Asheville Citizen-Times from Asheville, North Carolina • Page B2

OBITUARIES TlllllJ B2 SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2012 VJJ1 1 ASHEVILLE CITIZEN-TIMES Obituary Listing Ackley, John Avery, Oscar, 87 Brigman, Bernard, 60 Lindsey, William, 77 Other Deaths Bird, Stephen, 36, Whittier, Jan 19, Appalachian Funeral Services Clonts, Lloyd, 83, Murphy, Jan 19, Townson-Rose Funeral Home Curtis, Mary Ann, 78, Burnsville, Jan 20, Holcombe Brothers Funeral Home Duelfer, Julia Irene, 77, Franklin, Jan 19, Macon Funeral Home Houston, Charles Kenneth, 59, Franklin, Jan 19, Macon Funeral Home Justice, Katherine Edwards, 94, Rutherfordton, Jan 19, McMa-han's Funeral Home Obituaries cost $3 per line and photos are $30 for first day, $19.50 for 2nd day and free on the 3rd day run. All obituaries are posted at CITIZEN-TIMES. com. Obituaries include a $25 charge for posting at Legacy.com, the largest source for online obituaries nationally. There is no charge for a death notice which includes name, age, city of residence and the funeral home or mortuary in charge of the service.

For more information on the Asheville Citizen-Times obituary policy, call 232-5966, fax 232-0377 or e-mail The deadline is 4 p.m. daily, except 3 p.m. on holidays. U.S. flags are to recognize the service of veterans and are offered at no charge for veterans.

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sisters, Jewel Buckner of Greenville, SC and Lillian Cox of IiLington; grandchildren, Pamela Nunez, Diana Wyatt, Terry Ab-ernathy, Vince Owenby and Tracy Briggs; 1 1 great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and special caregivers, Mabel Wise and Stacie Keeter. Funeral services will be held 2 P.M. Sunday in the chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Emma's Grove Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1 to 2 P.M.

Sunday at the funeral home. To sign Mrs. Owenby's "guest book" on line, please go to "Memorials" at www.andersrice.com. Anders-R ice survived by one sister, Rebecca A Jennings and one brother, Earnest J. Avery Jr (Pie); and a host of nieces and nephews.

Funeral service will be Monday, January 23, 2012 at 2 PM at Blue Ridge Missionary Baptist Church in Edneyville. Burial will follow in St Paul's Cemetery in Edneyville. Family wil receive friends at the church from 1 to 2 PM. Wilson Funeral Directors of Hendersonville is in charge of arrangements. of three grandchildren, Katie and Ryan Dobrinski and Rebekkah Lablue.

During Jean's lifetime she felt the loss of both parents, three brothers and four sisters. She is survived by her youngest sister, Mary Ann Lessner of Howell, Michigan, her loving husband, Dick, their three children and three grandchildren. Patches, a German Short Haired Pointer, the most recent addition to the family and beloved companion, like Jean, befriends and loves everyone he encounters. The family will receive friends at Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Avenue, on Sunday evening from 5-7pm. A memorial service will be held at 1 lam Monday morning at the Central Union Methodist Church on Church Street, followed by interment at Riverside Cemetery.

Afterwards, we invite friends and family to our home to share tears and laughter in memory of a beautiful, loving and gentle spirit In lieu of flowers, donations can be made through the family to the children of Covenant House andor the American Heart Association. Morris Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent through the website Morris, Jr, Ralph Davenport Owen by, Irene, 92 Washam, Jean, 88 who had an anecdote for every crisis, a solution for every dilemma. At the very least, Morris could be counted on to provoke a chuckle regardless of the seriousness of the issue, to offer levity as an alternative to panic." Ralph carried a message of hope and recovery as a volunteer at Craggy Prison from 1988-2010. Ralph is survived by his wife, Judy Bogle Morris; sons Ralph D.

Morris, HI, of Greensboro, John Morris and wife Linda of Cary, Joe Morris and wife Leslie of Asheville; grandchildren Meghan, Christopher, Benjamin, Jessica, Jack and Michael. He is also survived by the mother of his children, Betty F. Morris. A graveside service will be held 10:00 AM, Saturday, January 21, 2012 at Riverside Cemetery followed by a memorial service at 11:00 AM at Grace Episcopal Church, 871 Merrimon Avenue. The Rev.

Gary Coffey will officiate. A gathering for family and friends will begin at 12:30 PM at Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Avenue. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to a charity of choice. Condolences may be sent to the family through the website www.morris-familyfuneralhome.com. (gY YTORRiS James "Tody" Lindsey and Allen "Dee Cee" lindsey of Marion and Charles Ray Lindsey (Shelia) of Asheville; several nieces, nephews and cousins; other relatives and friends.

The funeral will be 12 noon, Monday, Tried Stone Missionary Baptist Church with Elder Alfred Blount officiating. Burial will be in the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery with the Buncombe County Veterans Memorial Team performing military rites. The family will receive friends at the residence. if IRENE OWENBY FAIRVTEW Irene Rebecca Howard Owenby, 92, passed away Thursday, January 19, 2012 at Park Ridge Hospital. She was a native of South Carolina and was a member of Emma's Grove Baptist Church.

