Nancy Ward Hall Garrison, 89

Nancy Ward Hall Garrison, 89, passed away peacefully in her home in Hendersonvilleon April 5, 2013 after a long illness.

She was born in Biddeford, Maine, on Nov. 9, 1923. She was a 1942 graduate of Thornton Academy Saco, Maine. As an actor and soprano soloist, her talent led her beyond the Congregationalist Church in Saco to the Portland (Maine) Little Theatre and Arundel Theatre (Kennebunkport). She was awarded Mrs. Maine in 1956.

After relocating to Greenville, S.C., in 1957, she continued acclaimed performances at The Greenville Little Theatre, earning an Emmy for her portrayal of Emily in "Our Town." She gave multiple performances at Flat Rock Playhouse (North Carolina). She anchored "Around Town with Nancy" on WFBC-TV, Greenville. From 1969-1974 she was head of the dental assistant program at Greenville Technical College.

She is preceded in death by her parents, eight siblings and her first husband, Robert L. Hall. She is survived by her husband of 49 years, William E. Garrison; her two daughters Pamela A. Ellwood and Judith H. Singer; his son C.E. Garrison, and his daughter Susan J. Garrison, M.D.

Her grandchildren include Elizabeth Espinueva, Gregory W. Ellwood and Courtney E. Gazaleh. Great-grandchildren are Leah Mathis, Philip Mathis, Jr., Greta Gazaleh, and Adelyn Gazlaleh. Her great-great granddaughter is Kaiya Drummond.

A funeral will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, April 8, 2013, in the Remembrance Chapel of Woodlawn Memorial Park, Greenville, S.C. Chaplain Alan Taylor, Four Seasons Hospice, will officiate. The family will receive friends from 2 to 3 p.m. in the chapel prior to the service.

Donations may be to Transylvania Animal Alliance Group (TAAG), P.O. Box 844, Brevard, NC 28712,www.taagwags.org, or Eliada Homes, Inc., P.O. Box 16708, Asheville, NC 28816. www.eliada.org.

A guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.shulerfuneralhome.com.

Shuler Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

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Deborah Janice Lance, 53

Deborah Janice Lance, 53, of Hendersonville died on Thursday, April 4, 2013, at the Elizabeth House.

A native of Henderson County, she was born on Jan. 31, 1960, to the late Bennie Lance and Hazel Hooper-Worley. She was also preceded in death by her stepmother Frances Lance; her brother, Tony Lance; and her son, Laramie Mark Tate.

She enjoyed going camping, spending time at the beach and participating in Bible studies. She was of the Jehovah's Witness faith.

She is survived by her daughter, Melissa Hudson (Chris) of Arden; her son, Brian Beddingfield (Marianne De La Cruz) of Hendersonville; her sister, Teresa Sprinkle (Wayne) of Fletcher; her grandson, Jacob Hudson of Asheville; her granddaughter, Jenna Hudson of Arden; her significant other, Jimmy Metcalf of Hendersonville and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, April 7, 2013, at Thos. Shepherd's Church Street Chapel with the Rev. Eugene Dodd officiating. The family will receive friends at her home following the service.

A register book is available online for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

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Frances J. Gonzales, 91

Frances J. Gonzales, 91, of Hendersonville died on Saturday, March 9, 2013, at Pardee Hospital after a lengthy illness.

A native of Whitewater, Wisc., she was born on February 18, 1922, to the late Frank and Jeannette Lidicker.

Prior to her moving to Henderson County in 1995, she lived in Cashiers, Orlando, Fla., El Paso, Texas and Panama. She was a member of St. James Episcopal Church, and was an active volunteer in their kitchen for seven years.

She is survived by her loving husband of 51 years, Oved Gonzales; her step-children, Delia Mencer of Charlotte, Lita Gonzales of Savannah, Ga., and Timothy Gonzales of Orlando, Fla.; five grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren and several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. April 15 at St. James Episcopal Church  with the Rt. Rev. William H. Folwell, the Rev. Joel G. Hafer and the Rev. Eunice R. Dunlap officiating.

A register book is available online for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

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Fred Davis

FLETCHER — Fred Davis, 94, of Fletcher died Monday, March 18, 2013, at Aiken Regional Medical Centers. Since December 2012, Fred resided at Harbor Chase in Aiken, S.C.

Born in Waynesville, he was the son of the late Fred E. Davis and Hester Lavada Morgan Davis. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife of 70 years Barbara Crane Davis.

Fred was the manager and in sales of various NAPA automotive stores in Hendersonville, Asheville and Spartanburg, S.C., areas for about 40 years. He was a World War II veteran of the Army Air Corps.

