Michael Lee "Mike" Lanning

ASHEVILLE Michael Lee Mike Lanning, 59, of 35 Le Anhurst Road, passed away suddenly Wednesday, October 24, 2007 at the Memorial Campus of Mission Hospitals. A lifelong resident of Buncombe County, he was an auto mechanic by trade and an avid NASCAR fan. He was a US Army veteran of the Vietnam War, and was of the Baptist faith. Mike was a loving husband and grandfather, of which he was known affectionately as Paw Paw. He loved life, had many friends, and will be greatly missed. Mike was the son of the late Roy Lee and Retha Harmon Lanning. Surviving are his wife of 17 years, Betty Lanning, of the home; step-daughter, Laura Ponder of Greer, SC; two grandchildren: Kane Varnes and Rhianna Satterfield, both of Asheville; and brother, Bruce Lanning of Deltona, FL. Funeral services will be held at 11:30 AM Saturday in the chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home, with the Rev. John Davis officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10-11:30 AM Saturday at the funeral home. A celebration of Mikes life will continue at Mills Gap Baptist Church Fellowship Hall following the burial.