Gilbert Mark Elliott
July 8, 1946 ~ April 28, 2025
Born in:
Asheville, NC
Resided in:
Weaverville, NC
The world got a little darker and less funny with the passing of Gilbert Mark Elliott.
Beloved husband, father, grandfather, teacher and coach, Gil entered his Heavenly home to be with his Savior, Jesus Christ, and join his parents and brother who went before him, on Monday, April 28, 2025. He was born the second son to James Clyde and Eva Armstrong Elliott on July 8, 1946.
Coach Elliott, as he was affectionately called, taught English at Enka High School for 33 years and for three years at AB Tech. He also served as a mentor to new teachers with Buncombe County Schools for seven years. He loved books and was an avid reader and enjoyed serving as a volunteer with Buncombe County Friends of the Library.
During his 33 years at Enka High School, he was very actively involved in the athletics programs, coaching and assisting in the girls’ basketball, football, baseball, and wrestling programs. He was a prominent voice of Enka Sports through his announcing of many sports activities. During his summers, he managed the Enka Lake Club and Hominy Valley pools,
teaching swimming lessons, life guarding and mentoring many young people.
Gil was very well known for his sense of humor, always telling jokes, corny or not. His humor was infectious and brought people together and endeared him to his grandchildren, friends, students and family. The Enka High School seniors always asked Mr. Elliott to tell one of his famous jokes on their senior day. Laughter is the memory that most will have when thinking of Gil as he always brought it to the room. His love for his wife and family, his pride in the accomplishments of his children, grandchildren and students, and his love of life through activity and hobbies were the things that brought him joy.
He was a long-time member and Sunday School teacher of Pole Creek Baptist Church and most recently a member of Brookstone Church.
He is survived by his wife of 39 years, Jo Ann. He is also survived by his three children, Robert Andrew Elliott (Angela), Christopher Mark Elliott (Pam), and Jan Elliott Bell (Vance); three step-children, Kevin Finley Johnson (Patty), Kimberly Johnson Pruett (Mike), and Karen Elizabeth Johnson; thirteen grandchildren: Madison, Hunter, Eva, Gus, Peyton, Alec, Logan, Lynden, Ashley, Meagan, Jay, Lauren and Josh; and three great grandchildren: Carson, Avery, and Henry.
The graveside services for Mr. Elliott will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at Ashelawn Gardens of Memory, 901 Aiken Rd, Asheville, NC 28804.
Memorial donations may be made to Fellowship of Christian Athletes, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Brookstone Church, or your local library.
Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. is assisting the family.
Services
Graveside Service: May 1, 2025 3:00 pm
Ashelawn Gardens of Memory
901 Aiken Road
Asheville, NC 28804
(828)645-6915
Funeral Home Assisting The Family:
Groce Funeral Home - Patton Ave.
1401 Patton Ave.
Asheville, NC 28806
(828)252-3535
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
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memories and stories until you see him again in Heaven. I love you.
Dear Elliott Family, I am so sorry for your loss. Please know Gil had incredible impacts to those he taught and mentored over the years. Wishing you all peace.
Much love and many prayers for the family! We loved Gilbert!
Best teacher in the world
I loved having Gilbert as my Biology teacher my Sophomore year, then as my English teacher my Sr. year. He was also my church Training Union teacher at Grace Church.
Lifting all of the family in prayer during this difficult time.
– Bryan Smith Class of ‘88
“Gil Fish” and I knew each other in high school and then as teachers at Enka. He was a light in my life and one of the finest men I had the privilege of calling a friend. To the family I send my love.
Gil was one of my favorite teachers. I always enjoyed his sense of humor and his easygoing personality. For some reason, I thought of him just the other day. My thoughts and prayers are with his family.
I have such fond memories of Mr. Elliott from my years at Enka. Not just as an English teacher, but as a very human, very accessible adult at a time in life where that was very important. There was a lot of goofing off in his classroom, but there was a lot of serious learning, too….learning about life as well as English. The world is poorer and the light a little dimmer without you. Godspeed, Gil Elliott.
Gil was my freshman basketball coach in 1978. Such a positive influence on all of us and truly cared about each of us.
What little I know of the English language I attribute it to Gil and Ms.Whitmire! Graciously they allowed me to sit with them at lunch each day in Gills classroom. Mark,Andy, and Jan I am sorry for your loss. He was and is still a wonderful example of grace, poise and comic.
What an amazing man who left an incredible legacy! His kindness and dedication, no doubt, positively impacted so many people. Sincere condolences to each of you. Much love.
Mrs. Elliott and Family-I am so very sorry for your tremendous loss. Mr. Elliott was a light and I’m certain he was the favorite teacher of so many Enka folks. It was a joy to randomly run into Gil and Jo Ann over the years. He will be missed.
