Wendell “Hawkeye” Wilkie, 54

Wendell "Hawkeye" Wilkie, 54, of Edneyville died on Sunday, March 24, 2013 at Pardee Hospital.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Elizabeth Wilkie as well as two brothers, Arthur "Bud" Wilkie and Roger "Dale" Wilkie.

He is survived by his three brothers, Michael Wilkie, Daniel Wilkie, Donald Wilkie; four sisters, Louise Justice, Jean Corn, Wanda Wilkie, Judy Hensley and numerous nieces and nephews.

A funeral service and receiving of friends will be held from 2 until 4 p.m. on Thursday, March 28, 2013, at Apple Valley Church of God with Pastor Ken Braswell and Reverend Eugene Bumgardner officiating.

A register book is available online for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors will announce arrangements.

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Lloyd F. Garren, 62

Lloyd F. Garren, 62, of Fletcher passed away Thursday, March 21, 2013 surrounded by his loving family.

He was a native of Henderson County and a son of the late Fred and Elizabeth Calton Garren. Lloyd was a loyal employee of Mission Health Care System for 38 years and a member of Oak Forest Baptist Church.

Mr. Garren loved his wife, daughter and grandchildren who were the apple of his eye. He was a wonderful father and his daughter's best friend. His devoted wife lovingly cared for him during his extended illness. He loved fishing, wildlife, snow and gardening.

He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Cheryl Garren; daughter, Kristi G. Brown and husband Scott; grandchildren, Jacob, Jadyn, Jordyn, and Rielly; brother, David Garren and wife Vicki; sister, Gail G. Lanning; and many nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 3 p.m., Tuesday, March 26, 2013, in the chapel of Forest Lawn Funeral Home in Hendersonville. Rev. Charles Serrett will be officiating. Burial will be private. Per Lloyd's request, please dress casually for the funeral service.

The family would like to thank CarePartners Hospice for their loving care of Mr. Garren and Shuler Funeral Home for their helpfulness and support during this difficult time.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Humane Alliance of WNC, Inc., Attn.: Quita Mazino, 25 Heritage Dr., Asheville, NC 28806.

An online guest book and sympathy card are available at www.shulerfuneralhome.com. Shuler Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

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Ronald R. Lamb, 77

Ronald R. Lamb, 77, of Hendersonville passed away, Monday, March 25, 2013 at his home.

Jackson Funeral Service will announce the arrangements.

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LLoyd Franklin Garren, 62

LLoyd Franklin Garren, 62, of Fletcher died Thursday, March 21, 2013 at his home.

Shuler Funeral Home will announce arrangements.

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Rose Marie Casoria, 84

Rose Marie Casoria, 84, of Hendersonville died Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at the Elizabeth House.

A prior resident of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., she had been a resident of Hendersonville for four years. She was the daughter of the late Mary Ann and Anthony Spezio. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 59 years, Michael Casoria; and her brother Joseph Spezio.

She is survived by two sons, Rev. Anthony James Casoria and his wife Nancy and Mark Casoria and his wife Cindy; grandchildren, Joy, Beth, Kristen, Michelle, Joseph, Andrew, Wren, Danielle, and Michael; six great-grandchildren; sister, Josephine DiDonato; and many special nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be at 2:00pm Saturday in the chapel at Forest Lawn Funeral Home, with Rev. Anthony J. Casoria officiating. A private entombment will be in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park Mausoleum.

In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be made to Four Seasons Hospice Compassion for Life, 571 S. Allen Rd., Flat Rock, NC 28731 or Truth in Action Ministries: Donation Processing Center, PO Box 7009, Albert Lea, MN 56007.

A guest book or sympathy cards are available at www.forestlawnhendersonville.com.

Forest Lawn Funeral Home is assisting the family with the arrangements.

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Richard H. Gardner, 90

Richard H. Gardner, 90, of Hendersonville passed away Wednesday, March 20, 2013, at the Brian Center of Hendersonville.

He was a retired engineer from B.F. Goodrich in Troy, Ohio.

He is survived by his loving wife of 66 years, Genevieve Gardner; three sons; one daughter; one sister; nine grandchildren and numerous great grandchildren.

No services are planned.

Condolence cards may be sent to the family at www.jacksonfuneralservice.com or P.O. Box 945, Hendersonville, NC 28793.

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Bobby Ray Stanley

Bobby Ray Stanley, 72, of Hendersonville died on Sunday, March 17, 2013, at Beystone Rehabilitation.