He is survived by four children, Susan Elizabeth Foster and her husband, Robert G. Foster, of Aiken, S.C., Dr. Barbara Abbott of Cary, Robert H. Davis of Concord, and Fred E. Davis III and his wife Dianne of Hamden, Conn.; nine grandchildren, Dr. Laura Foster of Lexington, Ky., Charles G. Foster (Haiying) of New York City, Eric Abbott of Addison, Ill., Aaron Abbott of Cary, , Andrea Abbott of Raleigh, , Morgan Davis (Melissa) of Swannanoa, Stephen Davis of Concord, Kathryn Davis Clarke (Stephen) of New York City, and Bob Davis of Atlanta, and one great grandson, Grove Davis.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the Friends of HCPL (Henderson County Public Library) - Fletcher Branch, 120 Library Road Fletcher, NC 28732.

Graveside services are planned for 2 p.m. April 13 at Calvary Episcopal Church Cemetery, Fletcher.

A register book is available online for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

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Robert L. Mechem, 69

Robert L. Mechem, 69, of Hendersonville, passed away Thursday, April 4, 2013.

Forest Lawn Funeral Home is assisting the family.

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Billy T. Lunsford

Billy T. Lunsford, 73, of Hendersonville died on Thursday, April 04, 2013, at the Elizabeth House.

A native of Buncombe County he was born on Oct. 8, 1939, to the late Thurman Lunsford and Mary Peters Lunsford. He was also preceded in death by his brother, Bobby Lunsford and his sister, Mary Ann McLaughlin.

Living most of his life, in Henderson County he worked as a truck driver for several different companies and in his retirement he worked at Sams Club. He was a faithful member of Gethsemane Baptist Church, and an avid fisherman. Never meeting a stranger, he prided himself in helping others, doing anything in his power to lend a hand.

He is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Mary Alice Bishop Lunsford; his two sons, Walter Lunsford and his wife Karen, of Hendersonville, James Lunsford and his wife Melinda, of Hendersonville; his two daughters, Brenda Gilliam of Hendersonville, Martha Clayton and her husband Greg, of Hendersonville; his four brothers, J.W. Peters of York, S.C., Rayfield Lunsford of Asheville, Archie Lee Lunsford of Asheville, Joey Lunsford of Burnsville; his three sisters, Gracie Brown of Leicester, Haven Hembree of Oteen, Gail Robinson of Old Fort; his nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, April 6, 2013, at Gethsemane Baptist Church with the Rev. Ray Talley officiating. Burial will follow at Shepherd Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. on Friday, April 5, 2013, at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Four Seasons Compassion for Life, 571 South Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731.

A register book is available online for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

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Allan Ray Cox, 46

Allan Ray Cox, 46, of Horse Shoe passed away Monday, April 1, 2013, at Carolinas Medical Center following lifelong heart complications.

A lifelong resident of Henderson County, he was a son of Edna Pruitt Cox Allison of Hendersonville and the late Grady L. Cox. His sister Audrey Cox Steele, also preceded him in death.

He was an active member for 30 years at Etowah-Horse Shoe Volunteer Fire & Rescue Dept. and was a new member of the Edneyville Lions Club.

He was a dozer and Low Boy operator for the NC Dept. of Transportation. Prior to his work with the NCDOT, he was the owner and operator of Second Chance Trucking, Inc., his lifelong dream.

Upon receiving the Lord, he was baptized and became a member of Etowah Baptist Church. His passions in life, other than his family and friends were his motorcycle and his devotion to helping others.

Surviving, in addition to his mother, is his devoted wife Crystal Huggins Cox; stepson Brad Huggins of Hendersonville; son Stephen Allan Cox of Flat Rock; one brother, Jerry Cox and his wife Barbara; two sisters, Irene Barnwell and husband Billy and Carol Vaughn and Gene Moore; mother and father-in-law Bob and Melba Huggins all of Hendersonville; and a large number of nieces, nephews and great nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, April 5, 2013, at Ebenezer Baptist Church. Rev. Brian Henderson will officiate. Burial will follow in Blue Ridge Gardens of Memory. The family will receive friends from 6-9 p.m. Thursday, April 4, 2013, at Ebenezer Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to the Edneyville Community Lions Club, P.O. Box 797 Fletcher, N.C. 28732.

To sign the online guest book, visit www.shulerfuneralhome.com.

Shuler Funeral Home is assisting the family.

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William A. Gooch

William A. Gooch, 89, of Hendersonville, died on Monday, April 1, 2013 at the Elizabeth House.

A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, April 5, 2013, in the Brunson Chapel at First United Methodist Church, Hendersonville with Reverend Dan Martin officiating.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.

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Arthur Harold Kiehl

Arthur Harold Kiehl passed away on March 28, 2013, at the age of 94 in Hendersonville, where he and his wife Katherine lived for over 30 years. Born in Akron, Ohio, he was the last survivor in a family of eight children.

He began his career at the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, where he won Litchfield Medals in Goodyear's engineering program. During his diverse and successful career as a manufacturing executive, he managed the manufacturing operations for divisions of major industrial companies, including Textron, GF, Singer and Ethan Allen.

