Obituaries
Diane Myers Kessler
May 15, 2025
ASHEVILLE - Diane Myers Kessler, age 74, passed away on Thursday, May 15, 2025, at Elizabeth House in Flat Rock, N.C. She was born on July 7, 1950, to Edward Arthur and Beverly Maag Myers. Diane grew up in Orrville, Ohio, alongside her older sister, Barb, and younger brother, Denny.
Though the family moved to Fort Myers, Florida, just before her...
John Potter Reilly, III
May 13, 2025
John Potter Reilly, III, age 67, of Weaverville passed away on Tuesday, May 13, 2025, at his home. Mr. Reilly was born on August 28, 1957, in Pleasantville, New Jersey to the late John Potter Reilly, Jr. and Alice Mary McManus Reilly. He is also preceded in death by his wife, Carla Bolick Reilly who died in 2016.
Surviving is his...
Nancy Roberts Reese
May 12, 2025
COLUMBIA, SC – Nancy Roberts Reese, age 90, of Columbia, South Carolina passed away on Monday, May 12, 2025, at Lakeside Place Senior Living in Lexington, SC.
Mrs. Reese was born on December 23, 1934, in Buncombe County and had lived in South Carolina for nearly 70 years. She was the daughter of the late James Winston and Fronia Dillingham Roberts,...
Joseph "Joe" Lister Etheridge, Sr.
May 7, 2025
WEAVERVILLE – Joseph “Joe” Lister Etheridge, Sr., age 88, of Weaverville passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, at Mission Hospital.
Mr. Etheridge was born on August 18, 1937, in Elizabeth City, NC to the late Alfonso and Mary Elizabeth Lister Etheridge. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Doris Revelle.
Joe attended North Carolina State University. He proudly served...
John France Carson
May 7, 2025
BARNARDSVILLE – John France Carson age, 61, of Barnardsville, passed away on Wednesday, May 7, 2025.
John was born on December 13,1963 in Buncombe County where he had lived all his life. He was a graduate of North Buncombe High School. He was the owner/operator of Riverside Diner on Swannanoa River Road in Asheville. John loved playing foosball. He had a...
Cynthia Sue Smith
May 5, 2025
ASHEVILLE - Cynthia Sue Smith, age 83, of Asheville passed away on Monday, May 5, 2025, at Mission Hospital.
Ms. Smith was born on August 21, 1941, in Dallas, Texas to the late Emerson Russel and A. Elizabeth Foster Smith. She was a resident of Asheville for the past 24 years. During her working career, Cynthia was employed at Borden Company...
Rex Bruce Guthrie
May 2, 2025
BARNARDSVILLE – Rex Guthrie, age 65, of Barnardsville, passed away on Friday, May 2, 2025.
Rex was born on October 18, 1959, in Buncombe County where he had lived most of his life. He was a retired carpenter.
He was the son of the late Fred Banks and the late Dorothy Harwood Guthrie. He was also preceded in death by brother Tony...
Joyce Anne Rumbough
Apr 29, 2025
WOODFIN – Joyce Anne Rumbough, age 51, of Woodfin passed away Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at Mission Hospital.
Ms. Rumbough was born on August 1, 1973, in Catawba County and was a resident of Buncombe County for most of her life. She was preceded in death by her father, Jimmy Rumbough, Sr.
Surviving are her children, Keith “KJ” Kral, Jr. and Brook...
Reid Ashton Bell
Apr 26, 2025
With deepest sorrow, we announce that Reid Ashton Bell, our most amazing, sweet boy, at the young age of 13 years old, went peacefully to be with the Lord on Saturday, April 26th, 2025.
Reid was welcomed into the world on December 11, 2011, in Asheville, North Carolina, immediately making it a brighter place. He was the most perfect angel, a...
Steve George Harris
Apr 23, 2025
BARNARDSVILLE – “Steve” George Harris, age 72, passed away on Wednesday, April 23, 2025, at Emerald Ridge Health and Rehab Center.
Mr. Harris was born on October 4, 1952, in Buncombe County where he had lived for most of his life. Steve worked as an electrician then moved into the carpentry industry. He was also a farmer taking care of the...
