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Obituaries

May 2024 Archive

Shari Eeakes

Shari Eeakes

Shari Eakes 1964-2024

Shari Eakes died April 29, 2024, at her home in North Mills River, following a valiant nine–year battle with cancer. She was surrounded by her loving family and assisted by nurses from Four Seasons Hospice.

Survivors include Andy Brittain, her husband of 41 years, her son Gabriel Brittain, her mother Ginny (Eakes) Whitehead (Rev. John), sisters Shelly (Joe) Fore, and Laurie (Terry) Brock, brother Kirk (Cheryl) Eakes and several nieces, nephews and in-laws, Joanne, Jere, Phil, Ashley, Doug, and May Brittain.

She was preceded by her father, Rev. Lee Eakes.

Shari was known for her quick sense of humor and contagious laugh. Shari was a graduate in art from Brevard College and studied pottery at Haywood Community College. She was a well-known potter and her clay creations are now considered rare and collectable. Her annual studio open houses were major community events.

Friends and family have greatly admired Andy’s devotion to Shari’s care during the difficult past nine years.

A memorial gathering will be announced for a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to Four Seasons Hospice inHendersonville.

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Death Notices 5/15/24

Merle Bleick     90     Hendersonville, NC     05/09/2024     Church Street Funeral & Cremation     Appleton Highland Memorial Park     Appleton, WI

Carol Shellington     79     Hendersonville, NC     05/09/2024     Church Street Funeral & Cremation
 
Nancy Barnett     75     Saluda, NC     05/09/2024     Church Street Funeral & Cremation
 
Iona "Onie" Carland     90     Hendersonville, NC     05/11/2024     Church Street Funeral & Cremation     May 18  2pm     Emmanuel Baptist Church     Shepherd Memorial Park

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Fred W. Roper

Fred W. Roper

COLUMBIA, SC - 
 
Fred W. Roper, 85, died on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. He was the son of the late Mrs. Mary Alice Jones and Mr. U. G. Roper. Fred was a nationally recognized scholar and educator in the field of Medical Librarianship. 
 
Fred earned his Master's of Science in Library Science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1962. He completed an internship at UCLA before accepting a position in the Biomedical Library there. He completed his PhD in Library Science at Indiana University in 1971. Fred taught for fifteen years at UNC as Associate Professor and Associate Dean. In 1986, he accepted the position of Dean and Professor in the College of Library and Information Science at the University of South Carolina. As Dean, he introduced the full MLIS program through distance education in South Carolina and to cohorts of students in Georgia, West Virginia and Maine. He integrated computer technology into the curriculum and forged strong ties with the public and academic library communities. 
 
Fred joined the Medical Library Association in 1962. For the next fifty years he served in many leadership roles, receiving countless awards and citations. He co-authored the seminal textbook on medical library information resources. 
 
Fred followed UNC Men’s Basketball with a seriousness unparalleled in sports. He loved cats and babies, his sunroom full of plants, and his trips to England. He baked prize winning pound cakes, and he amassed an enviable collection of pottery and royal memorabilia. He was best known for his kindness, his devotion to his friends and family, and his generosity. 
 
Fred is survived by his spouse, Jon Upson; brother-in- law, Jeff Upson; sister-in-law, Heidi Langston (Jim); nephew, Kai Langston; niece, Kayla Langston, and a host of cousins and friends. 
 
A Celebration of Life service for Dr. Fred Roper will be held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, May 18, 2024, at the Chapel of Thompson Funeral Home at Greenlawn Memorial Park, 845 Leesburg Road, Columbia, SC 29209. A reception and visitation will follow the service in the Thompson Funeral Home (Greenlawn) Community Room. Woodridge Funeral Home of Lexington is assisting his family.  
 
Fred’s service will be live-streamed for those unable to attend the service. Please read his online obituary at http://www.woodridgefuneralhome.com/ to find the link to view his service (on or after May 18, 2024). The link will be active until August 18, 2024.  
 
In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Fred W. Roper Silver Anniversary Scholarship Fund (1B1972). Checks should be made payable to the USC Educational Foundation, 1028 Barnwell Street, Columbia, SC 29208. Please include a note indicating the full name and number of the scholarship, or the Mary Alice and George Jones Fund at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (295921), checks should be made payable to the UNC Chapel Hill Foundation, 216 Lenoir Drive CB #3360, 100 Manning Hall, Chapel Hill, NC 27599. 

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Jon Laughter

Jon Laughter

Jon H. Laughter, PE, RLS

Vietnam Veteran

Jon Harvey Laughter, 84, of Hendersonville NC, went to be with our Heavenly Father on Friday, May 3, 2024, from his home where he was surrounded by his loving wife and four daughters.

