In Memoriam

ARF mourned the loss of three good friends in 2007-8: Karen Martar, David Lewis, and Nathan Hall. All three were wonderful friends to the people and animals of our region. We love them and miss them very much.

Karen Martar

Longtime Sylva restaurant owner and member of the town’s appointed planning board Karen Martar, 50, died on Jan. 11, 2007 after a three-month battle with pancreatic cancer.

A fixture on Main Street since she opened Meatball’s in 1983, Martar sold that eatery after 17 years and opened Karen’s five years later.

Martar, a New Jersey native, lived in Sylva for some 27 years and served as a planning board member for close to a decade. She also contributed her time and energy to several local volunteer groups, including the Guardian ad Litem program, with which she worked for more than 20 years as an advocate for children in the legal system, and ARF (the Jackson County Humane Society), of which she was a founding member.

“She served for many years in planning and zoning during a period when the town was going through some pretty rough spots,” Oliver said. “Karen provided stability and made a big difference in the way planning and zoning developed in Sylva. She tried to do the right thing for the right reason when it came to zoning decisions.”

Former Jackson County Commissioner Veronica Nicholas, who worked with Martar in both ARF and the Guardian ad Litem program, pointed to Martar’s concern for those around her. “She always became involved in people’s lives and continued to help them,” Nicholas said. “She took on so many battles, always with a smile.” Veronica's husband, Karl Nicholas, added, “Besides filling our bellies with pizza and our hearts with laughter, Karen became a pillar of the community – a Guardian ad Litem, protecting neglected and abused children; the treasurer of ARF, raising money for countless abandoned cats and dogs of the county; and a much needed voice of reason on the town zoning board, where she sorted through our tangle of selfish motives, urging reason and fair play. For who could ever say ‘no’ to Karen?”

One word summed up Martar’s life of community service – “advocacy,” Rev. John Bunn said at her memorial service. "“An advocate is someone of a selfless nature who advances the causes of others,” Bunn said.

Karen was renowned for her ladylike snort, her NY accent, her family of maltese dogs, her panache, and her many friends.

Said Sylva physician Ron Fisher, “When my ‘reservation’ to heaven comes up (if they’ll have me), the highlight won’t be when St. Peter lets me through the door – it’ll be when Karen escorts me to my table.”

David Lewis

David R. Lewis, 73, of Cullowhee, died Monday, Feb. 4, 2008, after a battle with cancer.

David moved to Cullowhee in 1992 after retiring from a career in education. An award-winning author and veteran, he served as a board member with Mountain Youth Resources and fostered homeless animals. David was so kind-hearted that he could not let a bug be injured and hated to see a dog chained up, even for a moment.

David once said that when he died, he wanted a huge neon Jewish Star of David stuck atop a large mountain in Cullowhee, an area so Christian that the funeral home wouldn't take the cross down at his service. At ARF, we miss David's terrible, terrible jokes, his coffee, and his sardonicly cheerful presence, which lightened our adoption days.

Surviving are his wife, Jean Lewis; two sons, Reid M. Lewis and Harry L. Lewis; one sister, Renee Cohen; and two grandsons.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Humane Society of Jackson County (ARF), P.O. Box 1966, Sylva, NC 28779.

Nathan Hall

We got to know Nathan Adam Hall, 27, through his wife Allyson, who fosters animals and works with the generous people at Sylva Animal Hospital. Allyson is a lover of black & tan coonhounds and cranky, one-eyed fluffy dogs. She and Nathan have been good friends to ARF and to our animals.

Nathan died Friday, May 23, 2008, at Mission Hospitals, Memorial Campus after an extended illness.

A native and lifelong resident of Jackson County, he was a loving husband, son, and friend to all who knew him. He graduated from Smoky Mountain High School in 1999 and was a student of Southwestern Community College. He was an avid outdoorsman as well as a member of Faith Family Church. Nathan worked as a civil engineer technician with Civil Design Concepts.

Surviving is his wife of 5 1/2 Years, Allyson C. Hall; his parents, David E. and Anita Coward Hall of Balsam; one sister, Melissa Morgan of Webster; maternal grandparents, Carl and June Coward of Balsam; paternal grandparents, Bill and Patsy McClure of Waynesville; three nephews, Kody Hall, Hunter and Zachery Owem; numerous aunts and uncles; and several cousins. Nathan is also survived by many wonderful pets.

How can we know the dancer from the dance? -- W.B. Yeats