Dr. F. Linford Abernathy, 68, died Friday, May 18, 2007, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta after a two-year valiant fight with cancer.
Born April 25, 1939, in Cherokee County, he was the son of Illma Dyer Abernathy and the late Forest "Frosty" Abernathy.
He graduated from Andrews High School in 1956, Young Harris (Ga.) College in 1958 and received his degree in optometry in 1962 from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn. After his graduation in 1962, he returned to Murphy and opened his practice over Mauney's Drug Store.
In 1977, he moved into his own building on Hiwassee Street, where he practiced until his retirement last year.
He was a member of the American Optometric Association, N.C. Optometric Association and Nantahala District Optometric Association.
His love of his community was shown through his participation in civic organizations such as the Jaycees and Rotary Club. He was serving as chairman of the Mountain Home Nursing Service. He previously served two terms on the Murphy Board of Health and Andrews-Murphy Airport Authority. In the past, he had been an accomplished pilot and owned his own plane. His other passion was classic and antique cars. He was an active member of Good Neighbors Auto Club.
He loved his family, loyal patients, gardening, hunting in South Dakota, attending antique and classic car shows, talking and listening with friends, and caring for his pets. He had five dogs at home and even tolerated an office cat the last few years.
He was a man of honor and character. He was deeply loved by his family, employees, friends and patients. He will be remembered for the friendship he extended to everyone.
Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his wife of 48 years, Ginger DeWeese Abernathy; a daughter and son-in-law, April and William "Bill" H. Harper III of Murphy; a son, Wynn Anthony Abernathy of Cleveland, Ga.; three grandchildren, Emma Abernathy, and Matthew and Isabella Harper; and an aunt, Jean Dyer Burch of Rabun Gap, Ga.
Services will be at First Baptist Church of Murphy, where he was a member. The family received friends from 4-6:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 22. Funeral services began at 7 p.m. following the visitation.
Burial will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, in Moss Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Charles McHan, Charles West, Bob Hendrix, Cal Stiles, Maurice Sherrill and Virgil Gibson. Honorary pallbearers include Harry Burgess, Don Hughes, the Rev. Garth Cooke, Sam Davis, Kenneth Lance, Glen Barnett and Willard Allen.
Born April 25, 1939, in Cherokee County, he was the son of Illma Dyer Abernathy and the late Forest "Frosty" Abernathy.
He graduated from Andrews High School in 1956, Young Harris (Ga.) College in 1958 and received his degree in optometry in 1962 from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn. After his graduation in 1962, he returned to Murphy and opened his practice over Mauney's Drug Store.
In 1977, he moved into his own building on Hiwassee Street, where he practiced until his retirement last year.
He was a member of the American Optometric Association, N.C. Optometric Association and Nantahala District Optometric Association.
His love of his community was shown through his participation in civic organizations such as the Jaycees and Rotary Club. He was serving as chairman of the Mountain Home Nursing Service. He previously served two terms on the Murphy Board of Health and Andrews-Murphy Airport Authority. In the past, he had been an accomplished pilot and owned his own plane. His other passion was classic and antique cars. He was an active member of Good Neighbors Auto Club.
He loved his family, loyal patients, gardening, hunting in South Dakota, attending antique and classic car shows, talking and listening with friends, and caring for his pets. He had five dogs at home and even tolerated an office cat the last few years.
He was a man of honor and character. He was deeply loved by his family, employees, friends and patients. He will be remembered for the friendship he extended to everyone.
Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his wife of 48 years, Ginger DeWeese Abernathy; a daughter and son-in-law, April and William "Bill" H. Harper III of Murphy; a son, Wynn Anthony Abernathy of Cleveland, Ga.; three grandchildren, Emma Abernathy, and Matthew and Isabella Harper; and an aunt, Jean Dyer Burch of Rabun Gap, Ga.
Services will be at First Baptist Church of Murphy, where he was a member. The family received friends from 4-6:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 22. Funeral services began at 7 p.m. following the visitation.
Burial will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, in Moss Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Charles McHan, Charles West, Bob Hendrix, Cal Stiles, Maurice Sherrill and Virgil Gibson. Honorary pallbearers include Harry Burgess, Don Hughes, the Rev. Garth Cooke, Sam Davis, Kenneth Lance, Glen Barnett and Willard Allen.