Arthur and his wife, Katherine, raised four children and made their home in five different states before retiring to North Carolina. An avid golfer, he continued engineering mechanical devices for swing training and continued playing golf for many years in retirement. He and Katherine, a talented artist, were active in their church and local volunteer organizations.

He was preceded in death by his daughters, Judith and Janet; parents, Albert and Mary Jane Pake Kiehl; sisters, Mae (Steiny) Steinbach and Norma (Bud) Bock; brothers, Glenn (Dorothy), Ray (Midge), Gene (Ginny), Floyd (Lucille) and Robert Kiehl; and niece, Donna Kiehl.

He is survived by his wife of 72 years, Katherine Mary Kiehl; sons, Donald Eugene Kiehl and Richard Arthur Kiehl; daughter-in-law Anna Scaglione Kiehl; sister-in-law, Harriet Kiehl; nieces and nephews, Tom (Susie) Kiehl, Jerry (Eleanor) Kiehl, Jim Kiehl, Fred (Kathy) Kiehl, Denny (Karen) Kiehl, Bob (Priscilla) Kiehl, Laurie Kiehl and Joan (Jim) Krejci.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday, April 6, 2013, at the Grace Lutheran Church, 1245 6th Avenue W., Hendersonville. A private burial will be held at the Crown Hill Cemetery in Twinsburg, Ohio.

A register book is available online for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

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Edward Donel Gilbert, 73

EDNEYVILLE — Edward Donel Gilbert, 73, of Edneyville went to be with the Lord, Monday, April 1, 2013, at the VA Hospital in Black Mountain.

He was a native and lifelong resident of Henderson County and was preceded in death by his parents, Mary Dalton Gilbert and Burgeon Gilbert, brothers, Ervin Gilbert and Samuel Gilbert, a nephew and two nieces.

He loved going to the local auction every Friday and Saturday night but come Sunday morning you could find him on the back pew of In Jesus Name Church. He was in church every time the doors were open. He is now rejoicing in Heaven. He will live on in our precious memories we have of him and forever live in our hearts. He will be missed by so many.

Edward served his country in the US Marine Corps.

He is survived by a loving wife of 52 years, Sandra Gilbert; a son, Jeffery Gilbert and wife Rita of Hendersonville; a daughter, Sheila Gilbert Bousson and husband Dennis of Edneyville; three grandchildren, Amanda Gilbert Magnet and husband Charlie, Corey Bousson and Timmy Bousson all of Edneyville; three sisters and a brother all of Edneyville and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, April 4, 2013, at In Jesus Name Church with Pastor Dale Gilbert officiating. Burial will follow at Forest Lawn Memorial Park with military honors conducted by the Henderson County Honor Guard.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 2:50 p.m. prior to the service in the church.

Donations may be made to the Charles George VA Medical Center Voluntary Service, 1100 Tunnel Road, Asheville, NC 28805, or to In Jesus Name Church, 2934 Sugarloaf Mountain Road, Hendersonville NC 28792.

Condolence cards may be sent to the family at www.jacksonfuneralservice.com or P.O. Box 945, Hendersonville, NC 28793.

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June D. Bernst

June D. Bernst of Deerfield Retirement Community, Asheville,  formerly of Flat Rock and Lloyd Harbor, Huntington, N.Y., died on March 25, 2013, at age 92.

Beloved wife of Louis C. Bernst. Devoted mother of Sydney B. Wilmer and Clark C. Bernst and mother-in-law of Bruce B. Wilmer and Rose Bernst. Loving grandmother of Kristen R. Wilmer and Jeremy B. Wilmer and his wife, Anne, and great grandmother of Patrick M. Wilmer.

Graduate of Skidmore College with a degree in music and organ. Deputy Clerk-Treasurer of the Village of Lloyd Harbor, Huntington, N.Y.; a founder, member of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of the Blue Ridge Center for Lifelong Learning in Hendersonville. June was an avid reader, an inveterate gardener and always a lover of good music, especially J.S. Bach.

A memorial service will be conducted at 1 p.m. Wednesday, April 17, 2013, at St. Giles Chapel in Deerfield.

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.

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Julia Ann Williams, 73

Julia Ann Williams, 73, of Flat Rock, passed away Sunday, March 31, 2013, at the Elizabeth House.

Julia, a lifelong resident of Henderson County, was a daughter of the late Virgil and Pearl Ledbetter Watkins. She was also preceded in death by three brothers and three sisters. She was an employee of International Paper before retiring and a member of Kelly Memorial Baptist Church.

She is survived by her husband of 55 years, Robert H. Williams; brother, Freddie Watkins and his wife Jackie; and many nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, April 3, 2013, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Rev. Jeff Neelands will be officiating.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to Four Seasons Compassion for Life, 571 S. Allen Rd., Flat Rock, NC 28731.

A guest book or sympathy cards are available at www.forestlawnhendersonville.com.

Forest Lawn Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.

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