Nanette C. Caldwell

Nanette Carter Caldwell, 84, of Candler, died on Monday, February 8, 2010, at her home, surrounded by devoted family and caregivers. A native of Western North Carolina, she was the beloved wife of John S. Caldwell, Sr., and daughter of Clarence McClellan Carter, Sr., and Carrie Sluder, all of whom preceded her in death. Her brothers, Clarence McClellan Carter, Jr., of Asheville, N.C., and Alfred Eugene Carter of Salsbury, N.C., also preceded her in death. Always protective of her younger brother, CM, whom she raised, Nanette was unstinting in her love and care of him through the thirty years he lived independently in their childhood home following a catastrophic illness. She is mourned and greatly missed by her daughter Rebecca Caldwell of Asheville; son John Caldwell, Jr., of Rutherfordton, N.C., along with wife Jane Woody Caldwell; grandsons Jonathan Brett, Daniel Brian, and David Bradford with wife, Christy, and great granddaughter Kinsley. She also is survived by a circle of life-long jolly friends with whom she grew up on Beaverdam, including Mildred Bryan, Merle Buckner, and Lois Bassett. A special debt of gratitude is owed to Jan Ramsey and Tim Whittemore for their love and care of Nanette over the last two years of her life, and to Fran Kyles, her Hospice nurse, all of whom recognized and respected Nanettes fierce will to remain at home despite the many health challenges she faced. The family wishes to thank Nanette and Johns dear friends at Oak Forest Presbyterian Church as well for their visits, cards, and carepackages over the years. Nanettes legacy to all who knew her is a life lived with great beauty and heart. She was known for her sense of fun and spirit of adventure as well as for being a slick Skipbo cardplayer and a crossword puzzle fanatic. She shared these obsessions, as well as countless cups of coffee, with her best friend and neighbor Penny Heyward. Nanette delighted in music and played a mean piano boogie in her day. Well into her sixties, she picked up her daughters neglected flute and began to take lessons. Her teacher, Rita Hayes, became a second daughter and also taught Nanette the Appalachian Dulcimer after she received an intricately hand-carved dulcimer as an anniversary gift from husband John. Though Nanette rarely left Buncombe County (Why bother when we live here? she said often), she traveled widely through her love of books, keeping her well-loved librarians at the Enka Branch distracted with cake and cookies while she made her way through the stacks. No one ever left her table or her presence hungry, and she never failed to send goodies for the journey, often the fresh-baked bread for which shell always be remembered. And no one left her presence without the assurance that they were loved unconditionally and appreciated for all their special gifts. A remembrance celebration is planned for 3 p.m., Saturday, March 6, at Oak Forest Presbyterian Church, in Asheville, N.C. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be sent to CarePartners Hospice, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC, 28813.