Such a great Man, Teacher & Mentor whom provided so much unconditional love to his students. Mr. Elliot had an ability to recognize when students were in need of love and HE provided the need. This world needs more of Him!! Love and prayers to your family as I know he is special.
Our sincere condolences and prayers go out to Mrs. Elliott, Jan, and the rest of the family. We value the indelible impact Mr. Elliott had on us and so many at Enka High – a true pillar. His humor, kindness, and ways of sharing his love of good literature are warmly remembered.
Mr Elliott as many have said was a great man and such a mentor to all the students he taught over the years! It wasn’t just the academic lessons that he took the time to share but more importantly the lessons of life that all of us needed as we were getting ready to transition from school to the real world!
He will certainly be missed and the world was most certainly a better place to have had him in it! All the love and prayers and comfort to Mrs Elliott and your family as you try to heal! Gil left us so many great times and memories and laughs for us to smile and laugh about when we think of him!
Coach Elliott was a mentor in English, athletics and life. Lessons, guidance and always support from a caring man to be retained and never forgotten.
Prayers, Peace and comfort to the family in this difficult time.
Gil! We loved having him as an English teacher in the late 90s at Enka. I remember that we had a plant we named Gil in honor of him. Prayers for the family.
I was so fortunate to have Coach Elliott as my teacher, coach, and first manager at the pool. He was always the same; smiling, making wise cracks, but most of all being the person we could look up to and admire. Please know
you all are in my prayers.
My heart is saddened to hear of Gil’s passing. He was one of the first people I met when I started teaching at Enka in 1985. He was so kind and funny. My condolences to JoAnn and his family.
I was among the many young teachers and coaches that Gil impacted at Enka High School. Even after leaving Enka early in my career, his involvement, professionalism and service to the school left an impression on me that remained a standard of excellence that few could match. Thank you Gil and condolences to the family. I learned much from you, Danny Miller
Elliott family,
My condolences on the loss of a great man. Gil was one of my favorite teachers ever. He taught me 10th grade English, made us memorize the Gettysburg Address among other famous pieces and told us corny jokes everyday. We all loved him and he had the best rapport with us. I was so happy and excited when I was the assistant principal at North Windy Ridge and he came in to volunteer with his grandchildren. We’d chat each time he came in and he even proctored testing sessions for me. He was a light in my education and truly impacted me for the better.
Nicole (Young) Roberts, EHS c/o 1990
He touch many lives with kindness and a love to educate and did so by example and humour. He will be truly missed
I met Gil through Friends of Buncombe County Libraries and was always impressed with his willingness to go the extra mile to make things happen and solve problems. At one point, we tried to appoint him as President of the Friends for life – didn’t work. A life well lived!
Mr, Elliott, Gil, was one of the handful of really great teachers at Enka when I was there in the late 80s early 90s. What a truly great man and inspiring teacher!! Lucky to have passed through his doors.
Gil was very influential in the lives of many of us who grew up in Enka High School. If we could all strive to be more like Gil, the world would be a much better and happier place.
Class of ’83
Gil was a true inspiration to anyone who knew him. He was an amazing teacher and later became a wonderful friend.
I was very fortunate to work with this legend of a teacher and coach at Enka High School. Mr. Elliott was well grounded in his faith and was such a positive role model for so many. He was a wonderful example of a professional educator that was always willing to go beyond the call of duty. I am praying that God will comfort the family and his many friends during this difficult time.
Remember Coach Elliott as he was my English teacher at Enka High, always was so cheerful and was a great teacher. John Sparks class of 76
My memories of Gil Elliott are from hearing his voice over the intercom at football games at EHS. Always a good job. But the most important memory is of he and Jo Ann in Sunday School at Pole Creek and his interaction and comments with others. Got to hear him teach Sunday School several times. Outstanding. Prayers to you Jo Ann and his family. Carolyn and Gerald Stamey
To the Family So sorry for your loss. Gil was a great man I had him as a coach and a teacher. He taught much more than English He taught us about life. Lessons that I still use to this day. We never felt any pressure, just a strong feeling for our well being. Any time we had something to talk about he was always there to listen. RIP coach, and know that you have done a great service to many.
JoAnn, I was so sorry to hear about Gil! He was an inspiration to so many and I am blessed to be one of them. You and the family are in my prayers.
I pray that his entire family can have a true sense of pride just knowing how many students and athletes that Gil so positively impacted over the years. What an incredible example of a teacher and coach that he was. I will cherish the recent visit we had with him and JoAnn a few weeks ago. I am so glad that I was able to tell him that he was the best teacher ever! May our Lord and Savior give you a blessed comfort and peace in the tough days ahead.
Coach Elliot gave me my first swimming lesson at Enka Lake Club Pool. He was my English Teacher my Senior year and always patient and tolerant with my futile attempts to be more funny than him in class. My hope is that my English students remember me the way I remember Coach Elliot. Class of ’84.