Don Hayes Noakley

Fairview ~ Don Hayes Noakley, of 24 Whitaker View Road, died on Wednesday, February 23, 2006 in a local hospital. He was born in Stuttgart, Arkansas on September 25, 1930 and was the son of the late Robert H. Noakley and Lucille Rhodes Noakley. He was also preceded in death by his sister, Betty Rhoades Noakley McCollum. After graduation from Georgia Tech in 1952, as a distinguished military Graduate, he was given a Regular Army appointment in the Infantry as a Lieutenant. Don served for almost 21 years in many different places in the United States and the world to include Korea and Vietnam. He always stated that the most challenging assignment was the Pentagon. He received many decorations and awards during his service, including the Bronze Star in Vietnam. He retired as a Lt Colonel at Fort Jackson, South Carolina in January 1973. After his military service, Don spent 27 years as a real estate broker. He started this new endeavor in Columbia, South Carolina. The last 18 years of that career he was in commercial real estate in Asheville, North Carolina. He retired form his real estate career in 2000. He was also a writer who addressed many important local and national issues; additionally he enjoyed writing humor and whimsical stories and papers. He was a faithful member and Sunday school teacher at First Baptist Church in Asheville for many years. He is survived by his wife, Marian Lewis Noakley of Fairview; six grandchildren; one great-grandchild; a nephew, Dennis McCollum and his wife Linda of Monroe, NC; two nieces, three great-nieces, eight great-great nieces and nephews; a step-daughter, Rebecca Rentz Avrett and husband Rick of Ravenel, SC; step-son, Dr. Simms Rentz and wife Carolyn Seal Rentz of Asheville, NC. A funeral service will be held on Friday 2:00 P.M. in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian on Long Shoals Road with Rev. Dr. Guy Sayles and Rev. Donna Painter officiating. A graveside service will be held Sunday 2:00 P.M. in Garden of Devotion Cemetery in Johnsonville, SC. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to ABCCM, 30 Cumberland Ave. Asheville , NC 28801 or to one’s favorite charity.