Norma Shope

NORMA SHOPE "GERT" WEAVERVILLE - Norma Genevieve "Gert" Shope, age 86, of Weaverville, passed away Saturday, December 5, 2015. Gert was born in Asheville on January 8, 1929 to the late Charles Winfred and Florence Wheeler Gregg. She attended Asheville-Biltmore College studying Business Administration. She was married for 51 years to the late William "Bill" Shope, Jr. who passed away in 2002. In her late teens and throughout her 20's she was a frequent model for various Asheville department stores and was a salesperson for Sears, Hadley and other women's fashion stores in the north Asheville area. She performed volunteer work for the March of Dimes for several years. Gert was a matron of the Vance Chapter of the Order of the Eastern Star fraternal organization and was a member of the Weaverville United Methodist Church. She worked regularly at the family business, Shope's Furniture in Weaverville. By far her most significant role was delivered in the loving devotion she tirelessly displayed as spouse, mother, grandmother, daughter and sister in support of her family. She enjoyed travelling the southeast with her husband and entertaining friends and family at their home in Weaverville and lake house near Marion. In addition to her parents and husband Gert was preceded in death by her sister, Mary Gregg Smith. Gert is survived by two sons, Barry and wife Shirley of Yorba Linda, CA, and Scott and wife Bridgette of Asheville; three grandchildren, Griffin, Kirsten, and Garrett; two sisters-in-law, Jean Haynes and husband Harvey, Joan Bennett and husband Mal and special friends, Susie Pyron and husband John and Rosemary Lakey. Her funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, December 13, 2015, in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, with Reverend Mitch Wilson, son, Barry Shope, and dear friend, Dottie Sherrill officiating. Burial will be in West Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 12:15 to 2:15 p.m., prior to the service. Flowers are very much appreciated. The family wishes to thank the staff at Mars Hill Retirement Community, Stone Creek Health and Rehabilitation, Aston Park Health Care Center and CarePartners Hospice for their excellent care and support. For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Mrs. Shope's obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com. Her funeral service will be held at 2:30 p.m., Sunday, December 13, 2015, in the Chapel of West Funeral Home, 17 Merrimon Ave., Weaverville, with Reverend Mitch Wilson, son, Barry Shope, and dear friend, Dottie Sherrill officiating. Burial will be in West Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 12:15 to 2:15 p.m., prior to the service. Flowers are very much appreciated. The family wishes to thank the staff at Mars Hill Retirement Community, Stone Creek Health and Rehabilitation, Aston Park Health Care Center and CarePartners Hospice for their excellent care and support. For those who desire, condolences may be offered to the family under Mrs. Shope’s obituary at www.WestFamilyFuneralServices.com.