James Rayford "Ray" Brotherton
September 29, 1930 ~ May 10, 2021
Born in:
Iredell County, NC
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville Butterfly TrailJames Rayford “Ray” Brotherton, 90, of Asheville, passed away Monday, May 10, 2021 at Pisgah Manor, Candler.
Born in Iredell County, NC, he was the husband of Julia (Dowell) Brotherton, to whom he had been married 67 years. He was the son of the late Charles E. and Martha (Stevenson) Brotherton, and was also preceded in death by a son, James Rayford Brotherton, Jr., a brother, Douglas F. Brotherton, and a sister, Mary Lee Stroud.
An Air Force Veteran of the Korean War, he was a member of Lodge #521 AF&AM, Manteo, NC, and the Blue Ridge Parkway Alumni Association.
Ray worked for the National Park Service for 40 years, and retired as an Assistant Superintendent for the Blue Ridge Parkway, retiring in 1990. He was a member of Enka Baptist Church.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by two sons: Douglas Alan and Thomas Charles Brotherton (Julia); two granddaughters: Sarah Kathryne Brotherton Cimino (Chris) and Michelle Paige Brotherton; and a brother, Billy Franklin Brotherton (Martha).
A memorial service will be held at 2:00 PM on Saturday, May 15, 2021 at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian. Masks are required. Burial will be private.
Memorial contributions in Ray’s memory may be made to Enka Baptist Church.
Services
Memorial Service: May 15, 2021 2:00 pm - June 21, 2025 3:00 pm
Room: Chapel
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian
72 Long Shoals Road
Arden, NC 28704
(828)687-3530
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
Inurnment: May 15, 2021 3:15 pm
Forest Lawn Memorial Park
1498 Sand Hill Road
Candler, NC 28715
828-667-8715
Tom & Julia
Love And Prayers to you And your family.
One that will never be replaced.
A humble man, as humble as his father whose loss I still can’t take
He was a light for a path that I well trodden and without regret
His mentorship and example no one else can make
A far away beacon one that constantly shown either through long correspondence or long-distance phone
Our bond was our name and a brother he had lost. But my way I found never incurring a cost
His example, my victory, his departure my loss
But his memory will never leave as I protect it at all cost
I hope to find his spirit not only in my mind
But upon the mist of the blue ridge from time to time
For there it will soar like my childhood dreams with him
As our family history calls us upon a certain destiny’s whim
— Mark Brotherton
Julia I know what you are going through my dear friend I am still grieving my beloved Glenn’s death but my God is comforting my soul every moment. My prayers are with you and L love
you
My hero, my mentor, my friend.
You will be sorely missed!
Thank you for having such class and grace. We definitely lost a great men on May 10th!!
I love you Pop!!