Michael H. Waters

Mills River - Michael H. Waters, 52, of Mills River, passed away Friday, April 2, 2010 at Mission Hospitals.

He was born in Sylva, a son of the late Robert Lewis Waters and Evelyn Moss Waters. He was a 1976 graduate of Enka High School, a 1980 graduate of Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA and had also attended Mid America Theological Seminary in Memphis, Tenn. He was employed for 21 years at FedEx in Asheville and was a member of Biltmore Baptist Church. In addition to his family, Mike's passions included model airplane building, gardening and following his beloved North Carolina Tarheel Basketball team. Along with his parents, he was preceded in death by his son, Chris Waters, his paternal and maternal grandparents, a nephew, Jeff Massingale, and his son-in-law, Ryan Russell.

He is survived by his wife, Leigh Kelley Waters; his daughter, Allison Bass and granddaughter Ashleigh Bass of New Haven, CT; two stepsons, Jay Connor of Asheville and Jeremy Connor of Boone; a sister, Audrey Waters of Canton; two brothers, Bob Waters and his wife Barbara of Statesville and Dan Waters and his wife Doris of Asheville; his step-mother, Thelmalene Waters of Asheville; father and motherin-law, Glen and Marjorie Kelley of Asheville; a brother and sister-inlaw, Pat and Joi Kelley of Skyland; three nieces, April

McCall and her husband Herman of Canton, Jennifer Campbell and her husband Chip of Asheville, and Crystal Elliott and her husband Don of Woodridge, VA; a nephew, Rob Waters of Charlotte; and many other relatives and friends including Danny and Paula Kennison of Black Mountain.

Funeral service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, April 6, 2010 at Thos. Shepherd's Church Street Chapel. The Rev John Erwin will officiate.

Burial will follow at Shepherd Memorial Park.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8:30 p.m., Monday at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Henderson County Education Foundation, PO Box 1267, Hendersonville, NC 28793 for the Chris Waters Memorial Scholarship. This scholarship goes to a West Henderson High School student who plans to pursue higher education in construction technology. Memorials may also be sent to the Hendersonville Dialysis Center, 500 Beverly Hanks Center, Hendersonville, NC 28792. An online guest book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com.

Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors is in charge of arrangements.