Eugene Steven Fair

Eugene Steven Fair, a World War II veteran, went to be with the Lord of February 10, 2009 at the age of 88. Born on August 28, 1920, he has been a resident of the Hanging Dog community in Cherokee County for 87 years. Preceding him in death were his parents, Turner Cecil Melicius Fair and Julia Katherine Johnson Fair; daughter-in-law, Lisa Timpson Fair; ten brothers and seven sisters; and more than 70 nieces and nephews. He leaves to cherish his memory his loving and devoted wife of fifty-four years, LaVaughn; son, Terry and his children, Kristin, Rachel, and Ashley, of Atlanta, Georgia; daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Clarence Sledge and their son Joshua Kidd of Dalton, Georgia; daughter and son-in-law, Jennifer and Maynard Cain of Sumter, South Carolina; granddaughter and husband, Misty and Rob Kerchofer and their children, Kyle and Matthew; granddaughter, Nicole Kidd, of Sumter; more than twenty nieces and nephews; and many great-nieces and great-nephews. He enlisted in the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCCs) on April 4, 1939, at the age of 18 and served until August 26, 1941 in various camps in the Great Smoky Mountains Park as the camp cook. During World War II, he served aboard the USS Millicoma from November 25, 1942 through November 23, 1945. He was honorably discharged with the rank Ship's Cook First Class V6 USNR. After his military service, he became a self-made, successful businessman, operating several businesses with his partner and wife, LaVaughn. Fair's Rolling Store, his first business, operated for more than twenty years throughout Cherokee County. Several years after starting the rolling store he opened Fair's Grocery, a cornerstone in the Hanging Dog community for twenty-four years. During the last ten years of running the grocery store, he started Fair's Distributors, a meat distributor business, serving more than five counties in the tri-state area for twelve years. He was an active church member from the time he accepted the Lord as his Savior at the age of 41 until his death. For the past fifteen years, he has been a faithful attendee of Old Fashion Baptist Church. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, uncle, and friend. His devotion to his Lord and Savior was a testimony to all. He loved reading his Bible and listening to gospel music. Time with his family was his favorite way to spend his day. The family will be at Cochran Funeral Home of Murphy from 6 to 9 pm, on Thursday, February 12, 2009, and the rest of the time at the home, 4071 Hanging Dog Road, Murphy, North Carolina. Funeral services will be Friday, February 13, 2009, at 11:00 am in the Chapel of Cochran Funeral Home, with Rev. Hoyt Brown officiating. A military burial will be immediately following at Hanging Dog Baptist Cemetery.

Arrangements entrusted to Cochran Funeral Home - Murphy Chapel. You are invited to send condolences to the family and sign the guest register at www.cochranfuneralhomes.com.