Bessie Debruhl Rice

Candler Bessie DeBruhl Rice, 100, formerly of 35 Young Drive, passed away Sunday, October 4, 2009 at Pisgah Manor Health Care Center. A lifelong resident of Buncombe County, she was a member of the Salvation Army, and loved to cook and garden. Mrs. Rice was the daughter of the late John and Eskew Swanger DeBruhl, and the wife of the late Lester Rice. She was also preceded in death by a grandson, Fireman Andrew Rice, of the US Coast Guard; four brothers: Arby, Hobart, Gardner, and Thomas DeBruhl; and a sister, Thelma Hall. Surviving are her children: Rosalie Harvey of Butner, NC, Eugene Red Rice and wife Joan of Old Fort, Dorothy Ferguson of Enka, Ruth Reynolds of Candler, Gary Rice of Asheville, and Faye Vaughn of Arden; grandchildren: Bob and Lanny Harvey, Paula Parker, Mike, Steve and Kelly Rice, Mike, David and Susan Ferguson, Wendy Reynolds, and Jeff and Joel Vaughn; 10 great-grandchildren, 16 great, great-grandchildren, sisters: Elva Farlow of Arden and Naomi West of Tompall, TX; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2:30 PM Wednesday in the chapel of Anders-Rice Funeral Home and Cremation Center, with Major Leonard Taylor officiating. Burial will follow in Forest Lawn Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 1-2:30 PM Wednesday at the funeral home. Flowers are accepted and appreciated, or memorial donations may be made to the Salvation Army, 750 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC 28806.