Vivian E. Fernald, 55
Vivian Edwards Fernald, 55, of Sumter, S.C., died Friday, Oct. 11, 2002.
Born in Miami, she was a daughter of the late Joseph Preston and Ola Wheeler Edwards. She was a court reporter with the state judicial system and had a home in Brevard.
Surviving are sons James Gary Preston Christmas of Charleston, S.C., and Charlie Ronald Christmas Jr. of Columbus, Ohio; a daughter, Kendra Christmas-Hahm of Louisville, Ky.; a brother, Ronnie Edwards of Sumter, S.C.; sisters, Rita Way of Sumter, S.C., and Kendra Atkinson of Puerto Rico; grandchildren, Amber Christmas, Brittney Christmas and Chelsea Christmas, and two granddogs, Mookie and Griffin.
A funeral will be held today at 2 p.m. at Calvary Baptist Church, Columbia, S.C. Burial will be at a later date in Elmwood Memorial Gardens.
Memorials may be made to the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, 1247, Lake Murray Boulevard, Columbia, S.C. 29063. Dunbar Funeral Home, Devine Street Chapel, Columbia, is in charge of arrangements.
John Fay Healey, 82
The Reverend John Fay Healey, 82, of Waynesville, died Oct. 12, 2002, at the Brian Center of Waynesville.
He was a Presbyterian pastor, a World War II veteran and served as a first lieutenant in the Army.
A memorial service will be held Wednesday at the First Presbyterian Church of Waynesville. Garrett Funerals and Cremations, Waynesville, in is charge of arrangements.
Elizabeth K. McCurrach, 80
Elizabeth “Betty” Keil McCurrach, 80, died Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2002, at Hendersonville’s Carolina Village.
She was born in Beardstown, Ill., and was raised in Evanston, Ill. She was the daughter of Rae Scott and Arthur J. Keil.
She received her undergraduate and master’s degrees from the National College of Education in Evanston. She was active in PEO chapters in Wilmette, Ill.; Vienna, Va.; and locally. She was a dedicated bridge player, avid reader and relentless student of history and investing.
She was preceded in death by her husband of 48 years, David McCurrach III; her sister, Mary; and her brothers, Bill and Art. She was a member of the First Congregational Church.
She is survived by her son, David Bruce McCurrach and his wife, Pamela, of Franklin, Tenn.; her grandson, David Bruce McCurrach Jr. and his wife, Toy, of Commerce, Texas; grandson, Scott McCurrach and his wife, Michelle, of McKinney, Texas; grandson Braden McCurrach and granddaughters Ashley and Kendal McCurrach of Franklin, Tenn. She is also survived by five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 10 a.m. Monday in the Village Hall of Carolina Village.
The Rev. David Kelly will conduct the service. A reception will follow in the Village’s Fireplace Lounge.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made to the Scatter Branch Community Church, 3816 FM 2874, Commerce, Texas, 75428.
Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.
Ronald Short, 50
Ronald Short, 50, of Hendersonville, died Friday Oct. 11, 2002, at Pardee Hospital.
He was a native and lifelong resident of Henderson County. He was a son of the late William Short and Martha Caroll Short. He was preceded in death by a daughter, Ruthie Short. He was of the Baptist faith.
He is survived by his wife, Elaine Short; a daughter, Rhonda Short, of Hendersonville; six brothers, Dewey, Billy, Harold, Carl, Jim, and Don Short, all of Hendersonville; two sisters, Nadine Bayne of Hendersonville and Barbara Cagle of Saluda; a granddaughter, Maria Short, and a grandson, Justin Short; and several nieces and nephews.
A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Campground Cemetery with the Rev. Oliver Skerrett officiating. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. Monday at Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors.
Arnold Holgersen, 49
The Rev. Arnold Holgersen, 49, of 51 Farm Lane, Fletcher, died Saturday, Oct. 12, 2002. A service of remembrance will be announced by Asheville Mortuary Services.
Betty Moffitt Long, 67
Betty Moffitt Long, 67, died Thursday, Oct. 10, 2002. A funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at Moody-Connolly Funeral Home.
Visitation will be from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday evening at the funeral home.
Maebelle C. Orr, 87
Maebelle Corn Orr, 87, of Howard Gap Road, Hendersonville, passed away Thursday, Nov. 14, 2002, in her home.