A native of Angier he was born on Dec. 4, 1940, to the late Joseph Earl Stanley and Bettie Mae O'Briant Stanley. He was also preceded in death by two brothers, Frankie Stanley and Harold Stanley.

He served his country in the United States Army and was on high alert during the Cuban Missile Crisis.

He is survived by wife, of 48 years Virginia Douglass Stanley; his daughter, Teena George and her husband, Roger of Wilmington; and his brother, Tommy Stanley and his wife, Jean, of Wake Forest.

The family wishes to thank the staff of Beystone for their loving and dedicated care over the years.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. on Saturday, March 23, 2013, at Tuxedo Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Mikell Bennett officiating.

A register book is available online for family and friends by visiting www.thosshephred.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.

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John Clausen

John Clausen, much loved father, brother, uncle and friend, died at home March 20, 2013.

Born in Minot, N.D., on October 21, 1949, to Morten H. and Doris Paff Clausen, John grew up on the family farm. As a young man he was a rambler, having many adventures and storing them away to become the anecdotes he told with such wit, humor and charm to the great many friends he also collected along the way. His marriage and the birth of his son rooted the rambler in Hendersonville, where his wife's family was located. He became a wonderful father to Pete, of whom he was justifiably very proud.

John held a bachelor's degree in journalism from the University of Arizona, Tucson, and a masters from Antioch College. He worked as a reporter on weekly and daily newspapers in Arizona and Kansas, edited several magazines, owned a California-based advertising agency that specialized in direct mail, and taught classes in journalism and advertising. John's book, "Too Lazy to Work, Too Nervous to Steal," was the Writer's Digest Book Club main selection in May, 2001. His work was published in a wide variety of periodicals from The Christian Science Monitor to The New York Daily News Sunday Magazine. One of his articles was purchased by Penthouse, but, much to the relief of his father, it was never published. He also self-published his debut novel, "Big Hungry," a rather strange murder mystery set in North Dakota, online last year. In recent years, John taught English at the Blue Ridge Community College in Henderson County and was working on another novel, much anticipated by his fans, but unfinished at his death.

John is survived by his son, Pete; his sisters, Ann and Jane; his ex-wife but still close friend, Sandy McGlashan and her husband Ken Weitzen; his brother-in-law Peter Dajevskis; his nieces Mara, Erika and Daina Dajevskis; David and Mona McGlashan, and an enormous collection of wonderful and supportive friends. All those who survive him will miss his humor, his compassion, his smart mouth and the acceptance he offered to every person he gathered into his circle. The world will be less interesting without John, and not nearly as funny.

A memorial service will be held for John at the Unitarian church in Hendersonville at 3 p.m. on Saturday, March 23.

Anyone wishing to donate something should send a donation to the Free Clinics, 841 Case Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792.

A register book is available online for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.

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Barbara Helen Sommer Nicholls

Barbara Helen Sommer Nicholls of Hendersonville was born September 27, 1932 in Beloit, Wisc. Her parents were Elmer and Elsie Sommer, who are both deceased. Her prior residences include Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and Florida.

Mrs. Nicholls earned her Bachelor of Science degree from Manchester College, North Manchester, Ind., with additional graduate hours in areas of counseling and special education. She then earned a Master of Science degree from Saint Francis College in Fort Wayne, Ind.

Barbara taught Home Economics and Special Education in Indiana and Florida school systems; she was a Co-Manager for Yeager Insurance in Warsaw, Ind.; and she was the proprietor of Montgomery Ward Sales Agency in Warsaw, Ind.

She is preceded in death by one brother, Donald.

Her survivors include husband Harold (married Sept. 7, 1952); sons Jeffrey (and Jackie) Nicholls of Anderson, Ind., Gregory (and Laurie) Nicholls of West Chester, Ohio, Scott (and Lois) Nicholls of Timonium, Md.; and daughters Holly (and Dave) McGuire of Warsaw, Ind., Amy Nicholls of Greenville, S.C.; eight grandchildren (and three spouses), three great-grandchildren, and one sister, Karen (and Dave) Wilharms of Wausau, Wisc.

