Nicey L. Rattler, 99, of the Birdtown community, went home to be with the Lord Friday, Dec. 4, 2015 in a Cherokee health care facility. A native of Graham County, she was the daughter of the late Sampson and Nancy Wachacha Ledford and wife of the late Ammons Rattler and June Mark Welch. She was a member of Rock Springs Baptist Church and a member of the Qualla Co-Op. She was a longtime employee of the Cherokee Historical Association Oconaluftee Indian Village.
She was preceded in death by her daughter, Tina Marie Ledford; brothers, Mason Ledford and Wilson Ledford; nephew, Tony Lossiah; nieces, Velma Lossiah and Arlene Watty; and step children, Bobby, George, Wilber, Maxie and Nelson Rattler and Lewis and Mona Brown.
She is survived by her nieces and nephews, Callaway and Martha Ledford, David and Patsy Ledford, James and Minnie Ledford, Lula Ledford, Rosalee and Skipper Sneed, Christine Walkingstick, all of Cherokee; Dean and Ellen Ledford of Washington; and many other nieces and nephews; and step children, Anona Lambert and Freida Brown.
She was one of the few remaining fluent speakers of the Cherokee Language and taught the language for many years.
Funeral services will be held at 11am on Tuesday, Dec. 8 at Rock Springs Baptist Church. Revs. Greg Morgan, James (Bo) Parris, Dan Conseen and J.B. Smith will officiate with burial in the Ledford Cemetery in Snowbird. Special singer will be Lane Smoker.
She will be taken to the church at 4pm on Monday, Dec. 7 by Crisp Funeral Home to await the hour of service.