Myrtle Esther Searcy
September 6, 1927 ~ May 17, 2020
Born in:
Polk County, NC
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
Asheville Butterfly TrailMyrtle Nelon Searcy passed away on May 17, 2020 at the Laurels of Green Tree Ridge in her hometown of Asheville, NC at the age of 92.
Myrtle was born September 6, 1927 in Polk County to the late Rufus and Annie Mae Nelon. She was preceded in death by her husband, Richard “Hearby” Searcy; granddaughter, Donna Butler and nine of her brothers and sisters.
She is survived by two sons, Rufus and Shiskey Searcy and one daughter Zinnia Bryant (John Bryant) all of Asheville, NC. She also leaves five grandchildren, Kelly Searcy Entas (Nick Entas), John Bryant, Andrew Searcy (Megan Searcy), Christina and Richard Searcy; eleven great-grandchildren, Katherine and Nicholas Entas, Isaiah Bryant, Elizabeth Butler, Gunnar and Leela Searcy, Savannah Dalton and children (Eleanor and Marigold), Tadan Clubb and Tanner Searcy. She is also survived by two sisters; Sarah Laughter and Mary Jane Melton of Lake Lure, NC.
Myrtle and Hearby owned and operated Searcy’s Produce for 30+ years in the Asheville area. This was not just a business to them, they poured their life in to the business and worked hard, loved the community and was a staple in the Asheville area. Myrtle loved flowers and would grow so many types and sell those at the stand as well.
Myrtle was one of only a few women of her community and time in Polk County to graduate high school. Myrtle worked her entire life and as she got older missed her produce stand immensely. She was the most selfless person you could ever meet, would give you the last penny in her purse (even though she probably needed it) and would never let you go hungry. She loved children the most, taking care of so many kids while working for so many years and was everyone’s “Granny”.
A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM on Friday, May 22, 2020 at Cane Creek Baptist Church Cemetery in Lake Lure.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your favorite charity of choice. Myrtle would have insisted.
Services
Graveside Service: May 22, 2020 11:00 am
Cane Creek Baptist Church Cemetery
Highway #9
Lake Lure, NC
828-252-3535
Funeral Home Assisting The Family:
Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian
72 Long Shoals Road
Arden, NC 28704
(828)687-3530
http://www.grocefuneralhome.com
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Will miss you every day, thank you for being the best Granny to our family, every friend I ever brought over and my kids who will miss you dearly. Love you always.
My Aunt Myrtle was the best. I will always have many many happy memories of her. She treated me like her own as she did many. She will surely be missed by everyone. What a lady. Rest in heaven Aunt Myrtle. Love you and also have. See you in heaven
My Aunt Myrtle. The best. I have always loved her. She treated me as her own since I was born. An amazing lady like no other. She will be missed. I have great memories of life with her. Rest in heaven. Earth’s loss Heaven’s Gain
Whether sharing flower seeds or a watermelon, figs or peaches, Mrs Searcy was always one step ahead of us. No sooner had we reciprocate with a meager offering of our own, she was back with another delicious treat for us. We shall
miss our beloved smiling, kind, never complaining neighbor.
My prayers are with you all at this time. Just remember that God is there for you and you can always see her again. I am so sorry for your loss.
Sorry for your loss to all the family, we loved the produce that we bought there for years and I went to school with the boys, we are always looking towards heaven our finial home.
Shiskey, Zinnia, and Rufus
I am so sad for you in your loss of a wonderful mother and person. Everyone has great memories of her fruit stand, and the good, good lady that she was.
Shiskey, Rufus and Zinnia,
The best of memories of visiting Searcy’s Fruit and Produce on Hendersonville Road. Your Mom and Dad were truly a landmark fixture in S. Buncombe County. Will keep all of you in my prayers during this sad and difficult time.
I guess it has been over 50 years since I have seen the family but remember them well and with fond memories.
My prayers are going out to the family.
So sorry for your loss. Praying for your family. Wendy Bishop Blankenship
♥…Instead of the brier shall come up the Myrtle Tree; and it shall be to the Lord for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. Isaiah 55:13. ♥
Family, Your in our thoughts and prayers.
I am sorry for your loss. There are so many memories of visiting the produce stand, especially in the summer time when we would go just about every other day. We’d make our trek across the railroad tracks and down the red clay hill just to bring some empty bottles and trade for some change to buy something, candy or whatever. She would always say “Here comes those Stevens girls” and then proceeded to give us hugs. She was like a grandmother we never had. Our thoughts and prayers are with all of you.