Jan. 18 Obituaries of the Swannanoa Valley
Nadine Kasey Martin
Marion
Nadine Kasey Martin, 91, of Marion, NC passed away on January 6, 2018 at Asheville Health Care.
A native of Burke County, she was the daughter of the late James B. and Sallie Ballard Kasey. She was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Edward Martin; siblings, Edith Kasey Bennett, Isabelle Kasey, Geraldine Kasey Greene, Dorothy (Dot) Kasey Williams, Gerald, William and Frank Kasey. She was a retired employee of Asheville Steel Company and a member of Oteen Baptist Church.
She is survived by her daughter, Susan Wyatt (Mark) of Marion, NC; grandson, Martin Wyatt of Marion, NC; numerous nieces and nephews; and a very special friend in the Mitchell House, Beatrice (Bill) Lankford, who always looked after her when she was a patient there.
The family received friends Thursday, January 11, 2018 from 10-11 a.m. Harwood Home for Funerals with a celebration of life service immediately following. Burial followed at 12 p.m. at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Alzheimer’s Association Western Carolina Chapter 4600 Park Road, Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209.
Arrangements are in the care of Harwood Home for Funerals, harwoodhomeforfunerals.com.
Darrell Eugene Russell
Old Fort
Darrell Eugene Russell, 53, of Old Fort, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, January 6, 2018.
Darrell was born July 14, 1964 in Buncombe County to Thelma Russell and the late Norman Russell. He was employed with Grovestone & Sand Company for 31 years, and was a member of Chestnut Hill Baptist Church. Darrell loved his family and dogs. He was an avid hunter and fisherman who enjoyed being on the lake.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by his wife, Sonya Russell; daughter, Kari Biggs and husband, Matthew; sisters, Diane Banks, Frances Denny, Jean Lanning, and Lisa Robinson; brother, Leslie Russell; and grandchildren, Hunter, Maylee, David, and Holden Biggs.
The family received friends Tuesday, January 9, 2018 from 6-8 p.m. at Harwood Home for Funerals. A celebration of life service was Wednesday, January 10, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Chestnut Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Ronnie Harris and Frank Norton officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Those desiring to make a memorial contribution are encouraged to consider CarePartners Hospice of McDowell County, 575 Airport Road, Marion, NC 28752. Arrangements are in the care of Harwood Home for Funerals.
Donald Ray Loftin
Fairview
Donald Ray Loftin, 64, passed away Friday, January 5, 2018 at Mission Hospital. He was born on July 25, 1953 in Henderson County to the late Lucille Craig. Mr. Loftin was a resident of Buncombe County, a United States Army Veteran, worked for the railroad doing crossing maintenance, and was of the Baptist faith. In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by his adopted daughter, Kimberly Diane Owensby.
Mr. Loftin is survived by his wife, Sara Patterson Loftin; his daughters, Christie Wright and husband Paul of Fairview, Mary Notte and husband Albert of Rutland, VT; his brothers, Bill "Willy" Loftin of Asheville and Jimmy Craig of Cherokee, NC; his sisters, Jeanette Wright of Fairview and Holly McMahan of Asheville; five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
His funeral service was held at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 7, 2018 at Chestnut Hill Baptist Church. The Revs. Ronnie Harris and Norris Wright officiated. Burial followed in the church cemetery. The family received friends an hour prior to the service from 1-2 p.m.
Penland Family Funeral Home is serving the Loftin Family. The online register is available at PenlandFamilyFuneralHome.com.
Kemper Faye Luttrell Bornman
Baton Rouge, LA
Kemper was a resident of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, born in Longstreet, LA, November 23, 1938, and passed away peacefully in her home on January 8, 2018, surrounded by family. She attended Merryville High School and received her Bachelor’s Degree in 1959 from McNeese State University, where she was a charter member of Chi Omega Sorority. She then went on to receive two Masters Degrees from Louisiana State University.
