Clarence Allison Earley

Clarence Allison Earley, 85, of 980 Monte Vista road, Candler, died Wednesday, April 23, 2003, at Pisgah Manor Nursing Center. Mr. Earley was born November 24, 1917, in Haywood County and was a son of the late Robert Jackson Earley and Josephine Jamison Earley. He was also preceded in death by a daughter, Patricia Earley Roberts, a brother W. Harold Earley, and a sister, Juanita Earley Poore. He was a graduate of Sand Hill High School, an Army veteran of WW II and was a retired electrician with American Enka/BASF before retiring with 45 years service. He was a member of Francis Asbury United Methodist Church where he served in several capacities, including chairman of the trustees. Mr. Earley was instrumental in restoring a very old cemetery, Hice Hill Cemetery, which is now a lovely community cemetery. Before poor health forced his resignation he served as chairman of the cemetery board. He was a former member and past president of the Enka High School Boosters Club. Surviving are his wife, Elveta Cole Earley; two sons, Robert C. Earley and his wife Carol of Greer, SC and William D. Earley of Black Mountain; and two nieces, Nancy Todd and Jo Burnette. Funeral services will be at 11:00 am Saturday in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home with the Rev. Rick Clough officiating. Burial will be at Hice Hill Cemetery. His family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service and request that memorials be made to Mountain Area Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813, or to Hice Hill Cemetery Fund, c/o Sandra Johnson, 145 Dogwood Drive, Candler, NC 28715.