Mary Ella Alexander Wilson

BARNARDSVILLE - Mary Ella Alexander Wilson, 93, of 150 Paint Fork Rd., went to be with her heavenly Father Wednesday, February 16, 2011. Mrs. Wilson was born November 25, 1917, in Buncombe County. A native of Fairview, she was a daughter of the late William Cruser and Ella May Merrill Alexander. She was a graduate of the Asheville Normal School and a dedicated educator in Buncombe County teaching first grade for 39 years, having started her career in a two-room school house in the Candler area. She was a long-time member of Dillingham Presbyterian Church in Barnardsville where she was the pianist for many years. She especially loved children and animals as well as enjoying music, gardening and Dillingham Church Circle. Her dry wit, graciousness and loving spirit will be missed by all that knew her. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by her husband, N.E. Wilson who died in 1978; sisters, Marguerite Fortune and Ailene Ashworth; and brother, Roy Alexander, Sr. She is survived by her daughter, Sarah Wilson Miller of Barnardsville; son, Emmett Wilson and wife Beth of Fairview; sister, Ruth A. Ebbs of Asheville; six grandchildren, Suzi Wilson Sinclair and husband Sam, Nicholas and Logan Wilson, Travis Miller and partner Anthony Wise, Luke and Sam Miller and wife Michelle; and six great grandchildren, Sammy, Seth and Simon Sinclair, Santana, Sabastian, and Callie Miller; and several nieces and nephews including Ella May Ebbs-Byers who gave Mrs. Wilson special care. A service celebrating her life will be held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, February 19, 2011, at Dillingham Presbyterian Church, with Rev. Claude Kaylor officiating. Burial will be in Maney Cemetery, Barnardsville. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m., Friday at West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, where the body will remain until placed in the church one hour prior to the service. At other times, the family will be at the residence. Flowers are welcome, or memorials may be made to Black Mountain Home for Children, 80 Lake Eden Rd., Black Mountain, NC 28711, or the American Lung Association, 514 Daniels St, #109, Raleigh, NC 27605. Unable are the loved to die. For love is immortality. ~Emily Dickinson The highest form of worship is the worship of unselfish Christian service. ~Billy Graham www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com Directions To Dillingham Presbyterian Church 16 Stoney Fork Rd., Barnardsville, NC Take 19 & 23 North, also Future I-26 to exit 15 (marked Jupiter/Barnardsville). At the end of the ramp turn right on State Hwy. 197 follow this for 5.9 miles and turn right on Dillingham Road. Go about 3 1/2 miles and turn right on Stoney Fork Road. The church will be about 100 yards on the left.