native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, born at home and raised in Cullowhee at the head of the Caney Fork community, known as Beech Flats. She was a devoted wife, lifelong homemaker, and mother to eight children, including a set of twins. In her teenage years, she was an in-home nanny in downtown Sylva where she met and later married her husband, Charlie Cabe, and was blessed with 64 years of marriage until his passing in 2020.

Born to a preacher father and loving mother, her humble and strong Christian faith sustained her throughout her life. She enjoyed reading scripture from her bible, other faith-based books, and while homebound in her later years, watching Sunday morning worship services on television and listening to gospel hymns by Alan Jackson and the Carter family. She also delighted in reading and re-reading her cookbooks and cooking magazines, solving word searches, watching Little House on the Prairie, venturing out on local shopping trips, and her secret chocolate stash was always close by.

Along with her husband, Charlie, she was preceded in death by her parents, Ransom and Leah Phillips, brothers Warren, Weldon, and Kay Phillips, sister Joy P. Hoyle and granddaughter, Katie McGuire Lenderman.

She is survived by her children, Kathy McGuire (David), Donna Carpenter (Bob), Sue Dills (Terry), James Michael Cabe, Mickey Cabe (Teresa), Pam Myers (Charlie), Paul Cabe, and Janet Cabe, all of Sylva. She had a close and loving bond with her granddaughter Amber Cabe. She lovingly leaves behind a beautiful legacy of 13 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.

A private memorial service will be held at Appalachian Funeral Home with Reverend Eddie Stillwell officiating, and a burial interment at New Savannah Baptist Cemetery. 

If one feels led, please consider donating to the American Lung Association or the Meals on Wheels program of Jackson County, NC, in her honor.