Carla Marteil (Stephens) Horton

Carla Stephens Horton of Asheville died Tuesday May 13, 2025.

She was born in Asheville on October 6, 1943.

Carla was the daughter of Carl W. and Roberta G. Stephens and when Carla was young, the family moved to Brevard where she spent her childhood.

Carla attended Brevard College and after moving back to Asheville, graduated from Mission Hospital School of Nursing as a registered nurse. She married William F. (Bill) Horton in 1965 in Asheville; they moved to Athens, Georgia where they lived for 3 years before returning to Asheville.

Carla’s nursing career spanned 42 years, all of which she served as an operating room nurse especially in general surgery and orthopedic surgery including hand surgery. Carla worked at Athens General, St. Joseph’s and Memorial Mission hospitals and was skilled in nursing care for all surgical patients. She was a staunch patient advocate and was selected to serve on the Mission-St. Joseph’s patient safety committee.

Carla enjoyed gardening, reading, and was a collector of handmade quilts as well as other Appalachian folk art. She was a true daughter of the Western North Carolina mountains; she deeply appreciated the beauty of the mountains, especially Mt. Pisgah. She also enjoyed music; especially the traditional music of the Appalachians.

Carla is survived by her husband of 60 years; daughter Holly (Horton) Bellebuono and her husband David Vigneault; son Rob Horton and his wife Suzanne Horton; and daughter Leslie (Horton) Roberts and her husband Shawn Roberts; and five grandchildren.

The family requests that memorial donations be made to either the SECU Memory Care Clinic at Givens or the Givens Resident Assistance Ministry.

Carla will be inurned in the Givens Estates Columbarium. A memorial service will be held at a later date.

Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian is assisting the family.