March 7 Obituaries of the Swannanoa Valley
James Clodfelter
Black Mountain
James M. Clodfelter, 79, of Black Mountain passed away Saturday, Feb. 23, at home.
Mr. Clodfelter was born November 30, 1939 in Chatham, County, NC.
He was a veteran of the United States Air Force.
James is survived by his fiancé, Jan Myers of the home; son, Mark Clodfelter of Black Mountain; daughters, Rae Jean Bosley of Spearfish, SD, Danielle Robinson of Asheville and Meagan Myers (Steven Waldrop) of Leceister; grandchildren, Alyssa Hampton (Steven), Leahbelle Paladino, Stella and Isaac Robinson; Camaren Myers, Jordyn, Brett, and Kaitlyn Waldrop; great grandchildren, Kaylee Dicken, Hunter Parrot, Anessa, Kimber, Logan, and Blake Hampton; sister, Nancy Hubers of Parkville, MD; special nephew, Michael Clodfelter (Rose Marie Moore) and other nieces and nephews.
Burial will be at the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery at a later date.
Harwood Home for Funerals (harwoodhomeforfunerals.com) is assisting the family.
Doug Murray
Black Mountain
Doug Murray, 64, of Black Mountain and previously of Villa Rica, GA passed away on Thursday, Feb. 21, at the Memorial Campus of Mission Hospital System.
Born August 9, 1954 in Oxford, Ohio, he was a son of the late Malcolm Arthur Murray and Joan Audrey Baird Murray. He was an alumnus of both Berry College and Georgia State University.
Of his many enjoyments in life, traditional Irish music was among his favorite. Surviving are his spouse, Susan Denise Graham; children, Stephen Murray and his spouse, Sarah, of Powder Springs, GA, and daughter, Meghan Matulich and her spouse, Adam Kik, of Louisville, KY; brother, Alan Murray and his spouse, Karen Murray, of Dallas, TX; and grandchildren, Hannah Matulich, Lucy Kik, and Sam Kik all of Louisville, KY. A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, March 2, 2019 at St. James Episcopal Church in Black Mountain with Rev. Judith Whelchel officiating. Donations may be made in Mr. Murray’s honor to Arts for Life, 50 S. French Broad Avenue, Suite 258, Asheville, NC 28801. Condolences may be made to the family at www.ashevilleareaalternative.com.
Mildred Massey
Black Mountain
Mildred Massey, 79, of Black Mountain passed away Friday, Feb. 22.
Mrs. Massey was born April 25, 1939 in Swain County to the late Arthur and Betty Crisp Earley.
In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her brother, Junior Earley.
Mrs. Massey is survived by her husband, Porter Ralph Massey; daughter, Keela Curry (Terry); son, Ralph James Massey (Gennell); brother, Kenneth Earley; grandchildren, Kayla and Misty Curry and Daniel and David Massey; great grandchildren, Christian Hensley, Breanna, Alexis, and Tristan Curry and Aa’laya Lewis.
A Celebration of Life service will be held Wednesday, February 27, 2019 at 1:00pm in the chapel of Harwood Home for Funerals with Rev. Tommy Hall officiating. Burial will be in the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 1:00 prior to the service.
Harwood Home for Funerals (harwoodhomeforfunerals.com) is assisting the family.
Martha Sprinkle
Asheville
Martha Virginia Gann Sprinkle, 85, of Asheville passed away peacefully at her home on Friday, Feb. 22, at her home with her children, James and Donna, by her side.
Born Dec. 20, 1933 in Sevierville, Tennessee, she was a daughter of the late, Daniel W. Gann and Nettie Flynn Gann. She retired from Kearfott in Black Mountain after 42 years of service and was a member of Sand Hill Baptist Church in Asheville.
She never knew a stranger and had a wonderful heart. In addition to her parents, she is preceded in death by her spouse of 65 years, George C. Sprinkle; son, Terry “Abe” Sprinkle; siblings, Ernest Gann, Betty Roberts, Bonnie Kirkendall, Helen Bradley, Luther Gann, H.D. Gann, Albert Gann, and Wynonna Brank. Surviving are her children, James Sprinkle, of Asheville, Donna Owenby, of Asheville, Donelda O’Neill of New Hampshire; grandchildren, Tonya McAfee, SeDonna Wright, Stella Lewis, Jessie Sprinkle, Chris O’Neill, Meagan O’Neill, and Savannah Valdeze; 16 great-grandchildren; and a great great-grandchild. She was loved by all her family and friends.
A memorial service will be held at a later date with burial to take place at the Western Carolina State Veteran’s Cemetery. Condolences may be made to the family at ashevilleareaalternative.com.
Doris Doyle
Asheville
Doris known as Dot, Mother, Mum, Grandmother, and Queen by her family and friends left us on Feb. 20. Doris was born in Ashton in Makerfield, Lancashire England on March 31, 1924 to John and Anne Unsworth. She and her beloved brother Peter spent their formative years in Golborne.
Upon graduation Doris decided to join the war effort. At the age of 18 she volunteered for duty with British Auxiliary Territorial Service serving in London for three and a half years. It was during one of her few leaves home to Golborne that Doris met “Jimmy” (Ed Reed) a US GI from Black Mountain and they married in a civil ceremony on December 21, 1944.
In the following year Doris gave birth to John Richard Reed (Rick) in her parents’ home. At the end of the war Ed was discharged and sent home to NC where he worked to make a new home for his bride and son. They would not join him until the following year. In 1956 she gave birth to her daughter, Robin Elizabeth Reed. These two were rarely separated for the next 62 years, becoming best friends and confidants. Doris held several jobs in her new little town but one she was most proud of was her work with the Alcoholic Rehabilitation Center (ADAC), where she served as a counselor.
Doris is survived by her children, Rick Reed (Jeanine) and Robin Reed Jones (Chuck); grandchildren, Paige Wilson (Todd), Keith Reed (Mitzi), Ashley Reed, Jason Reed, Megan Medford (Jay) and Rebecca Jones (Travis); great grandchildren, Drew Britain (McKenzie), Annie McNeely, Brigman Reed, Drake Reed and Baxter Hayes Medford.
The family would like to thank Dr. Robert Barker and staff for years of care and friendship and the staff at The Crossings at Reynolds Mountain for your compassionate care and a special thank you to the staff of CarePartners Hospice.
Visitation will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday, March 10, at Abernethy United Methodist Church, 1418 Patton Ave. Asheville with a celebration of Doris’s life immediately following.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations to Abernethy United Methodist BEAR Closet or ABCCM Veterans Restoration Quarters.
Harwood Home for Funerals (harwoodhomeforfunerals.com) is assisting the family.