Mrs. Owenby was a daughter of the late General Lee Howard and Florence Lanning Howard and the wife of the late Rev. Boyd Cooper Owenby. She was also preceded in death by her son, Ernest Phillip Owenby, sisters, Agnes Vinson and Marie Keever and brother, Esley Howard. Surviving are her son, Charles D.

Owenby and wife Brenda of Fairview; brothers, Daniel Howard of Asheville and Paul Howard of Marietta, SC; OSCAR ERNEST AVERY BAT CAVE Oscar Ernest Avery born June 8, 1924 in Morganton N.C. to Susie Ann Avery and Earnest Joseph Avery. His family moved when he was a child and he grew up in Bat Cave, N.C. He was a member of Blue Ridge Missionary Baptist Church, he was the oldest member of the Bat Cave Fire Department, and he loved hunting and working in his garden. Oscar departed this life on Tuesday January 17, 2012 and leaves to cherish his memory his wife of 6o years, Alma Sue Avery; four children, Calvin S.

Avery (Sheila) of Orlando Florida, Kathey A Avery of Fairview, N.C, Oscar J. Avery (Gail) of Browns Mill, Roy R. Avery of Etowah, N.C; ten grandchildren and eight great grandchildren. He is also JEAN WASHAM ASHEVILLE Jean Washam of Asheville died peacefully at her home on Wednesday, January 18, 2012. The cause of death was determined to be an unexpected heart attack.

Resuscitation efforts by the Mission Emergency staff, though valiant, proved unsuccessful. Jean Washam was bom on December 25, 1923, a true child of Christmas. Daughter of the late James and Florence Longden Ainsley of Ma-sontown, Pennsylvania, she was one of a family of nine children. Graduating from Ma-sontown High School, she continued on to West Perm University's nursing school in Pittsburgh, PA As a registered nurse, Jean pursued her nursing career at both the Cleveland Clinic and the University of Michigan Hospital. She met, and later married Dick Washam, her husband of almost 60 years, while Head Nurse of the Internal Medicine floor of the University of Michigan Hospital.

Their life together began with their marriage in 1952, and through the years found residences in Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota, Connecticut and New York, followed by retirement in Asheville, North Carolina in 1992. Jean's life has been one of loving and caring for family and friends, and for all those persons her life met and touched. Jean and Dick have been blessed with three lovely daughters, Kim-berly Washam of Portland, ME, Krista Washam Lablue of Asheville, NC, and Karen Dobrinski of Hopkinton, MA They are the proud grandparents Helping family and friends connect to honor BERNARD BROOKS BRIGMAN RALEIGH Bernard Brooks Brigman, age 60 of Raleigh, NC passed away Friday, January 20, 2012 at Rex Rehabilitation and Nursing Care Center. Bernie was preceded in death by his father Bernard S. Brig-man; grandparents, Norman and Johnnie McPh-eters and Sankey and Robbie Brigman.

Bernie attended military school in Virginia prior to moving to Raleigh. He had a keen interest in automobile racing and was awarded a US Patent for an oil filter design. Bernie is survived by his mother, Marjorie McPheters Brigman of Raleigh, NC. Graveside services will be held Saturday, January 21, 2012, 1:00 PM at Mars Hill Baptist Church Cemetery, Mars Hill, NC. Rev.

Tommy Justus will officiate. Online condolences may be e-mailed to the family at www.blueridge-funeralservice.org. 'Sim 'Ridge JOHN 'JACKSON" ACKLEY ASHEVILLE John 'Jackson" Ackley, formerly of Sarasota, passed away at his home Tuesday morning, January 17th. Jackson had lived in Asheville with his love, Sharon Morgan for the past 5 years. During his time here, Jackson had made a multitude of friends, which loved him for his wit, intelligence and his obvious caring and loving personality.

Jackson leaves behind his 2 adult children, John Ackley and Jennifer Ackley of PMadelphia, several grandchildren of Pennsylvania and Gray, and his partner of 12 years, Sharon Morgan of Asheville. There will be a gathering of Jacks friends on Sat Jan 21st 2 p.m. at the Westville Pub on Haywood Road. Please make any monitory donations to the Humane Society. W.

Riley, Jamaica producer, dies at 65 By Howard Campbell The Associated Press KINGSTON, Jamaica Winston Riley, an innovative reggae musician and producer, has died of complications from a gunshot wound to the head. He was 65. Riley died Thursday at University Hospital of the West Indies, where he had been a patient since November, when he was shot at his house in a neighborhood in the capital of Kingston, his son Kurt Riley said Friday. Riley also had been shot in August and was stabbed in September last year. His record store in Kingston's downtown business district also was burned down several years ago.

