Obituaries of the Swannanoa Valley

Inez Ferens Pearson

Black Mountain

Inez Ferens Pearson, of Black Mountain, NC died peacefully on January 31, 2017 at the age of 104.

Mrs. Pearson was born in Durham, England July 5, 1912.  She trained as a nurse during World War II, and served her apprenticeship in London, England during the war, living through the Blitz while working at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital.

After the war she continued her nursing career overseas, working in Montreal and Boston before meeting her future husband Robert Pearson, a fruit farmer from Lockport, New York, on a cruise on the Great Lakes. They were married in 1948 and raised their two sons in Lockport, where Inez resumed her nursing career.  In 1977 she and Robert retired and moved to Black Mountain.
  Inez continued her love of travel into her 90s, making trips to New Zealand, Bermuda, the Caribbean, Alaska and the northwestern US, and many trips to England. In spite of living in the U.S. for nearly 70 years, she never lost her English accent.  She was an active member and supporter of St. James Episcopal Church, and prolific at needlepoint and baking, as well as an avid card player.
  Mrs. Pearson was pre-deceased by her husband Robert, her brothers Lionel Ferens, H. Cecil Ferens, and her twin brother Vernon Ferens.  She is survived by her two sons, Christopher Pearson of Dunedin, New Zealand, and David Pearson of Bennington, Vermont, by two grandchildren Rose and Nelson Pearson of New Zealand and two step-grandchildren, Claire Bennet and Ethan Beal-Brown of Vermont.
  A memorial service will be held at St. James Episcopal Church on Thursday, March 9 at 1 p.m., with Rev. Judith Whelchel officiating. Condolences at harwoodhomeforfunerals.com.