Eunice Fisher Parris

Eunice Elizabeth Fisher Parris joined her heavenly Father, friends and loving family, who were waiting to meet her, on Friday, Aug. 10, 2007, at the age of 96. She was born in Beta, N.C., the daughter of Rufus Wilborn Fisher and Minnie Allen Fisher. She graduated from Sylva High School, after which she continued to live in the family home, helping to care for it, and her younger siblings, as her mother had passed away when Eunice was 17. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband of 44 years, Edward Rufus Parris, a native of Dillsboro, N.C.; five brothers, Clyde, Clifton, Lloyd, Roy and Harvey Bud Fisher, all of Sylva; and a special nephew, Joe Clyde Fisher, who she said was always more like a brother; and sister, Nannie Fisher Howell, an angel on loan from God, of Canton, N.C.. She is survived by a daughter, Paula Parris Stone, and her husband, Kennon Stone, of Louisville, Ky.; grandson, David Clarence Gray III of Asheville, N.C., with whom she shared a love that knew no bounds! There have been many angels who have touched her life too many to mention, but one deserves special mention. When her only child left home for college, she was in a state of grief until a tiny puff of angel dust fell, named Johnny Nicholson. He filled the empty spot in her life as no one, nor anything else could have done and they, along with her husband, formed bonds that will never end . She is also survived by many warm and wonderful nieces and nephews, among them Jimmie Fisher, who, while she lived alone, was always there for her. A step-granddaughter and her husband, Rebecca and Brett Whitley, and their children, Jessica, Grace and Josiah, have brightened her day; she has loved the idea of being a great grandmother. She is a longtime member of West Asheville Baptist Church. The church, staff and her many friends there sustained her during good times and bad. Visitation will be from 11 a.m to 1 p.m. Wednesday at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue, Asheville, with the funeral to begin at 1 p.m. Please direct memorial gifts to Louisville Hospice and Palliative Care Program, 3532 Ephraim McDowell Dr, Louisville, KY 40205. Special thanks go to the staff of Baptist Hospital East, Jefferson Place Nursing Home, Drs. Eva Nicholas, J. Thomas Murrow and Jane Cornett, and to Cathleen Kilmartin, GNP, for their warm, nurturing and compassionate care during her illness, as well as their availability and support to her family.