All Obituaries

            Jerry Glenn Owens, Sr., age 84, of Leicester, NC, passed away on Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center in Asheville, NC. He was born on October 31, 1936 in Buncombe County, NC to the late Simon Owens and Lucy Mae Hollifield Owens. Jerry was the owner and operator of Jerry's Garage in Leicester since 1962 and a member of Corinth Missionary Baptist Church in Leicester. He was a deacon, choir director, Sunday school...

Christopher (Chris) Hughes Wilson, age 66 of Swannanoa, NC (formerly of Chapel Hill, NC) passed away peacefully at home on April 9, 2021 in the care of his loving wife of 42 years, Barbara G. Wilson, three children, and two grandchildren.  Born in Rochester, MN, and raised in Sarasota, FL, Chris was the son of Dr. Leo H. Wilson, Jr. (deceased) and Colleen Y. Wilson.  He graduated from Riverview High School (1972) and received his undergraduate degree from Duke University...

            Lena Clay Searcy Brooks, age 94, of Black Mountain, NC, passed away on Wednesday, April 7, 2021 at Fleshers Fairview Health Care Center. She was born on January 30, 1927 in Fairview, NC to the late John Albert Searcy and Hetty Jane Clay Searcy. Lena graduated as the valedictorian from Fairview High School, worked for the Beacon and Kearfott and was a member of Tabernacle United Methodist Church in Black Mountain, NC. She...

            George Thomas Jones, age 90, of Asheville, NC, passed away on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at his home. He was born on June 30, 1930 in Buncombe County, NC to the late William Roy Jones and Estelle Keever Jones. George was a retired security guard for the Department of Transportation and he attended Pine Burr Baptist Church of Asheville, NC. He was a hard working and kind hearted man who dearly loved his family. Along with his parents, George was also...

            Glenda Jean Wilson, age 77, of Swannanoa, NC, passed away on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at Pelican Health Asheville. She was born on October 13, 1943 in Buncombe County, NC to the late Marie Wilson. In addition to her mother, Glenda was also preceded in death by her cousin and life-long best friend, Barbara Jean Crawford.             Before becoming disabled, Glenda worked as a nursing assistant at...

            Mark Vincent Sherren, age 72, of Fletcher, NC passed away Monday, April 5, 2021 peacefully in the presence of his family. He was born December 29, 1948 in Washington, D.C. to Vincent G. Sherren and Geneva S. Sherren. As a small child, he moved with his family to Tavernier Key, Florida where he grew up with a love for the sea, boating, fishing, and music. He graduated from Coral Shores High School in 1966 and later graduated...

            Douglas Emmanuel Buckstad, age 99, died on Friday, April 2, 2021 in Asheville, North Carolina. Born in Norway, he was the son of the late Emmanuel and Anna Gabrielsen Buckstad. From the age of 9 he grew up in Bay Ridge Brooklyn, NYC. He served with the 69th Infantry Division in Europe in WWII and earned the Bronze Star. Following his service he was a tool and die maker at CB Christianson, Newark, NJ, then resided in Edison, NJ for 30 year....

            Jerry Wayne Holt, age 69, of Arden, NC, passed away on Thursday, April 1, 2021 at the John F. Keever, Jr. Solace Center in Asheville, NC. He was born on November 10, 1951 in Wyandotte, MI to the late Thomas Holt and Cindy Lucille Cody Holt Shelton. Jerry was a hardworking man who gave everything to help his family. He would do anything that he could to help his family, friends, and those in...

            Betty Lou Brown Buckner, age 92, of Fairview, NC, passed away on Thursday, March 25, 2021 at Mission Hospital in Asheville. She was born on September 9, 1928 to the late Hubert Romanza Brown and Carolyn Elizabeth Black. Betty was a longtime member of Reed Memorial Baptist Church. She was a master at crocheting, loved the Spring time and growing flowers. Along with her parents, Betty was also preceded in death by her beloved husband of 66 years,...

The world has lost a light. Kenneth Robert Gentile, Jr. died March 24, 2021, at his home in Buncombe County, NC, due to heart failure.  He was preceded by his Mother, Lana Gail Gentile. He leaves behind his father, Kenneth Robert Gentile, Sr., sister, Michelle Denise Ballard and her husband, Alan Eugene Ballard, nephews Zachariah Thomas Ballard and Nathaniel Kenneth Ballard, brother, Christopher Robin Gentile and his wife, Vanessa Gail Gentile, nieces, Kyrah Mikayla Gentile and Eliza...