Debra Jan Reese

Debra Jan Reese, 65, of Asheville, passed away peacefully at home with her family by her side on Tuesday, October 11, 2022.

A native of Buncombe Co., Debra was a daughter of the late Betty Faye Looney Gantt and Oakley Reese.

Ms. Reese graduated from Enka High School in 1975, and from the A-B Tech Radiologic Technology Program in 1977. She then obtained a Bachelor’s Degree from Mars Hill College in 1981, and then obtained a Master’s Degree in Public Health and Administration from UNC Chapel Hill, class of 1991. She was the former Department Head of Radiography at A-B Tech from 1991-2013.

Ms. Reese has been an active member and former president of the NC Society of Radiologic Technologists since 1976. She has held all the Society’s offices and has chaired four NCSRT seminars in Asheville and served on the American Registry of Radiologic Technologists’ Radiography Practice Analysis Committee.

Ms. Reese’s significant and substantial activities have earned her listing in Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers three times, and she was awarded Life Membership by the NCSRT in 1997, and received the Reeves-Roussean Memorial Lecturer for 2009.

Debra was an accomplished brass player, and was a member of the Smoky Mountain Brass Band. She loved to travel the world with her friends and touched many hearts.

Surviving is her sister, Barbara Reese Dykes and her husband, Rodney; step-mother, Linda Reese; step-father, Howard Gantt; nieces, Beth King, Laura Correll (David) and Kristen Caison (David); 6 great-nephews, Nicolas, Landon, Cooper, Isaiah, Daniel and Carter; and a great-niece, Kendall.

Memorial services will be held at 7:00 p.m. on Friday, October 28, in the Patton Avenue chapel of Groce Funeral Home. Four Seasons Hospice Chaplain Cy Miller and Pastor Charles Sams will officiate and the Smoky Mountain Brass Band will render the music.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service.

Private family burial will be at Piney Mountain United Methodist Church Cemetery.

The family wishes to express their thanks and appreciation to the Four Seasons Hospice Nurses for their care.

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to The A-B Tech Foundation-Debra J. Reese Memorial Scholarship, 340 Victoria Rd., Asheville NC 28801, or online at: www.abtech.edu/giving

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