Former western North Carolina Dirt Late Model racer Ricky Twiggs died Feb. 26 at Northside Hospital in Canton, Ga. The Murphy, N.C., native and life-long resident who often competed at nearby Tri-County Racetrack in Brasstown, N.C., was 60.

Twiggs, the second cousin of current racer Jonathan Davenport and nephew of long-time Murphy car owner Randall Twiggs, operated an auto repair shop and later West End Buildings in Murphy.

Richard Dale Twiggs is survived by his wife, Jean Crowe Twiggs, two sons and a daughter. The funeral was Friday, March 2, at Little Brasstown Baptist Church with burial at noon Saturday, March 3, at Mount Liberty Bapist Church Cemetery. Memorials to Mount Liberty Baptist Church Building Fund at 1700 Old Murphy Road, Murphy, NC 28906 or Samaritan's Purse. Visit townson-rose.com for a complete obituary.