John Dennis Mellott, 80

After a six-month battle with pancreatic cancer, John Dennis Mellott, 80, died Friday, May 10, 2019, at the Lodge at Mills River surrounded by his loving family. John was born on September 3, 1938, the youngest child of the late John and Ina Squires Mellot in Tiffin, Ohio. He was also preceded in death by three older siblings.

John graduated from Columbia High School in Tiffin Ohio in 1956; and then furthered his education at Purdue University with a Mechanical Engineering degree in 1960. John married Margaret Ann West on June 3, 1960, a few days after she graduated from High School. After a number of engineering and managerial positions around the Eastern Coast in 1978, with his wife, Margaret by his side, and on a card table in their bedroom he literally created what would be known today as Storopack a major supplier of packaging materials that is not only used with confidence in the United States but with international customers as well. As the President of Storopack, USA, John’s uncanny ability and vision to assess the growing need of getting products to the consumer quickly and safely allowed him to enjoy tremendous growth and global saturation of the market. As the company grew, John had to travel a lot for business, but he always was open for a new adventure with Margaret on any mode of transportation they could find in order to explore the world.

John was a firm believer that from those to whom much has been given much is expected. After John and Margaret relocated to Hendersonville, he had much more time to immerse himself in the community. He was an eager volunteer at the Boy’s and Girl’s Club in Hendersonville not only tutoring and mentoring their youth but serving on their board as well.

John is survived by his wife and partner of over 58 years, Margaret, with whom he had unconditional devotion and love for. He is also survived by five children: J. Denise Francis and her husband, Mark; J. Thomas Mellott and his wife, Lisa; Kari R. Mellott and her spouse Diego Jordan, Dirk E. Mellott and his wife Jeni; and Mike Mellott. He is also survived by eight grandchildren: Megan Andersen, Chelsey Heil, Andrew Francis, Claire Mellott, Grant Mellott, Della Mellott, Karen Mellott and Michael Mellott; as well as three great-grandchildren: Piper Andersen, Zoey Andersen and Gavin Heil. He will be deeply missed but his legacy will not only live on through his family and friends but through the business that he and Margaret started together.

The memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, May 14, 2019 at St. John-in-the-Wilderness in Flat Rock with the Revered William McCleery officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the Parish Hall. A memorial service will also be held at the end of the month at Christ Episcopal Church in Glendale, OH, with a reception to follow as well.

In lieu of flowers, his family requests that donations in John’s memory be directed to The Boy’s and Girl’s Club of Henderson County, 1304 Ashe Street, Hendersonville, NC, 28792.

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com. Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.

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Florence Pat Garrett, 85

Florence Pat Garrett, 85 of Hendersonville slipped peacefully away in her sleep Thursday May 09, 2019 at the Elizabeth House.
She was the daughter of the late Harry Marshall and Corine Dunn Marshall. She was the wife of the late Maurice E. “Red” Garrett who died in 2015.
She was preceded in death by one son, John.
Florence had lived in CA where she owned and operated a successful business before moving to NC. She was a very strong person and loved the Silver Sneakers Program. She was a member of Mud Creek Baptist Church, she loved and appericated the kindness of her church family. She loved to garden and had a great passion for cooking, she would feed anyone and everyone. She was very proud to be a part of her five generation family. Her greatest joy was her children and grandchildren.
Survivors include one son, Steven Garrett and his wife Rina of FL, two daughters, Melanie MacPherson and her husband Graham of Hendersonville, Sandy Holder and her husband David of Flat Rock, one sister Judy Dorr of Richardson, TX, six grandchildren, Shannon, Holly, Timothy, Meredith, Ryan and Anir, nine great grandchildren, Mark, James, Melissa, Zachary, Isabella, Aarion, Mackenzie, Logan and Sara, four great great grandchildren, William, Easton, Violet and Ivory and her precious poodle Polly. She will be greatly missed.
At her request no service will be held.
Memorials may be made to: Four Seasons Compassion for Life (Elizabeth House) 571 S. Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731.
Condolence cards may be sent to the family at www.jacksonfuneralservice.com or PO Box 945, Hendersonville, NC 28793 .

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Dennis Tyrrell “Terry” Blythe, 64

Dennis Tyrrell “Terry” Blythe, age 64, of Hendersonville passed away at Pardee Hospital on Thursday, May 2, 2019. He was preceded in death by his father, Clarence M. Blythe, who died in 2018.

Terry was a devoted son, husband, father, grandfather, and brother. A lifelong resident of Henderson County, he attended Balfour Elementary School before graduating from West Henderson High School in the class of 1973. During high school, Terry was a talented musician who played the drums, guitar, and was a member of the first marching band at West Henderson High School. Upon graduating from WHHS, Terry attended Blue Ridge Community College where he was a graduate of the machining program.

Terry is survived by his mother, Peggy Loftis Blythe of Hendersonville as well as his wife of forty-one wonderful years, Rita Merrell Blythe. His three children: Jeffrey Blythe and his wife, Fay of Statesboro, GA; Ashley McCall and her husband, Mike of Lexington, SC; Kimberly Honeycutt and her husband, Tyler of Hendersonville. Five grandchildren: Tyler and Brady Blythe, Ella McCall and Katie and Maddie Honeycutt; one brother: Philip Blythe and his wife, Sharon of Arden; as well as numerous nieces and nephews.

Terry served as the Problem Resolution Engineer of North America for BorgWarner. He enjoyed vacationing with his family at Dollywood and Myrtle Beach, SC. He loved being “Grandpa” and spending time with his children and grandchildren. In addition, he was an avid Tar Heel fan who lived and breathed Carolina basketball. Terry never met a stranger and will be greatly missed by all who knew him and loved him.

The memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at Thos. Shepherd’s Church Street Chapel, 125 South Church Street, Hendersonville. The family will receive friends immediately following the service. Burial will be private.

In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Terry, can be made to Vocational Solutions of Henderson County 2110 Spartanburg Hwy., East Flat Rock, NC, 28726.

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting wwwthosshepherd.com. Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of the arrangements.

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Viola Jane Cairnes Allison, 93

Viola Jane Cairnes Allison, 93, of Mills River died Saturday, May 4, 2019 at Tore’s Home in East Flat Rock. She was preceded in death by her husband of fifty-nine years, James Edward Allison, who died in 2006.

She was born May 28, 1925, in Mills River, NC, the fourth of six children of Walter Partee Cairnes and Mary Eugenia Banning Cairnes. She was also preceded in death by all of her siblings, Edna Mae Gevedon, Hubert Cairnes, Olen Cairnes, Walter Lee Cairnes,, and Mary Jean Cairnes, and by her son-in-law of fifty years, Norman Gordon, who died in 2017.

After she graduated from Mills River High School in 1942, she lived in Los Angeles for a time with her sister Edna and her family before returning to Mills River. She worked at Parkland Chevrolet in Asheville before marrying James Allison in November 1946. Around 1950, she and her husband built a home in Mills River; about ten years later, they built another home on what she called “the old place,” on the same spot where she was born. She was a master maker of homemade jellies, using June apples from the trees beside their garden, grapes from the vines at the edge of the front yard, and blackberries from the wild vines on their farm. She loved feeding the birds, especially the cardinals, yellow finches, and hummingbirds, and watching the seasons change on Forge Mountain. She loved flowers: daffodils, tulips, lilies, lady slippers, and almost anything that bloomed. She loved dogs, with many beloved pets through the years, including Blackie, Chain Saw, and Ginger; when her pets were gone, she loved visits from the granddogs. She also loved reading, especially biographies, and enjoyed taking her children to the bookmobile at the old Longview Shell. Her greatest joy came from “taking care of the babies.” Even in her last days, she encouraged her children to take care of the babies.

She is survived by three children, Marilyn Gordon of Hendersonville, Martha Shoemaker and her husband, Don, of Hendersonville, and Mark Allison and his wife, Donna, of Mills River; seven grandchildren, Michael Gordon and Kenneth Gordon and his wife Stephanie of Hendersonville, Brad Shoemaker of San Francisco, CA, Stephanie Shoemaker and her husband Ben Williams of Washington, DC, Joshua Allison of Hendersonville, Jessica Allison of Granite Falls, NC, and Austin Allison of Mills River; and two great-grandchildren, Leah Gordon of Hendersonville and Oscar Williams of Washington, DC. Her third great-grandchild is due to arrive this month.

The family acknowledges with special thanks the staff at Tore’s Home for the kind, loving care they provided during her stay in her last months, and also the staff at The Bridge at Lake Pointe Landing.

A graveside service will be held 11:00 A.M. on Saturday, May 11, 2019 at Shepherd Memorial Park. Reverend Paige Ann Miller will officiate.

Memorials may be made to the cemetery fund at Boylston Baptist Church, 10642 Boylston Highway, Mills River, NC 28759.

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com. Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

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Dr. Paul Vanek, 82

Dr. Paul Vanek, 82 of Hendersonville, died Wednesday, May 1, 2019 at Pardee Hospital.

A native of Toronto, Canada, he was the son of the late Thomas Vanek and Anna Wolgeruch Vanek. He was also preceded in death by two brothers: Sheldon and Roy Vanek.

He was a graduate of the University of Toronto with a Bachelor’s and Doctorate Degrees in Dentistry. He continued his education at the University of Michigan with a concentration in Endodontic Dentistry. He not only practiced but also taught dentistry in Ann Arbor, Michigan as well as in Toronto, Canada. He was a past president of the Canadian Endodontic Association. He was also a very active member of every temple he worshipped at. In Ann Arbor, he served as President of Temple Beth Emeth, as well as the Vice Chairman of the Union of Reform Judaism. After he relocated to Hendersonville over 20 years ago he became an active member of the Agudas Israel Congregation and served two terms as their President.

He is survived by his wife of over 30 years, Iris Vanek. He is also survived by two daughters: Julie Vanek of Newton, MA, and Jodi Vanek Wallo and her husband, Bill of Ann Arbor, MI. He is also survived by sisters-in-law, Ellen Vanek and Rhonda Vanek and brother-in-law Jay Thorpe and his wife, Roberta. He is also survived by step children: Karen Franco and David Davis, Janet and Larry Gordon, Susie Franco and Steve Krakow all of Miami, FL, and Steve and Kelly Franco of Austin, TX. Twelve grandchildren: Jake Pasternack and his wife, Emma, Alex Pasternack, Josh Gordon, and his wife, Yocheved, Zack Gordon, Eli Gordon, Bari Gordon, Sophie Gordon, Gaby Martinez, Julia Franco, Isabelle Franco, Zelda Franco, and Nick Franco. He is also survived by six great grandchildren: Mia Paternack, Ava Pasternack, Aaron Gordon, Ilan Gordon, Nili Gordon and Judah Gordon.

The funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m., today, Friday May 3, 2019 at Agudus Israel Congregation in Hendersonville with the Rabbi Rachael Jackson officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Paul’s memory be directed to Agudas Israel Congregation, 505 Glasgow Lane, Hendersonville, N.C., 28739 or Pardee Hospital Foundation, 561 Fleming Street, Hendersonville, NC. 28739.

An online register is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com. Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors are in charge of the arrangements.

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