Obituaries
Zelma Shepherd Rector Reavis, Jamey and Mark Ray; great- and husband Billy; two brothers, Troy preciated. retired after 30 years of service.
Weaverville - Zelma Shepherd grandchildren Amanda and Sarah Meadows and wife Patty and Richard www.westfamilyfuneralservices. During the nation’s Bicentennial
Rector, age 98, of 170 Hobson Reavis, Jordan Bailey and Madison Meadows and wife Lois; 11 grandchil- com Celebration she was recognized for
Branch Road, died Thursday, March Ray. dren and 17 great-grandchildren. her contributions to the National
19, 2009. Funeral services were held 2 The funeral service was held at 2
Fushia Gosnell Debruhl
School Lunch Program and for her
Mrs. Rector was born June 6, 1910, pm on Sun- pm on Thursday, March 19, 2009,
Alexander - Fushia Gosnell De-
service from the time of its founding
in Buncombe County where she had day, March at Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist
Bruhl, age 94, of 1057 Lower Flat
in 1946.
lived all of 22, 2009 Church of which she was a member.
Creek Road, Alexander, passed away
Additionally, Mrs. DeBruhl was a
her life and a t P a i n t The Rev. Keith Watkins officiated.
in her home
farm wife and avid gardener. While
was the last Gap Bap- Burial followed in Refuge Cemetery.
M o n d a y,
helping her husband raise tobacco
surviving tist Church The family received friends from 6
March 23,
and corn, she produced a bountiful
child of the of which pm - 8 pm on Wednesday, March 18,
2009, fol-
vegetable garden for her family, ex-
late Henry she was a 2009, at Blue Ridge Funeral Service,
lowing an
tended family and friends. She con-
Taylor and m e m b e r. 7626 Hwy. 213, Mars Hill, NC.
extended
tinued to enjoy vegetable and flower
Margaret The Rev. Flowers are accepted and ap-
period of
gardening long into her retirement
Jane Shep- Seth Met- preciated.
illness.
years. Her generosity with flower
herd. She calf and the The family would like to express a
Mrs. De-
and shrub cuttings provided the
was a lov- Rev. Stan- special thank you to the Brian Center
Bruhl was
base of many families’ landscaping
ing mother ley Peek officiated. and Hospice for the care shown their
born June
and flower gardens throughout the
and grand- The family received friends from mother.
21, 1914,
area. Likewise, if she saw a plant on
mother who will be greatly missed 6 pm to 8 pm on Saturday, March Online condolences may be e-
in Madison
her travels or visits, she sought and
by her family and extended family 21, 2009, at Blue Ridge Funeral mailed to the family at www.blu-
County to the late Rollins and Callie
usually acquired a cutting or two.
at Elderberry Health Care. She was Service. eridge-funeral-service.com
Sams Gosnell.
Fushia DeBruhl was an indepen-
the oldest member of Piney Mountain The body lay in state 30 minutes
The wife of the late Byron DeBruhl,
dent spirit and a reserved personality.
Baptist Church. Mrs. Rector was the prior to service.
Anna Lee Eller Mrs. DeBruhl is survived by a sister,
She was a vegetarian long before
wife of the late Wade Rector who Pallbearers will be Joseph Reavis,
Weaverville - Anna Lee Eller, age Lillian Gosnell Tweed; two daughters,
and after it was fashionable. Even
died in 1958. She was also preceded Jamey, Mark and James Buddy Ray,
88, formerly of Clark’s Chapel Exten- Mary Killian of Clyde and Doris Taylor
though she provided an example
in death by her sisters, Ivory Black, Homer Revis and Roger Maney.
sion, died Sunday, March 15, 2009. of Marshall; five grandchildren, Durryl
for the generations of women fol-
Bergie Hobson, Ruby Allen and Inez Flowers are appreciated and ac-
Mrs. Eller was born June 23, 1920, Taylor of Marshall, Roger Taylor and
lowing her, her values (though not
Childers, and brothers, Harold, Floyd, cepted or memorials may be made to
in Buncombe County where she had wife Amy of Alexander, Lesa Taylor
her politics) were traditional and
Jeter and Talmadge Shepherd. Gideon’s Int., Madison County Camp,
lived all of her life. She was a gradu- Coates and husband Forest of Mars
conservative. Her family was her first
Surviving are her son, Dale Rec- PO Box 1182, Marshall, NC 28753.
ate of Flat Hill, Anita Killian Waugh and husband
priority and she was especially “the
tor and wife Carolyn of Weaverville; The family would like to express a
Creek High Charles of Clyde, and Sharon Killian
best grandmother in the world.” She
grandchildren, Jeff Rector and wife special thanks to Madison Manor and
School and Riddle and husband Kenny of Clyde;
nurtured each of her grandchildren
Melda, Shannon Fender and hus- John F. Keever Solace Center and
retired from and nine great grandchildren, Daniel
to achieve success, whether it be
band Darian; and great-granddaugh- staff for their care shown to Pansy.