She was a native and lifelong resident of Henderson County, the daughter of the late Jonty and Vesta Shipman Corn and the wife of the late Samuel Harry Orr. She was also preceded in death by three brothers, Claude Corn, William Corn and Boyd Corn; and two sisters, Elizabeth Bradley and Virgie Lee Cagle.
She is survived by a brother, Edward Corn of Hendersonville; and several nieces and nephews.
A funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Sunday at Ebenezer Baptist Church, where she was a member. Dr. Ron Fousek and the Rev. Dan Blackwell will officiate. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today at Jackson Funeral Service. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Ebenezer Baptist Church Building Fund, 2557 Chimney Rock Road, Hendersonville, N.C. 28792.
Ella G. Kirkendoll, 71
Ella Luvenia Genoa Glenn Kirkendoll, 71, of Spruce Street, Tryon, died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002, in St. Luke’s Hospital.
A funeral will be held at 1 p.m. today at Garrison Chapel Baptist Church in Tryon. Burial will follow at Good Shepherd Cemetery.
Wilson Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.
Fannie J. Brown, 87
Frannie Josephine Brown, 87, of Balsam Grove died Monday, Nov. 11, 2002, in her home.
She was a native of Jackson County, a daughter of the late Talmadge R. Chastain and Ida L. McCall Chastain, and the wife of the Rev. John Chester Brown, who died in 2001.
Survivors include two sons, John Chester Brown Jr. and wife, Sheilah, of Brevard and Luke Talmadge Brown and wife, Cathi, of Balsam Grove; two sisters, Frances Owen of Balsam Grove and Louise Simpson of Pisgah Forest; five grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Friday at Shoal Creek Baptist Church, of which she was a member. The Revs. Buster McCall, Tommy Owen and Truit Owen will officiate. Burial will follow at the church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. today at Moody-Connolly Funeral Home, where the body will remain until placed in the church 30 minutes before the service. Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, WNC Chapter, 3 Louisiana Ave., Asheville, N.C. 28806-3419.
Helen B. Fish, 98
Helen Blauvelt Bogart Fish, 98, of Wilmington died Thursday, Nov. 7, 2002, in Champions at Porters Neck, an assisted-living facility.
She was born in 1904 at Bloomfield, N.J., and was a 1927 graduate of Skidmore College in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. She was the wife of the late William Barnes Fish. She lived from 1939 through 1965 in Westwood, N.J., and taught home economics in the Emerson, N.J., school system. She and her husband retired to Hendersonville in 1966.
A skilled artisan, she was for years a member of the Esther Stevens Brazer Guild of the Historical Society of Early American Decoration and taught this unique form of decorative art during her early retirement.
She lived for three years on Bald Head Island before moving to Plantation Village in Wilmington in 1985.
She was also preceded in death by her daughter, Barbara Fish Bartow.
She is survived by her son, Robert Bogart Fish of Bald Head Island; three grandsons, William Edward Fish of Jermyn, Pa., Robert James Fish of Kodiak, Alaska, and Kenneth Bartow of Ortisfield, Maine; two granddaughters, Kae Bartow of Newton Falls, Ohio, and Cynthia Bartow Duckworth of St. Petersburg, Fla.; and eight great-grandchildren.
Her ashes will be interred at St. John in the Wilderness Episcopal Church in Flat Rock near those of her husband.
Elizabeth N. Patchel, 92
Elizabeth Nash Patchel, 92, of Arden died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002, in the Life Care Center.
She was the daughter of the late Frank Nash and Isabelle Ross Nash and was the wife of the late Russell Patchel. She was a member of Hendersonville First Baptist Church.
She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Wenger and her husband, James, of Arden; two grandsons, Stephen and David; and a great-grandson.
No service is planned. Memorials may be made to Four Seasons Hospice, P.O. Box 2395, Hendersonville, N.C. 28793.
Jackson Funeral Service and Crematory is in charge of the arrangements.
Eddie J. Reneau, 43
Eddie J. Reneau, 43, of Horse Shoe died unexpectedly Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002, in Pardee Hospital.
He was born in Maryville, Tenn., a son of Hobert Reneau of Cherokee and the late Virginia Lambert Reneau. He had lived in Henderson County for the past 17 years. He was a graduate of Franklin High School and Mars Hill College.
He was an assistant football coach at East Henderson High School before spending nine years coaching at Pisgah High School, the last five years as head coach. He spent the past four years as head football coach at East Henderson High School.
He was a member of Biltmore Baptist Church, where he was a deacon, and a leader of the East Henderson Fellowship of Christian Athletes.
