Benjamin Alan Bryson

Asheville- Benjamin Alan Bryson, 29, passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, June 6, 2020. He always had presence, wherever he was. His light brightened every room. He began smiling very early, and rarely stopped for 29 years. He always wanted to do things his way. Not out of stubbornness; more like determination. He lived life on his own terms. If he really wanted something, he got it. He lived life wide open and wasn’t very good at sitting still. He hated for a day to go by without doing or accomplishing something. His spontaneity and bohemian lifestyle were enviable. He fully lived in the moment. He was always very kind to older people and little children and had a genuine burden for those down on their luck or whom had lost their way. He had a passionate desire to help people and a strong sense of justice when he perceived someone was being wronged. He loved animals, especially his beloved dog, Cash. He was an incredibly gifted musician with that innate comprehension of rhythm, melody, chord, lyric and song structure that only gifted musicians understand. He was always able to find, and spread, joy, even when times were hard. While discussing hard times recently, he stated “if you learned something, then it wasn’t a total waste.” He loved being outdoors. The river was his favorite place, especially playing guitar on the riverbank with friends. He loved Colorado. Gabe could not have asked for a better big brother. Ben relished the role and loved Gabe dearly. He is the only person I know who has received a speeding ticket for 60 in a 30…snowboarding. His cooking skills are legendary, and he loved preparing large meals for friends and family and in fact had made a large breakfast for his friends the day he passed. Cooking was art to him too; he loved experimenting with salsas, hot sauce, pickling, kombucha, juicing and more. He made everyone laugh. Good humor came naturally to him. The world is a better place for him having been in it. Benjamin was preceded in death by a brother, William Robert Bryson; paternal grandmother, Sue Bailey Bryson; and maternal grandparents: Bob and E.Z. Cothran. Those left to cherish his memory are his mother, Janice Cothran Jackson and step-father, Mark Jackson of Fairview; father, Barry Alan Bryson and step-mother, K.C. Bryson of Saluda; paternal grandfather, Bruce Alan Bryson of Franklin; brother, Gabriel Robert Bryson of Fairview; step-sisters: Reilly, Kristen, and Candice; best friend and companion, Molly Caldwell; beloved dog, Cash; numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, extended family, and friends. Funeral services will be held at 3 PM Thursday, June 11, 2020, in the chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home with pastors Jim Pearce and Greg Lieb officiating. A private burial service will follow at Bent Creek Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 2 till 3 PM Thursday at the funeral home. Due to the current Covid-19 pandemic, we request that if you are feeling sick please plan to visit in person with the family at a later time. There are currently no restrictions on the number of people allowed at the funeral and visitation. ** IN LIEU OF FLOWERS, memorials may be made in Benjamin's memory to: BeLoved Asheville: www.belovedasheville.com or Hungry for Music: www.hungryformusic.org or Western Carolina Rescue Mission: www.westerncarolinarescue.org