Jon was born in his Grandmother’s house in Etowah on May 11, 1939 to the late Jesse Harvey and Madge Jones Laughter.  He was a graduate of Hendersonville High School, then went on to study engineering and surveying at NC State College (home of the Wolfpack!).  In 1962, after graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering, he returned to Hendersonville and married the love of his life Linda Connell Laughter.  They had four daughters, Stephanie Laughter Sudano, Cynthia Laughter Pope, Jennifer Laughter Mills, and Jessica Laughter Poole.  

Jon joined the Air Force late in 1962 where he served in both the Tactical Air Command at Pope Field and Red Horse Squadron in Republic of Vietnam 1967, attaining the rank of Captain, and being awarded both Bronze Star and Air Force Commendation Medals for service to his country. Upon return to civilian life, Jon became the NCDOT District Engineer for Henderson County.  In 1974, he started a private engineering and land surveying company in downtown Hendersonville.   Laughter Austin and Associates, PA provided professional services in western NC and SC for 50 years.

Jon was a long standing member of the First Baptist Church of Hendersonville NC.  He greatly influenced his children in the importance of a lifelong relationship with Christ.  He also served his community as a Rotarian, a Hendersonville City Councilman, a member of the City of Hendersonville Board of Education, an appointee to both the County Board and the NC Association of Public Health, and many more.  Jon was always seeking to serve the community in various positions.  His contributions in community service have left an indelible mark on the City of Hendersonville NC, Henderson County, western North Carolina, and South Carolina.

Jon was also a visionary in the engineering field.  His contributions to the Hendersonville community can be seen almost anywhere you turn.  Some more recognizable projects include Kenmure, Carolina Village, Carriage Park, City Racquetball Courts, Kanuga Conference, various summer camps and public facilities, numerous water and sewer lines, water storage tanks, stormwater facilities, bridges, highways, pedestrian bridge and gazebo, parks, sidewalks, greenways,  business locations, and numerous property surveys.  There are too many to list from 50 years of service to the community.  Jon was also instrumental in long range transportation planning for the area, proposing the long considered Balfour Parkway which would have improved east west mobility in Henderson County.

In Jon’s own words, “In addition to working and contributions to my community, my most important work done over the last 50 years has been in becoming a father and grandfather to FOUR daughters and a rather indulgent loving grandfather to NINE grandchildren.”   Since the time he wrote those words, TWO great grandchildren have been added to the list.

Jon is survived by his loving wife Linda, four daughters Stephanie Laughter Sudano (Tim),  Cynthia Laughter Pope (Randy), Jennifer Laughter Mills (Bob), and Jessica Laughter Poole (Shane), and nine grandchildren Jinna Pope Morgan (Blake) , James Hannon Sudano (Marian), Brooke Sudano Davis (Andy), Jonathan Sim Pope, Matthew Tyler Poole (Ashley), Rachael Sudano Meekins (Christian), Shelby Elise Poole, Lindsay Katherine Mills, Caroline Grace Mills, and two great grandchildren Sophia and Grayson.  In addition, Jon is survived by his brother Samuel J. Laughter.

Services will be held at First Baptist Church of Hendersonville NC on Saturday May 11th with visitation at 10 am and service at 11 am, with the Rev. Steve Scoggins officiating.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to the SECU Family House of Winston Salem NC (familyhousews.org), Four Seasons Hospice in Hendersonville NC (fourseasonscare.org), or First Baptist Church of Hendersonville NC (fbchnc.org).

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Laryon Owens

Laryon Owens

Laryon Cecilia Dayton Owens died peacefully on April 18, 2024, at the age of 91. Laryon was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, Navy Commander John Gary Owens: her parents Lawrence E. Dayton & Marion Weinberger Dayton, and her sister Teryl. She is survived by her children: Dayton (wife Sharon), Alycia, Daryck, Myche Owens Taylor (husband Jason), and her grandchildren: Lindsay, Allyson and Michael. Laryon was a classically trained concert pianist who was taught by and performed with Ruth Slenczynska (the last surviving student of Rachmaninoff). Laryon was an artist, architect and teacher. Laryon graduated UC Berkeley and was a member of Alpha Gamma Delta. She volunteered as a pianist for Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Hendersonville Little Theater, Pat’s School of Dance and as accompanist for many instrumentalists and symphony events. She was an ardent fundraiser and advocate for the Epilepsy Society and for people with disabilities. Laryon founded The String Bees for Henderson County school symphonies and with her husband co-founded The Bounty of Bethlehem community Christmas dinner for the under privileged. Laryon and Gary were owners and chefs of The Main Spot restaurant in Hendersonville. For those who would like to honor Laryon, the family requests donations be made in her name to Saint Jude Children’s Hospital.

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Death Notices 5/8/24

Josephine Aiken 91 Hendersonville, NC 4/29/2024 Church Street Funeral & Cremation

Janice Montgomery 81 Sebring, FL 4/15/2024 Church Street Funeral & Cremation May 11 11AM Oakdale Cemetery

Martha Chovan 92 Hendersonville, NC 5/5/2024 Church Street Funeral & Cremation

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