Mrs. Nicholls' formal activities and associations include serving as a Guardian Ad Litem in Florida, being a past State Secretary and District II President of the Indiana Home Economics Association, and serving as President of the active and associate chapters of Tri Kappa Associate Organization. She was also a past board member and Secretary of Mobile Meals in Indiana, as well as a former President of Extension Homemakers Club and past County Officer for Indiana. She was a Kosciusko Community Hospital Auxiliary member who also served as Secretary and Vice-President of the volunteer board. She was also a member of the American Association of University Women.

Mrs. Nicholls served as a board member of the Plantation Walk Neighborhood Association in Hendersonville. She was also a former Regent of the Joseph McDowell Chapter DAR in Hendersonville and founded the Mary Coffin Starbuck Chapter for the National Society Colonial Dames XVII Century.

Mrs. Nicholls was a long-time member of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Hendersonville.

Personal Life Comments:
Barbara Helen Sommer Nicholls has entered The Kingdom, leaving a life of constant enrichment as a self-made person and excelling in all she valued. Her valiant struggle against cancer gave her many extra years of life.

Foremost in her values was a pursuit of having a strong family, leading by example and accomplished skills. With an education in health and social skills, Mrs. Nicholls strived to pass these values and traits onto her family.

Amongst her efforts giving to the community, Barbara sewed quilts and lap robes to be given to the VA hospital in Hendersonville and to mothers-to-be at the local pregnancy center. She advocated for children in need as a Guardian Ad Litem, and was a group homes manager and adult literacy teacher as an adjunct to her work as a special education teacher. Barbara was involved in various quilting clubs and loved giving quilts to her family members. She also enjoyed weaving, knitting, and visiting her large circle of family and friends. Having lived in the Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and South, she easily made friends everywhere and garnered many warm relationships over the years.

Mrs. Nicholls was also an avid genealogist, finding her roots and gaining eligibility in the Daughters of the American Revolution, as well as founding the local chapter of Colonial Dames. Barbara also served on several boards, traveled five continents, and loved to sail to many countries.

Barbara will be dearly missed by her loving family and by all who knew her, but leaves a legacy of many wonderful memories. We will remember her for a life that was giving and generous.

A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, April 6, at Trinity Presbyterian Church, 900 Blythe St., Hendersonville, with a small reception immediately following.

Donations may be made in lieu of flowers to the Hendersonville Rescue Mission, 639 Maple Street, Hendersonville, NC 28792.

An online guest book and sympathy card are available at www.shulerfuneralhome.com.

Shuler Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

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Ocie A. Gilliam Jackson, 91

Ocie A. Gilliam Jackson, 91, of Hendersonville went to be with her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at the Elizabeth House.

She was born on May 10, 1921 to the late Robert King and Lula Hyder King. She also was preceded in death by her husbands, Clarence Gilliam who died in 1994 and Foy Jackson who died in 2006 and her daughter, Louise Gilliam.

In addition to being a loving house wife and mother, she also enjoyed working in her flower and vegetable gardens.

She is survived by her son, Clyde Gilliam and his wife Gleanus, of Dana; her two daughters, Cathie Hyder and her husband Ronnie, of Hendersonville, Darlene Gilliam of Black Mountain; her five grandchildren; her nine great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. on Friday, March 22, 2013 at Thos. Shepherd's Church Street Chapel with Randy Tryon, MD officiating. Burial will follow at Refuge Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends beginning at 1 p.m. Friday.

A register book is available online by visiting www.thoshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of arrangements.

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Rev. Martin J. Luecke, 79

Rev. Martin J. Luecke, 79, of Hendersonville went to his heavenly home Sunday, March 17, 2013, at Elizabeth House following a period of declining health.

A native of Bronxville, N.Y., he lived in Henderson County since 1980. He was a son of the late Wilbur and Louise Rippe Luecke, and was also preceded in death by his brother, William Luecke.

He was a graduate of Concordia Prep. and Junior College in Bronxville, N.Y., and was ordained into the ministry in 1959. His vicarage began in Minneapolis. He then served parishes in Wisconsin, Massachusetts, Ohio, again in Wisconsin, and Hendersonville. He served as pastor at Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church from March 23, 1980, until his retirement Feb. 7, 1999. He was a kind and loving husband, father, and grandfather.

