J. Ray Harwell

John Ray Harwell, 80, of 12 Winnfred Street, Asheville, died Monday, February 17, 2003, in a local nursing center. Mr. Harwell was born in Buncombe County and was a son of the late Robert Troy Harwell, Sr. and Blanche Hollar Harwell. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Betty Ann Harwell, and a brother, Robert T. Harwell, Jr., who died January 2, 2003. He served in the medical detachment of the 347th Fighter Group, US Army, in the Philippines and New Guinea during WW II. He retired in 1972 from the Asheville VA Medical Center and he was a member of the Asheville Cosmic Club. He was baptized and received into Trinity United Methodist Church May 10, 1925. He is survived by his wife, Mary Louise Gordon Harwell; three daughters and sons-in-law, Linda H. and Jerry Joyner of Dallas, TX, Carole Ann and Kenneth L. Piercy and Janet Ray and Mitchell W. Jarvis of Asheville, and four grandchidlren, Kimberly Ann Dickson of Raleigh, Christopher Ray Piercy of Asheville, Nathan Brandon Piercy of Alexander and Hannah Louise Jarvis of Asheville. Graveside services will be at 11:00 am Thursday at Green Hills Cemetery with the Revs. Marion G. Moore and Ralph L. Reed officiating. His family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue and request that memorials be made to Trinity United Methodist Church, 587 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806.