Dr. F. Linford Abernathy, 68, died Friday, May 18, 2007, at St. Joseph's Hospital in Atlanta after a two-year valiant fight with cancer.
Born April 25, 1939, in Cherokee County, he was the son of Illma Dyer Abernathy and the late Forest "Frosty" Abernathy.
He graduated from Andrews High School in 1956, Young Harris (Ga.) College in 1958 and received his degree in optometry in 1962 from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn. After his graduation in 1962, he returned to Murphy and opened his practice over Mauney's Drug Store.
In 1977, he moved into his own building on Hiwassee Street, where he practiced until his retirement last year.
He was a member of the American Optometric Association, N.C. Optometric Association and Nantahala District Optometric Association.
His love of his community was shown through his participation in civic organizations such as the Jaycees and Rotary Club. He was serving as chairman of the Mountain Home Nursing Service. He previously served two terms on the Murphy Board of Health and Andrews-Murphy Airport Authority. In the past, he had been an accomplished pilot and owned his own plane. His other passion was classic and antique cars. He was an active member of Good Neighbors Auto Club.
He loved his family, loyal patients, gardening, hunting in South Dakota, attending antique and classic car shows, talking and listening with friends, and caring for his pets. He had five dogs at home and even tolerated an office cat the last few years.
He was a man of honor and character. He was deeply loved by his family, employees, friends and patients. He will be remembered for the friendship he extended to everyone.
Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his wife of 48 years, Ginger DeWeese Abernathy; a daughter and son-in-law, April and William "Bill" H. Harper III of Murphy; a son, Wynn Anthony Abernathy of Cleveland, Ga.; three grandchildren, Emma Abernathy, and Matthew and Isabella Harper; and an aunt, Jean Dyer Burch of Rabun Gap, Ga.
Services will be at First Baptist Church of Murphy, where he was a member. The family received friends from 4-6:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 22. Funeral services began at 7 p.m. following the visitation.
Burial will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, in Moss Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Charles McHan, Charles West, Bob Hendrix, Cal Stiles, Maurice Sherrill and Virgil Gibson. Honorary pallbearers include Harry Burgess, Don Hughes, the Rev. Garth Cooke, Sam Davis, Kenneth Lance, Glen Barnett and Willard Allen.
Born April 25, 1939, in Cherokee County, he was the son of Illma Dyer Abernathy and the late Forest "Frosty" Abernathy.
He graduated from Andrews High School in 1956, Young Harris (Ga.) College in 1958 and received his degree in optometry in 1962 from the Southern College of Optometry in Memphis, Tenn. After his graduation in 1962, he returned to Murphy and opened his practice over Mauney's Drug Store.
In 1977, he moved into his own building on Hiwassee Street, where he practiced until his retirement last year.
He was a member of the American Optometric Association, N.C. Optometric Association and Nantahala District Optometric Association.
His love of his community was shown through his participation in civic organizations such as the Jaycees and Rotary Club. He was serving as chairman of the Mountain Home Nursing Service. He previously served two terms on the Murphy Board of Health and Andrews-Murphy Airport Authority. In the past, he had been an accomplished pilot and owned his own plane. His other passion was classic and antique cars. He was an active member of Good Neighbors Auto Club.
He loved his family, loyal patients, gardening, hunting in South Dakota, attending antique and classic car shows, talking and listening with friends, and caring for his pets. He had five dogs at home and even tolerated an office cat the last few years.
He was a man of honor and character. He was deeply loved by his family, employees, friends and patients. He will be remembered for the friendship he extended to everyone.
Surviving, in addition to his mother, are his wife of 48 years, Ginger DeWeese Abernathy; a daughter and son-in-law, April and William "Bill" H. Harper III of Murphy; a son, Wynn Anthony Abernathy of Cleveland, Ga.; three grandchildren, Emma Abernathy, and Matthew and Isabella Harper; and an aunt, Jean Dyer Burch of Rabun Gap, Ga.
Services will be at First Baptist Church of Murphy, where he was a member. The family received friends from 4-6:45 p.m. Tuesday, May 22. Funeral services began at 7 p.m. following the visitation.
Burial will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 23, in Moss Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Charles McHan, Charles West, Bob Hendrix, Cal Stiles, Maurice Sherrill and Virgil Gibson. Honorary pallbearers include Harry Burgess, Don Hughes, the Rev. Garth Cooke, Sam Davis, Kenneth Lance, Glen Barnett and Willard Allen.
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