Square D in Phillips, Julia Phillips Swayngim,
academic, domestic, personal or
ter, Tamantha Rector. Online condolences may be sent
1984. Mrs. Wesley and Neill Coates, Tiffany
professional. She took great pride
Graveside services were held at to the family at www.blueridge-
Eller was Taylor Edwards, Courtney Taylor,
in their positives and felt deeply the
11 am on Saturday, March 21, 2009, funeral-service.com.
a lifelong Matthew Cope, and Austin and Rus-
sting of their losses.
in Piney Mountain Baptist Church
member of sell Taylor.
Her family’s sadness and sorrow
Cemetery with Rev. Steve Freeman
Louise Davis Littrell Flat Creek In 1936, Fushia Gosnell married
is offset some by the reality that her
officiating.
Weaverville - Louise Davis Littrell, B a p t i s t Byron DeBruhl and they began their
long suffering is over and by a hope
The family received friends from
73, passed away Monday, March 16, C h u r c h . family on a farm at Red Oak in north-
of reuniting with her according to the
6 pm to 7:30 pm on Friday, March
2009, at the Brian Center Healthcare Her par- ern Buncombe County, where she
dictates of her Christian beliefs.
20, 2009, at West Funeral Home, 17
and Rehabilitation Center. She was ents, James Lee and Julia Duck resided for the remainder of her life.
The family expresses gratitude to
Merrimon Avenue, Weaverville.
born in Madison County and was the Franklin, as well as her husband, For many decades Fushia and Byron
the many caregivers who provided
www.westfamilyfuneralservices.
daughter of John A. Eller who died in 2001, and provided Sunday afternoon dinner,
care and companionship to their
com
the late An- her brothers, Stanley Ben and Ray where her family was expected to
mother. For many of you, it was more

nie Mead- Franklin, preceded her in death. attend and family and friends were al-
than a job and we know and recog-
Pansy Ethel Hensley Ray ows an d Surviving are her sons, Jim Eller ways freely welcome. She continued
nize your loss.
Mars Hill - Pansy E. Ray, 86, of 145 wife of the and wife Anita of Candler, and John the tradition long after Byron’s death
Funeral services will be held at 11
Ray Drive, died March 19, 2009 at late Harold Eller and wife Blanche of Travelers until her declining health and illness
am on Thursday, March 26, 2009, at
John F. Keever Solace Center. She Littrell. Rest, South Carolina; two grandchil- overcame her.
Gabriel’s Creek Baptist Church, Mars
was a native of Yancey County and Surviv- dren, Jonathan and Stephanie; and Mrs. DeBruhl began her employ-
Hill, with Rev. Larry Sprouse and the
the daughter of the late Dan and Ad- ing are her one great grandson. ment outside the home prior to her
Rev. Danny Jenkins officiating. Burial
die Crawford Hensley. In addition to daughters Funeral services were held at 2:30 marriage. She was engaged in rug
will be at the church cemetery.
her parents she is also preceded in S a n d r a p.m. Wednesday, March 18, 2009, in making as a cottage enterprise and
The family received friends from
death by her husband Maunt Ray. Taylor and the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 was one of the women who worked
6 pm to 8 pm on Wednesday, March
She is survived by daughter Bren- husband Merrimon Avenue, Weaverville, with at the rug factory located at Mars
25, 2009, at West Funeral Home, 17
da Reavis and husband Don of Dan, Brenda Harwood and husband Rev. Barry Fisher officiating. Burial Hill. Her oral history on the subject
Merrimon Ave., Weaverville.
Weaverville; son Clyde Ray and wife Kevin, Linda Dalton and husband was in Flat Creek Baptist Church was collected by and should be on
Flowers are acceptable and ap-
Mildred of Weaverville, son Danny Joey, Glenda Moore and husband Cemetery. archive at Mars Hill College. In the
preciated.
Ray and wife Kim of Barnardsville; Ray, Nancy Silvers and husband The family received friends from 1940s, subsequent to her marriage,
A memorial tribute video is avail-
sisters Polly McMahan and Ada Mark; son, Alvin Littrell and wife 1 pm to 2 pm on Wednesday, March she began in the cafeteria of Red
able at www.westfamilyfuneralser-
Bailey; brothers Floyd and Lloyd Sonja; two sisters Barbara Payne 18, 2009, at West Funeral Home. Oak Elementary School, where she
vices.com under Mrs. DeBruhl’s
Hensley; grandchildren Joseph and husband Dennis, Pat Goforth Flowers were acceptable and ap- worked her way up to manager and
obituary.
This obituary page sponsored by:
LAKE JULIAN
72 Long Shoals Road
Our professional and caring staff
Arden, NC 28704-7782
takes pride in providing high quality
828.687.3530
and affordable funeral services that
meet the special needs of your family.
WEST ASHEVILLE
1401 Patton Avenue
Asheville, NC 28806-1793
www.grocefuneralhome.com
828.252.3535
22 THE TRIBUNE - Mar 26 - Apr 1, 2009
www.weavervilletribune.com
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