Police have said they know of no motives and haven't arrested anyone. Kurt Riley told the Jamaica Observer newspaper that the family didn't know what motivated the attacks. Riley is survived by several children and grandchildren. Feisty rhythm and blues singer Etta James died in Los Angeles on Friday at 73. She'd been suffering from leukemia, ap file Singer Etta James, 73, dies By Robert Jablon The Associated Press LOS ANGELES Etta James, the feisty rhythm and blues singer whose raw, passionate vocals anchored many hits and made the yearning ballad "At Last" an enduring anthem for weddings, ads and even President Barack Obama, died Friday.

She was 73. James had been suffering from dementia and kidney problems, and was battling leukemia. In December 2011, her physician announced that her leukemia was terminal. During her illness, her husband Artis Mills and her two sons fought bitterly over control of her $1 million estate, though a deal was later struck keeping Mills as the conservator and capping the singer's expenses at $350,000. James died at Riverside Community Hospital, with her husband and sons at her side, said her manager, Lupe De Leon.

"It's a tremendous loss for her fans around the world," he said. "She'll be missed. A great American singer. Her music defied category." Boldness was as much a trademark of James, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as her platinum-dyed mane. "Etta James was a pioneer," said Rock and Roll Hall of Fame President and CEO Terry Stewart.

"Her ever-changing sound has influenced rock and roll, rhythm and blues, pop, soul and jazz artists, marking her place as one of the most important female artists of our time." She scored her first hit when she was just a teen with the suggestive "Roll With Me, Henry," which had to be changed to "The Wallflower" to get airplay. Over the years, she'd notch many more, carving a niche for herself with her husky, soulful voice and her sassy attitude, which permeated her songs. But it was her jazz-inflected rendition of "At Last" that would come to define her and make her legendary. The song, which opens with sumptuous strings before James starts to sing, was a remake of a 1941 standard. James made it her own, and her version became the new standard.

Jamesetta Hawkins was born Jan. 25, 1938, in Los Angeles. Her teen mother whom she described in her 1995 autobiography "Rage to Survive" as a scam artist, a substance abuser and unstable was a fleeting presence in her life during her youth. She never knew her father. At 15, James was discovered by bandleader Johnny Otis.

After her 1955 debut, she toured with his revue, at times earning just $10 a night. Things changed for the better in 1959, when she signed with Chicago's legendary Chess label and began turning out hits and touring with performers such as Bobby Vinton, Little Richard, Fats Domino, Gene Vincent, Jerry Lee Lewis and the Everly Brothers. She earned several accolades over the years: being inducted into the Rock Hall in 1993; taking Gram-mys in 1994, 2003 and 2004 including one for lifetime achievement in 2003; and receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. RALPH DAVENPORT MORRIS, JR. ASHEVILLE Ralph Davenport Morris, age 84, died peacefully on Tuesdayjanuary 17, 2012 at his Asheville home.

A veteran of the US Army Air Corp and US Navy, Ralph was born on June 23, 1927 in Rock Hill, South Carolina and was the son of the late Ralph Davenport Morris, Sr. and Annie Jo Peterson Morris. He graduated from Lee H. Edwards High School in 1944 and earned a B.S. in Commerce from UNC-Chapel Hill in 1949.

That year, he began his lifelong career at Stuart Nye Hand Wrought Jewelry. Ralph was dedicated to his business and considered his employees like family With intellect and wit, Ralph served his community throughout his life. He was given the Distinguished Service Award by the Asheville Jaycees in 1959. He was a member of the Asheville Transit Authority Board (1969-1971), Asheville Rotary Club (President 1959-1960), Asheville City Council (1971-1981, Vice-Mayor 1979-1981), Asheville Water Authority Board (Chairman, 1981-1991), ABC Board (Chairman, 1997-2002), and First Step Farm Board since 1979. Ralph served on the board of the Southern Highland Craft Guild in the late sixties, and was named a Life Member in 2007.

When Ralph finished his work on the city council, Barbara Blake of the Asheville Qtizen-Times wrote, "Morris' matter-of-fact demeanor rarely cracked. When controversies raged, heads would turn toward the silver-haired councilman WILLIAM LINDSEY ASHEVILLE William Lindsey, 77, of 16 Melbourne PL, died Sunday, January 15, 2012 at the Charles George VA Medical Center. William was a native of Marion, N.C. and a son of the late William and Sarah P. Wilkerson Lindsey.

He was a veteran of the U. S. Air Force, served in "Vietnam and retired after 22 years of service. William was formerly employed as a cook at the Ramada Inn-West and Weaverville Milling Co. restaurant.

He enjoyed reading and discussing politics. He was preceded in death by a brother, Benny Lee Lindsey. Surviving family include his wife, Yvonne Proctor lindsey, daughters, Harriet Bristol of Morganton and Shannon Proctor of Asheville; three grandchildren; sister, Sarah Baxter of Marion; brothers, their loved one's legacy. Celebrate your loved one's life story with Legacy.com. PoweredbyLegaCy.COm' Visit ASHEVILLE OnZEN-TIMES VOICE OF THE MOUNTAINS CmZEN-TMESom Powered by Legacy.com8.