Survivors include his loving wife of 52 years, Dianne C. Luecke; three sons, Bruce A. Luecke and his wife Mariana of Fletcher, Paul E. Luecke and his wife Mary of Minneapolis, Michael J. Luecke and his wife Blenda of Marshall; a daughter, Laura L. Reinhold and husband Roy of Hendersonville; a sister, Gesine Mangieri and her husband Louis of Simpsonville, S.C.; six grandchildren, Samantha, Christian, Erica, Amanda, Jessica, Alan; two great grandchildren, Aubrey, Kamari; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be at 6 p.m. Thursday, March 21, 2013, at Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church with Pastor Larry Rabon officiating. There will be a reception in the fellowship hall following the service.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mt. Pisgah Lutheran Church, 2606 Chimney Rock Road, Hendersonville, NC 28792, or Four Seasons Compassion for Life , 571 S. Allen Road, Flat Rock, NC 28731.

A guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.forestlawnhendersonville.com.

Forest Lawn Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

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Irene H. Sentell, 98

Irene H. Sentell, 98, of Hendersonville passed away Monday, March 18, 2013, at Hendersonville Health and Rehabilitation following an extended illness.

A native and lifelong resident of Henderson County she was a daughter of the late Porter and Julia Howard, and the wife of the late R. V. Sentell who died in 1983. She was of the Baptist faith, and was preceded in death by three brothers, Raymond, Julian, and Clanning Howard; and one sister, Gertrude McMurray.

Survivors include a daughter, Barbara Rhodes of Hendersonville; a son, David Sentell and his wife Patricia of Hendersonville; six grandchildren, Leon Rhodes, Michael Rhodes, Shirley Rhodes, Donna Geoge, Susan Newman, Lt. Col. Robert Sentell; six great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

A funeral will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 21, 2013, in the Forest Lawn Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Robert Garren officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service in the chapel.

Memorials may be made to the donor's favorite charity.

A guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.forestlawnhendersonville.com.

Forest Lawn Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.

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Kathleen Baldwin, 81

Kathleen Baldwin, 81, of Hendersonville died Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at Four Seasons Elizabeth House.

A graveside service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, March 22, 2013, at Forest Lawn Memorial Park. Pastors Jim and Betty Mead will officiate.

To sign the online register book, visit www.forestlawnhendersonville.com.

Forest Lawn Funeral Home is assisting the family.

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Mary B. Ward, 89

Mary B. Ward, 89, of Hendersonville, passed away Monday, March 18, 2013, at Life Care Center of Hendersonville.

Mary, a lifelong resident of Henderson County, was a daughter of the late James and Lona Ward Beddingfield. She was also preceded in death by her husband of 41 years, John T. Ward Sr., and son, John T. Ward Jr.

She is survived by daughter, Theresa Cagle and husband Cliff; grandchildren, Carrie Baldwin and husband Michael, Crystal Montoya and husband Carlos; great-grandchildren, Brittany Baldwin and Carina Montoya all of Hendersonville; sister, Myrtle Williams; sisters-in-law, Adlyn Bell and Thelma Ward; brother-in-law, James P. Ward and wife Mary Jo; several nieces and nephews.

A graveside service will be held at 3 p.m., Wednesday, March 20, 2013, in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Hendersonville. Rev. Guy Smith will be officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to Pleasant Hill Cemetery Fund, Attn. Jerald Summey, 650 Crystal Dr., Hendersonville, NC 28792.

An online guest book and sympathy cards are available at www.shulerfuneralhome.com.

Shuler Funeral Home is assisting the family.

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Blanche Marian Brooke

Blanche M. Brooke, 87, passed away peacefully on March 16, 2013 at the Elizabeth House.

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Aug. 9, 1925, she was the daughter of Polish immigrants, the late Peter and Eleanora (Grodzicka) Wojtecki. She was the youngest of three children which include her sister, Helen Anysz of Brick, N.J., and a deceased brother Henry Wojtecki.

She is survived by her daughter Bonnie C. Brooke of Hendersonville; her sons Daryl (Susanne) Brooke of Key West, Fla., and Todd (Kathy) Brooke of Pittsford, N.Y. She had seven grandchildren, Kristin (John) Cushwa, Keith Brooke, Scott (Maggie) Brooke, Catherine Brooke, Theresa (Nate) Galtieri, Heidi Mallwitz, and Charlotte Brooke, and seven great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her loving husband of almost 59 years, Harry M. Brooke. She was retired from Kraft Foods on Long Island, N.Y., where she worked as a stenographer. Blanche and Harry enjoyed retirement in the beautiful mountains of North Carolina, being involved in various arts. They were members of the Henderson County Gem and Mineral Society, Mineral and Lapidary Museum, and Henderson County Crafters Association. She enjoyed painting, sewing, and crafting beaded jewelry. They attended Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. Blanche was an avid volunteer for several years at Mainstay Store and the Council on Aging Store.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Four Seasons Hospice, the Henderson County Council on Aging, or donor's choice.

