Obituary of Harold S. McGuire

Dr Harold S. McGuire, age 101, of Sylva, beloved husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, great great grandfather and faithful public servant passed away on Saturday, December 23, 2017 at Smoky Mountain Health and Rehab in Clyde, NC Born in Ritter, NC, he was the only son of the late Fred and Genevieve (Jennie) Collins McGuire. Harold was a graduate of Mars Hill College and Emory University Dental School. In 1938, he married his dental school classmate, Alice Patsy McGuire. Upon graduation, they moved to Sylva to join Patsy's parents in an existing Family Dental Practice. Harold's dental practice was interrupted by service in the Army Air Corps during World War II. He returned to Sylva in 1945 and practiced Dentistry until his retirement in 1980. Harold was an active Rotarian until his death, serving 77 years in the Sylva Rotary Club of which he was president in 1955. An active member of Sylva First United Methodist Church, Harold had a deep and confident faith. He was a choir member most of his life and served many leadership offices within the church. Harold served as the dental representative on the Jackson County Board of Health for his entire career. An avid outdoorsman, Harold loved camping, fly fishing or any activity to enjoy outside. Most of all Harold loved his family, always interested in the next generation and the first to boast of their many accomplishments. Harold is survived by his wife of 79 years, Patsy McGuire McGuire, four children Alice (Bill) Kirk of Kingsport, TN, Jennie (Herbert) Burridge of Savannah, GA, Dr. Patrick (Jeanne) McGuire of Cullowhee, NC, and Dr. David (Kathy) McGuire of Sylva, NC. He is also survived by 12 grandchildren, 24 greatgrandchildren, and 2 great-greatgrandchildren. A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday, January 13, 2018 at Sylva First United Methodist Church at 2:00pm with a visitation to follow.