She met her devoted husband, David Louis Bornman III, at LSU, and married him soon after. They were members of University Presbyterian Church in Baton Rouge, which they loved. She had an active private practice as a Social Worker, and spent countless hours volunteering in the community and for her church. Her favorite thing to do was to watch her granddaughter, Sophie, sing and perform on the stage. She and Sophie shared a passion for watching musicals, reading, and eating ice cream!
She and her husband moved to Black Mountain, North Carolina in 1992, where they were also very active members of their community and their church, Black Mountain Presbyterian. She and her husband, David, loved the mountains and the wildflowers. Everyone she met was her new “best friend.”
Her favorite friends at Southside Assisted Living knew her as “love,” and she had a great time with them! Kemper was a gift to all that knew her. If you knew her, you know what an extraordinary woman she was.
Kemper is survived by her daughter, Ann Kemper Gorman, husband, Harold Bruce Gorman, and granddaughter, Sophie Ann Tranchina; brother Felix Lane Luttrell, his wife Kathy Ellen Luttrell and their daughter Kemper Luttrell Rogers; and numerous nieces and nephews. She is preceded in death by parents, Felix Crittenden Luttrell and Lillie Mae Nelson Luttrell, sister, Julia Anne Luttrell, husband, David Louis Bornman III, and son David Bryan Bornman.
Interment was at the Stonewall Cemetery in Stonewall, LA on Saturday, January 13, 2018, at 2 p.m. A Memorial Service was held at University Presbyterian Church, 3240 Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge, LA at 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, January 14, 2018, with a Celebration of Kemper’s life immediately following.
In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to University Presbyterian Church, 3240 Dalrymple Drive, Baton Rouge, LA 70802, or The Hospice of Baton Rouge, 9063 Seigen Lane, Baton Rouge, LA 70810.
Swannanoa Valley friends are invited to a gathering in the Assembly Room at Givens Highlands Farms at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26 to honor Kemper’s memory and her many contributions to the community.
Michael Rollins
Black Mountain
Michael Rollins, 54, of Black Mountain passed away Dec 28, 2017 after a short illness. He was born April 17th 1963 to Penny Alexander in Asheville, N.C.
Proceeded in death his grandparents, Jake and Mary Rollins who raised him.
Surviving is a brother James Carroll Radford of Leicester; sister Mary Hogben of Black Mountain; two sisters, Monica Alexander and Renee Bryson of Walhalla, S.C. Memorial Services will be at a later date.
Jeter L. Lee
Black Mountain
Jeter L. Lee passed away January 11, 2018.
Jeter was born May 6, 1930 in Stanly County, NC to the late Jeter L. Lee Sr. and Margaret Upchurch Lee. He was a Rotarian for 30 years and recipient of the Paul Harris Fellowship, a Master Mason, Shriner, and lifelong member of the Optimist Club International. Jeter was a very active member of Black Mountain United Methodist Church and former member of Mt. Olivet United Methodist Church in Concord, NC. He worked at RS Braswell Company and later owned RB Lee Insurance Agency until his retirement. He enjoyed music, baseball, traveling, dancing and playing bridge. Jeter was always helping his neighbors, fun loving, and was liked by all who knew him.
Jeter is survived by his wife of 67 years, Betty Greene Lee; daughters, Matoka Black (Michael) and Terri Queen (Patrick); grandchildren, Russell Myers, Kristin Myers Smith (Richard), Laura Myers Parks (Thomas), and Alyson Queen; and six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held Saturday, January 13, 2018 at 12 p.m. at Black Mountain United Methodist Church with Rev. Michael MacDonald officiating. A reception immediately followed.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Greenville Shriners Hospital for Children, 950 West Faris Road, Greenville, SC 29605 or Black Mountain United Methodist Church, 101 Church Street, Black Mountain, NC 28711.
Arrangements are in the care of Harwood Home for Funerals.