Doris Keeling Cunningham

Doris Keeling Cunningham, 89, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother, passed away on Monday, April 11, 2022, after an extended illness. She was a longtime resident of Deerfield Episcopal Retirement Community where she served on the Residents Board and several committees. Doris was born in Shelbyville, KY to Orville Krome and Dorothy Plemmons Keeling. She later moved to Asheville and graduated from Lee H. Edwards High School in 1950. She earned her Bachelors degree from Western Carolina University after all her children had graduated from college.

Doris worked for many years in Asheville as a dental assistant and later taught Dental Assisting at Asheville-Buncombe Technical Institute for close to 30 years. She was very active in the Alliance of the American Dental Association (AADA) at local, state, and national levels, serving as National President of the organization from 2001 to 2002. Doris received her commission to the Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels on February 14, 2002. She was a longtime member of Arden Presbyterian Church. Doris was a delightful Southern lady, who enjoyed social occasions and was always impeccably dressed. She loved her children and grandchildren unconditionally, and traveled to visit them whenever possible. She especially enjoyed international travel, visiting Guam, Japan, Korea, Italy and Germany, among other destinations.

She is predeceased by her parents, her husband, Dr. Fenton Sims Cunningham Jr., her brother, George H. Keeling, and her ex-husband, William Andrew Scroggs, Sr. She is survived by her four children, William Andrew Scroggs, Jr (wife Kim) of Merritt Island, FL, Stephen Krome Scroggs (wife Patricia) of Alexandria, VA, Karol Scroggs Farlow of Charlotte, NC, and Linda Scroggs Cantrell (husband Jim) of Germantown, TN; a stepson, Fenton S. Cunningham III (wife Mary) of Asheville; 8 grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren. Services will be held at St. Giles Chapel at Deerfield, 1617 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville on Saturday, May 7 at 2:00pm, with the family receiving friends following the service. Burial will follow at Calvary Episcopal Church, 2840 Hendersonville Rd, Fletcher, NC.

Doris’ children would like to extend their deep appreciation to the staff of Deerfield for the years of wonderful care they provided to our mother. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Doris’ memory to The Deerfield Charitable Foundation, The Foundation for Dental Health Education of the AADA, the Fenton Cunningham Scholarship Fund at YMCA of WNC, or The Honorable Order of Kentucky Colonels.

Groce Funeral Home’s Lake Julian team is assisting the family.