Surviving, in addition to his father, are his wife, Audrey L. Reneau; a son, Stephen Christopher Reneau of the home; a daughter, Virginia Lauren Reneau of the home; a sister, Robin Jenkins and her husband, Tommy, of Franklin; a brother, Tim Reneau of Columbia, S.C.; two nephews, Thomas Jenkins and Nicholas Reneau; and his stepmother, Reva Reneau of Cherokee.
A funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at Biltmore Baptist Church. The Rev. James I. Walker, Travis Nolan, Danny Miller and David Pressley will officiate. Burial will follow at Shepherd Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. Saturday at the church.
Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.
Oliver B. Byrd, 96
Oliver Briscoe Byrd, 96, of Illahee Road, Brevard died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002, in Brevard.
A service will be held at 11 a.m. Friday at Moore Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Pisgah Gardens. The family will receive friends from 10 to 11 a.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Ansel L. Peace, 79
Ansel Luther Peace, 79, of Flat Rock died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002, in Mission St. Joseph’s Hospital at Asheville.
Arrangements will be announced by Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors.
Martha M. Scruggs, 80
Martha Morgan Scruggs, 80, of Brevard died Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002.
A service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Moore Funeral Home. Burial will follow at Gillespie-Evergreen Cemetery.
Nancy E. Genest, 50
Nancy E. Genest, 50, of Hendersonville died Thursday, Nov. 14, 2002, in her home following a battle with cancer.
She was a native of Tell City, Ind., the daughter of Geraldine Voelker of Gainesville, Fla., and the late Leo Voelker. She was a prior resident of Avery, Texas, and Stark, Fla. She lived in Henderson County for the past 3 1/2 years and was a speech therapist, working with hearing-impaired children with the Henderson County School System. She attended Hendersonville First Baptist Church.
In addition to her mother, she is survived by her husband, Frank D. Genest; a daughter and son, Emily Genest and Ryan Genest of the home; a sister, Darla Gaskins of Gainesville, Fla.; a brother, Joe Voelker of Morgantown, W.Va.; and two nieces.
A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hendersonville First Baptist Church. Craig Watkins and Wally Shamburger will officiate. Interment will take place at Eliam Cemetery in Melrose, Fla. The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 2 p.m. Saturday at the church. Memorials may be made to Four Seasons Hospice, P.O. Box 2395, Hendersonville, N.C. 28793.
Shuler Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Arthur W. Hoots, 88
Arthur W. Hoots, 88, of Flat Rock went to be with the Lord on Thursday, Nov. 14, 2002, from Park Ridge Hospital following a period of declining health.
He was a lifelong resident of Henderson County, the son of the late Thomas Joseph Hoots and Lula Gertrude Stepp Hoots. He was also preceded in death by seven sisters and a brother. He was a member of Bob’s Creek Baptist Church in the Green River community. Family and friends will remember “Paw” as a true gentleman who loved the Lord and had a great love for all people. He was a well-known school bus driver and road scraper around the Henderson County area. Some of his favorite pastime pleasures included gardening, gospel music and coon hunting.
He is survived by his wife of 52 years, Elizabeth Maxine Hoots; a son, Robert Hoots and wife, Marie, of Flat Rock; two granddaughters, Jennifer Hoots and Amy Hoots of Flat Rock; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A funeral will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday at Maranatha Baptist Church. The Revs. Lewis Staton and William Heatherly will officiate. Interment will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Visitation will be held from 7 to 8:30 p.m. today at Shuler Funeral Home. Memorials may be made to Gideons International, P.O. Box 6284, Hendersonville, N.C. 28793.
Shuler Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.
Ansel L. Peace, 79
Ansel Luther Peace, 79, of the Upward community and Palm Bay, Fla., died Wednesday, Nov. 13, 2002, in Mission St. Joseph’s Hospital at Asheville.
He was born in Landrum, S.C., a son of the late Rev. Ansel Grove Peace and Ollie Pruitt Peace. He retired from General Electric after 28 years of employment. For the last 50 years, he sang Southern gospel music. He was also preceded in death by his sisters, Geraldine Price, Gevenna Price and Ruby Parris; and two brothers, Ray Peace and Olin Peace.