A memorial service and celebration of Blanche's life will be announced at a later date.

Condolence cards may be sent to the family at www.jacksonfuneralservice.com or PO Box 945, Hendersonville, NC 28793.

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Howard R. Kratz, 96, Physicist

Howard Russell Kratz, 96, of Carolina Village, died Thursday, March 14, 2013, at the Village. Before his death, he was one of the last surviving scientists from the Manhattan Project, which produced the first atomic bomb during World War II.

Howard was born Nov. 2, 1916, in Mattoon, Wisconsin, to Samuel H. and Addie (Jones) Kratz, and spent his youth in nearby Clintonville and Waupaca. He graduated from Ripon College in Ripon, Wisc., and then pursued graduate studies at the University of Wisconsin and Princeton University, earning his PhD in physics in 1942.

Immediately after completing his studies, he married Mary K. Bunsa of Columbus, Wisc., whom he had met at Ripon College. The couple moved to Chicago, where Howard began working on the Manhattan Project as a staff member of the Metallurgical Lab at the University of Chicago. In 1944 Howard joined the Los Alamos Scientific Laboratory to continue work on the Manhattan Project. He and Mary moved to Los Alamos, New Mexico, where they spent the remaining years of the war.

After the war, Howard continued his career as a nuclear physicist. From 1946 until 1959, he worked on research at the General Electric Research Laboratory in Schenectady, N.Y. There he and Mary raised their daughter, who was born in Los Alamos, and their son, who was born after their move to Schenectady.

In 1959 the family moved to California, where Howard was a researcher at General Atomics in La Jolla, near San Diego, until 1972. He then joined Systems, Science and Software, in San Diego, as a senior scientist, finishing his active professional career with retirement in 1978. Following his retirement, he and Mary moved to Hendersonville.

Howard is survived by his daughter, Marilyn Locker, of Scarsdale, N.Y.; his son, William Kratz, of Seattle, Wash.,; and two granddaughters, Martha and Joanna Locker, both of New York City. Howard was predeceased by his beloved wife Mary and his granddaughter Catherine Locker.

The family plans to hold a memorial service at Carolina Village.

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Anita Chapman Rhodes, 51

Anita Chapman Rhodes, 51, of Hendersonville, went to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 16, 2013.

Anita was born April 1, 1961 in Transylvania County to James and Hazel McKelvey Chapman, who survive her. She embraced a full life and was most excited about her new journey into being a grandmother with the news of twins on the way with her son and his wife. She worked 20 years for the Henderson County School system as an administrative assistant. She enjoyed her service to Mt. Moriah Baptist Church where she attended and served as Church Secretary.

Her love of the outdoors from the mountains to the beach will be remembered by the entire family. She will be missed by all that knew her kindness and generosity.

Graveside Services will be 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 19, 2013, at Mt. Moriah Baptist Church Cemetery, conducted by Rev. Brian Melton. The family will receive friends the evening before, Monday, from 6 to 8 PM at Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors.

In addition to her parents, she is survived by her husband Kevin Rhodes, paternal grandmother Lillian Chapman, a son Bryan and his wife Jessica Rhodes, a daughter Lori Rhodes, a brother Dale Chapman and his wife Kelli and sister Deborah Henry and her husband Nick. Other survivors include a large extended family and group of friends.

She was preceded in death by a brother Michael Chapman.

Flowers are accepted or memorial donations may be directed to Mt Moriah Baptist Church Building Fund.

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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Camill Sentell Brown, 82

Camill Sentell Brown, 82, went to be with her lord on March 14, 2013 from injuries suffered
from a fall.

She was born in Hendersonville to Juno Israel Sentell and Samuel E. Sentell and
was the wife of the late William (Bill) Brown.

Camill graduated from Hendersonville High School (1949) and Blanton's Business College. As a
dedicated career woman she worked at Garrett Ford and Bryan Easler Ford for over more than years.
Camill attended services at both Shaw's Creek Baptist Church and the First United Methodist
Church. Camill was the past president of the Soroptimist Club, and was a member of the
American Legion Auxiliary, the VFW Ladies Auxiliary and a fun loving member of the Red Hat
Society. Camill loved people and was on the go until the last days of her life.