David William Robb
Apr 19, 2025
WEAVERVILLE - On Saturday, April 19th, 2025, David William Robb––also affectionately known as “D,” “Big Dave,” “Stork,” “Faj,” “Davey LeRuox,” and most recently as a grandfather, “Beep”––entered heaven the same way he lived his whole life: with grace, love, and of course, music playing. He was 64 years old.
Dave was born in Kittery, Maine as “#5” of 8 of the...
Thomas Gene Hall
Apr 18, 2025
Thomas Gene Hall passed away peacefully on April 18, 2025. Born July 4, 1935, in Haywood County, NC to the late James Oliver & Reta Wells Hall. Also proceeding him in death are siblings James Hall, Jane McGill and Nancy Green.
He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Maxine, children Steve (Linda), Cindy Nelon (Lou), Pam Sampica (Steve),...
Thomas Duncan "Tom" Hoxie
Apr 12, 2025
Thomas Duncan “Tom” Hoxie, 82 of Weaverville passed away on Saturday, April 12, 2025. He was born in Oxford, OH on March 2, 1943, to George and Galen Hoxie. Tom was a graduate of Miami University in Oxford, OH and was retired from General Motor’s Chevrolet Motor Division. Tom and wife Maureen have been Weaverville residents for 26 years.
Tom is...
David Ferguson McFee
Apr 6, 2025
David Ferguson McFee, age 76, of Asheville died Sunday, April 6, 2025.
David was born May 13, 1948, in Buncombe County to the late George Lee McFee and Jean Ramsey McFee Kiser. He graduated from Erwin High School and Mars Hill University. David taught school and coached football and wrestling at Owen High School and Madison High School. He was the...
Rose Cantrell Green
Apr 3, 2025
ALEXANDER – Rose Cantrell Green, age 91, of Alexander, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 3, 2025.
Rose was born on April 27, 1933, in Madison County and was a resident of Buncombe County for most of her life. She retired from Buncombe County Schools in 1991 after teaching for 20 years. She was an active member of...
Brandy Leigh Rice
Apr 1, 2025
ALEXANDER – Brandy Leigh Rice, 33, of Alexander, passed away on Tuesday, April 1, 2025.
Brandy was born on April 19, 1991, in Buncombe County where she had lived all of her life. She attended North Buncombe High School and graduated in 2009. She loved the beach, animals and was known for her generosity, kindness and giving heart. She attended Ridgeview...
Jarel Emanuel Kledis
Mar 31, 2025
ALEXANDER - Jarel Emanuel Kledis, age 75, of Alexander, passed away on Monday afternoon, March 31, 2025. The family will greet family and friends 2:00pm – 4:00 pm on Friday, April 4, 2025 at West Funeral Home. A Sharing of Memories will begin at 3:00 pm.
Jarel was a gifted visual artist, a visionary thinker and an experienced multi-faceted tradesman. During...
ACC (AC) Samuel Jay Tucker, Jr., US Navy Retired
Mar 25, 2025
ACC (AC) Samuel J. Tucker, Jr., US Navy Retired, age 87, went to be with the Lord, Tuesday, March 25, 2025.
Sam was born September 5, 1937, in Buncombe County to the late Samuel J. Tucker, Sr. and Helen Sheppard Tucker. He was a 1955 graduate of Emma High School. Sam enlisted into the Navy in 1955. While serving in the...
Troy David Banks
Mar 23, 2025
Troy David Banks, age 75, passed away Sunday, March 23, 2025, after a long illness of COPD.
David was born September 26, 1949, in Buncombe County to Troy J. Banks and the late Betty Grace Roberts Banks. He lived all his life in Buncombe County. A graduate of North Buncombe High School and AB Tech; he retired from Honeywell, Micro Switch.
In...
Richard Jennings Shuford
Mar 20, 2025
WEAVERVILLE – Richard Jennings Shuford, age 85, of Weaverville passed away on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at his home.
Mr. Shuford was born on August 30, 1939, in Buncombe County, where he returned to live for the past fifty years. He served in the United States Navy, and early in his career worked in forestry, having received a degree from West...
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