He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Elizabeth Kuykendall Peace; a daughter, Wanda Hoots and her husband, Larry, of Palm Bay, Fla.; two sons, the Rev. Terry Mitchell Peace and his wife, Nancy, of Upward and Ronald Wayne Parris and his wife, Karen, of Greer, S.C.; seven grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; two brothers, James Peace of Newton Falls, Ohio, and Lorance Peace of Taylors, S.C.; two sisters, Thelma Hendrix of Taylors, S.C., and Margaret Westbrooks of Greenville, S.C.
A funeral will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Victory Tabernacle in East Flat Rock. The Revs. Glenn Burrell and James Norman will officiate. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park, with military graveside rites conducted by Hubert M. Smith American Legion Post 77, Hedrick-Rhodes Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5206 and Disabled American Veterans Chapter 14. The family will receive friends from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. today at Victory Tabernacle, and at other times will be at the home.
Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.
Roy L. Waycaster, 81
Roy L. “Pappy” Waycaster, 81, of Mills River died Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002, in Mission St. Joseph’s Hospital at Asheville after a lengthy illness.
He was a native of Yancey County and a resident of Henderson County for the past 46 years. He was the son of the late Andrew Waycaster and Loey Roland Waycaster. He was also preceded in death by a son, Richard Waycaster. He was the owner and operator of Waycaster Tire before passing the business onto his son in 1977. He was an Army veteran of World War II, serving in the Philippines. He was of the Baptist faith. Wherever he was, he made a difference in the lives of many people who came to know him.
Survivors include his loving wife of 56 years, Virginia Waycaster; a son, Roger Waycaster; three daughters, Loretta Robertson, Brenda Jackson and Janice Thomas; and a gang of grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Shepherd’s Church Street Chapel. The Revs. Tim Lee, Jim Lee, Carl Bishop and Bobby Arrowood will officiate. Burial will follow at Mount Gilead Baptist Church cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 p.m. at Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors, and at other times will be at the home.
Philip A. Eckert, 90
Dr. Philip A. Eckert, 90, of Brevard died Sunday, Nov. 10, 2002, in Transylvania Community Hospital.
A memorial tribute in his honor will be held at 11:30 a.m. today in the Blue Ridge Room of Connestee Falls Country Club.
David D. Wilder, 81
David Danforth Wilder, 81, of Hendersonville, died Friday, Nov. 15, 2002, in the Elizabeth House.
Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors will announce the arrangements.
Thomas Conley, 54
Thomas Conley, 54, of Asheville, died Nov. 14, 2002, in Mission St. Joseph’s Hospital.
He was born in Transylvania County, the son of the late Robert Conley and Indiana Norman Conley, of Brevard. He was a graduate of Brevard High School and was employed as chief custodian at Brevard Middle School.
He was a member of Bethel Baptist Church.
He is survived by two daughters, Lisa Wells of Lancaster, Calif. and Mona Wells of Los Angeles, Calif.; two brothers, Robert Conley Jr., of South Salslita, Calif. and Jerome D. Conley of Arden; five sisters, Audrey Hutchinson, Georgia Gardin, Susie Rose and Frances Creasman, all of Brevard and Justine Conley, of Chicago, Ill. and seven grandchildren, Daeshauna, Dennis, Michael, Michaela, Mechelle, Measji and Lequan.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at Bethel Baptist Church in Brevard. The Rev. Marshall Erwin will officiate. Burial will take place at Coopers Cemetery in Brevard. Visitation will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. today at Bethel Baptist Church.
Wilson Funeral Directors is in charge of the arrangements.
Lester J. Freeman, 98
Lester Jay Freeman, 98, a native and lifelong resident of Henderson County, died Saturday, Nov. 16, 2002, at his residence in Gerton following an extended illness.
He was born March 10, 1904, to the late Noble Tildon Freeman and Mary Elgiva Wall Freeman. An Army veteran and member of the American Legion, he was a retired brick mason.
Surviving are his wife of 54 years, Lucille Cummings Freeman; a sister Lee Nora Davis of Black Mountain and a number of nieces and nephews, great-nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.
A funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday at the Mausoleum Chapel at Shepherd Memorial Park. The Rev. Daniel Fyfe will officiate. Pallbearers will be Gene Crib, Marshall Crib, Ed Lance, Jim Sain, Melvin Williams, and Bob Shields. Burial will follow in Shepherd Memorial Park with military graveside rites conducted by the Hubert M. Smith American Legion Post #77, Hedrick-Rhodes VFW Post #5206 and Chapter #14 of the DAV. The family will receive friends from 7 until 8:30 p.m. today at Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors.
