Kristi Kay Kiger

It is with great sadness that Kristi Kay Kiger, 64, passed away on Thursday, January 6, 2022.

Kristi was born on July 16, 1957 in Shelby, NC. She was the only daughter of the late Doris and Robert Kiger. After graduating from Shelby High School in 1975, she graduated from Appalachian State University, where she received her Bachelor’s Degree and her Masters Degree in Special Education.

Kristi met the love of her life and soulmate, her late wife, Deb Kovalycsik, in Shelby, NC in 1987. They married on October 13, 2014. Kristi and Deb spent 30 amazing and happy years together. They resided in New Bern, NC for seven years and both worked at the Neuse Center. They then resided in Morganton, NC for 20 years and Kristi worked at Foothills Area Program and Partners Behavioral Health Management. Her compassion led her to become an Intellectual and Developmental Disability Qualified Professional that worked with individuals with special needs for over 30 years. In 2016, Kristi retired and fulfilled her dream to move to Asheville, NC with Deb. In recent years, she began a property investment business.

Kristi is survived by her two canine children, Yuki, a Chinese Crested mix rescue, age 6, and Willow, a Husky Maltese mix rescue, age 3. Kristi is predeceased by her wife, Deb, her parents, two of her sisters-in-law and many, many other dogs that she loved throughout the years. Kristi is survived by her sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law and their spouses, her cousins, her nieces and nephews, and great-nieces and great-nephews. She loved all of her family dearly. Kristi also had many close friends that she made throughout every phase of her life and held a special place in her heart for each and every one of them.

A “Celebration of Kristi’s Life” will be held on Sunday, February 20, at 4:00 p.m. at the Groce Funeral Home chapel on Patton Ave. As Kristi was always an advocate for animal rights and a huge dog lover, in lieu of flowers a donation in her memory can be made to Brother Wolf Animal Rescue, 31 Glendale Avenue, Asheville, NC 28813 or to the Asheville Humane Society, 14 Forever Friend Lane, Asheville, NC 28806.