Camill is survived by a step-son Jake Brown of Tampa Florida, a sister Barbara Johnson of
Hendersonville, a niece Cheryl Isleib and husband Jeff, a niece Tammi Neill and husband Roy and
great nephew Drake English all of Hendersonville. Camill is also survived by many friends who
were very special to her.

A memorial service will be at Thos. Shepherd's Church Street Chapel at 11 a.m. Monday, March 18, 2013, with visitation at 10 a.m. The Pastor W.W. (Bill) Carpenter of Shaws Creek Baptist Church will
officiate along with Pastor Dan Martin of First United Methodist Church.

In lieu of Flowers, the family feels the most appropriate memorials would be to the "Fishes and
Loaves Food Pantry" at the Etowah United Methodist Church, Four Seasons Hospice or the
"Meals on Wheels " program at the Henderson County Council on Aging.

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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Andries H. J. “Dries” Jansma, 81

FLAT ROCK — Andries H. J. "Dries" Jansma, 81, of Flat Rock, passed away Wednesday, March 13, 2013, at Sunnybrook Assisted Living Home.

Dries was born in Arnhem, Netherlands, on March 21, 1931. As a young boy, he and his family lived through 5 years of German occupation. He was educated in Arnhem and Apeldoorn, Netherlands, and then served two years as a cadet officer in the Dutch Army. Following his Army service, he completed his studies at the Dutch Institute of Banking. His first professional employment was in the international department of Handelsbank, a large Dutch banking concern. His first assignment was in Handelsbank's Tokyo office.

While in Tokyo, Dries met his wife-to-be, Nancy who was employed at the Canadian Embassy. Following their marriage in Tokyo in 1957, they embarked upon a 55-year life's journey highlighted by a successful career in international banking and punctuated by a 25-year commitment to public and civic service in Flat Rock and Henderson County. During the past two and a half decades, Dries served as Board member and President of the Hendersonville Symphony Orchestra, member of the Board of Trustees and President of Historic Flat Rock, Board member of the Flat Rock Greenways Committee, Chairman of the Village of Flat Rock Ice Cream Committee, Flat Rock's representative to the Henderson County Historic Resources Commission, and member of the board of the Flat Rock Playhouse. He played an important vital role in the success for a number of years of the Kenmure Country Club's golf event annually held in conjunction with Kenmure Fights Cancer.
In addition to his numerous formal positions to which he gave unstintingly of his time, devotion and good counsel, Dries was always giving of his time and encouragement to each person he met whether in the Kenmure community or Henderson County.

His lifelong hobbies included model trains, stamp collecting, extensive travel and in particular the history of WWII. As a 13 year old he and his family were forced to evacuate their native city of Arnhem on the Rhine River where fierce fighting between the Allies and Germans occurred in the 8 day Operation Market Garden battle in September 1944.

Dries is survived by his loving wife Nancy, daughter Pamela, son-in-law Glen Mattioli and grandchildren Kaia and Eli Mattioli.

For those wishing to honor Dries, a celebration of his life will be held at Kenmure Country Club from 2-4 p.m. on Sunday, March 17, 2013.

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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Phillip Jason Bell, 35

Jason Bell, 35, passed away unexpectedly March 13, 2013, in his home in Hendersonville.

Jason was born Sept. 2, 1977, in Buncombe County. He is survived by his resilient daughter Katie Delude, his loving parents Bruce and Melba Bell, his grandmother Virginia Bell, his brother Shannon Bell and wife Kristal Bell, his sister Cricket King and husband Billy King, and his brother Eric Pace and wife Kelly Pace.

Jason was graduated from Appalachian State University with a bachelor of computer science in 1999. He has worked at Agilysys since that time developing modern software. Jason's life would seem too short to many, but those who were touched by him understood that the quality of existence far exceeds the quantity of time in which one lives. His warm heart and caring soul was always out to help others, he always put others first in lieu of himself. A better friend could and did not exist.

He was always surrounded by loved ones, and always enjoyed spending quality time with them.

His interests included family, friends, music, and artwork.

Visitation for friends and family will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. Sunday, March 17, 2013, at Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors.

A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Monday, March 18, 2013, at Thos. Shepherd & Son's Church Street Chapel.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Hendersonville Bear Cats Band, in which Katie is a dedicated member.

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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