May 24 Obituaries of the Swannanoa Valley

Avilene Ownbey Davis

Fairview

Avilene Ownbey Davis, 89, of Fairview passed away Sunday, May 13, 2018 with her family by her side on Mother’s Day.  

  Mrs. Davis was born November 13, 1928 in McDowell County to the late Andrew C. and Fannie Crawford Ownbey.  She lived all of her life in Buncombe County and was a member of Nesbitt’s Chapel.  Avilene drove a school bus for many years, touching the lives of children in the Fairview community.  She retired from Owen Manufacturing with over 12 years of service. 

  Avilene was a loving mother and grandmother who cherished her family deeply.  She was a Godly woman, always putting her faith and family first.  She enjoyed quilting and spending time with family.

  In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Reece Davis; daughters, Joyce Ann and Betty Davis; sisters, Ruth Summey and Sue Harris; and brothers, Clarence, Frank, Hardy, and A.C. Ownbey.

  Avilene is survived by her daughters, Marie Roberson and Ruth Robinson; sons, Reece Davis (Joy) and Larry Davis; sister, Rhoda Nesbitt; sisters-in-law, Ann and Inez Ownbey; eight grandchildren; numerous great-grandchildren; two great-great-granddaughters and many nieces and nephews.

  The family received friends Wednesday, May 16, 2018 from 6-8 p.m. at Harwood Home for Funerals.    A Celebration of Life Service was held Thursday, May 17, 2018 at 2 p.m. in Nesbitt’s Chapel with Pastors Glenda Hayner, Dewey Kirstein, and Ken Whitt officiating.  Burial was in Laurel Springs Cemetery.  Grandsons and great-grandsons were pallbearers.  Granddaughters and great-granddaughters were honorary pallbearers. Arrangements were by Harwood Home for Funerals, harwoodhomeforfunerals.com.

Peggy Burrell Davis Ownbey

Asheville

Peggy Burrell Davis Ownbey, 76, of Asheville, NC and formerly of Swannanoa, NC, went home to be with her Lord on May 13, 2018 after a long battle with cancer.

  Peggy was preceded in death by her parents, John and Hazel Burrell; brothers, Harold and Gerald Burrell; sister, Barbara Burrell Patterson; and grandson, Zach Davis.

  Peggy is survived by her son, Robert Davis (Karen); daughters, Cindy Martin (Bruce) and Lisa Fowler (Robert); granddaughter, Tiffany Aceto; grandsons, Johnathan Martin, Kaleb and Bricen Fowler; great-grandchildren, Knox and Kylie Aceto, Ava and Sophia Martin; sisters, Sylvia Waters and Joyce Bradley; and brother, Danny Burrell.

  A celebration of life service was held Wednesday, May 16, 2018 at 2 p.m. at Harwood Home for Funerals.  The family received friends one hour prior to the service time at the funeral home.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to CarePartners Hospice Solace Center, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.

Arrangements were by Harwood Home for Funerals.

Emma Lee Chapman

Swannanoa

Emma Lee Chapman, 76, of Swannanoa passed away Sunday, May 13, 2018.

  Mrs. Chapman was born May 5, 1942 in Buncombe County to the late Frank and Dovie Wilson Burton.  She was a member of Berea Baptist Church and retired from Beacon Manufacturing.  Emma Lee loved flowers and working in her garden.  She enjoyed spending time with her family, especially her grandchildren.  Mrs. Chapman was also a member of Riceville Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary. 

  In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her husband, Van Harold Chapman; infant son, Van Douglas Chapman; and son in-law, Benny Autrey.

  Emma Lee is survived by her daughters, Karen Autrey and Eva Huskins; sister, Mary Jane Banks; brother, Bill Burton; grandchildren, Randy Hooper (Heather), Kyle Huskins, Ross Autrey (Jessica), and Jenna Autrey; and two great-grandchildren, Dakota Autrey and Olivia Marie Huskins.

  A Celebration of Life Service was held Friday, May 18, 2018 at 1 p.m. in the chapel of Harwood Home for Funerals.  Burial was in the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery.  The family received friends Friday, May 18, 2018 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. prior to the funeral service.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to CarePartners, Hospice Solace Center, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC  28813. Arrangements were by Harwood Home for Funerals.

Geneva J. Morgan

Swannanoa

Geneva J. Morgan passed away peacefully at her home following a short illness on April 12, 2018.

She was born in Hot Springs, AR on January 18, 1921 to the late Rev. J.B. Nobles and Mae Phillips Nobles. In 1939, she became the bride of Doy H. Morgan from Greenwood, AR. They were married 73 years.

After her children graduated from high school she entered LPN nursing school at Sparks Memorial Hospital, Ft. Smith, AR. She retired from Sparks after nearly 20 years in OB/GYN/Post Partum and the psychiatric unit.

Volunteering was something she enjoyed before and after her nursing career. She was active in her church as a Sunday school teacher, greeter, Sunbeams leader, county Sunbeam director and charter member of Fianna Baptist Church in Ft. Smith, AR. She became an American Red Cross Gray Lady at Ft. Chaffee near Ft. Smith, AR in 1957. After moving to NC, she volunteered with the Asheville chapter of the American Red Cross.

                Besides loving her family, she had a strong Christian faith which she shared with loved ones and others as often as possible. An Alaskan cruise for her 90th birthday seemed to be the highlight of her later years.

She is predeceased by her parents, husband, and siblings. Left to cherish her memory are her children, Judy Keels of Swannanoa, NC, and Larry (Sylvia) of Georgetown, TX; grandchildren, Victor Martinez (Janette) of Taylor, TX, Shon Morgan of Georgetown, TX, Scott Keels of Hendersonville, NC, Mark (Sandi) Keels of Marion, NC, and John Keels of Raleigh, NC; great-grandchildren, Aidan and Faith Keels of Marion, NC; half brother, James (Delilah) Nobles of Ft. Smith, AR; and numerous extended family and friends.

                A celebration of life will be held Saturday, June 2, 2018 at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Swannanoa, NC. The family will receive friends at the church an hour before the service. Penland Family Funeral Home is caring for the Morgan Family. The online memorial register is at PenlandFamilyFuneralHome.com.

                In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Feed the Children at 333 N. Meridian Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73107 or a charity/church of your choice.