This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list. Author: WHL44 Surnames: STURGILL, HENSON, SHUMATE Classification: obituary Message Board URL: http://boards.rootsweb.com/localities.northam.usa.states.michigan.counties.kalamazoo/25789/mb.ashx Message Board Post: STURGILL, Douglas H. Age 65 Asheville, NC Died on Thursday, January 21, 2010 at John F. Keever Solace Center. A native of Washington County, VA, he had been a resident of Asheville for 33 years. He was a graduate of Portage High School, Portage, MI and Western Michigan Univ. in Kalamazoo, MI. He received his Masters of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary in Wake Forest, NC and served as a minister in several NC communities. He received a Masters in Counseling from Western Carolina Univ. and served the Asheville area in behavioral healthcare for many years. Through employment with Blue Ridge Center he was instrumental in developing and directing Mountain House. He worked in Social Work and Human Resources at St. Joseph's Hospital and served as the Administrative Director of Copestone and the psychiatric service for many years. He served the last few years of his career with NC Vocational Rehab. He was a compassionate, gentle man, a loving father, and a poet with a great heart. He will surely be mi! ssed by all who loved him. He was preceded in death by his wife, Judy Elaine Henson Sturgill; brother, Winston Chesil Sturgill of Hendersonville, TN; mother, Wade Shumate Sturgill and father, Franklin Mitchell Sturgill of Chilhowie, VA. Surviving are his life partner, Jeanne Day; his children, Henson Douglas Sturgill of Canton, NC; Isaac Wade Sturgill of Charlotte, NC; and Judith Logan Sturgill of Little Rock; a grandson, Lex Montgomery Sturgill, of Canton, NC; brother, Theodore Mitchell Sturgill of Konnarock, VA and other extended family. A private memorial service will be held at the family farm in Konnarock, VA. Memorials may be made to, Memory Care 100 Far Horizons Lane, Asheville, NC 28803. The wonderful medical staff there provided the family the guiding light through the labyrinth of dementia, or Care Partners Adult Day Care 68-A Sweeten Creek Road, Asheville, NC 28803. The journey without them would have been impossible. The family holds deep gratitude for both serv! ices. Asheville Area Alternative Funeral & Cremation Services is assis ting the family. (828) 258-8274 Published in Kalamazoo Gazette on January 24, 2010 (Posted by a VOLUNTEER-NO family connection) Important Note: The author of this message may not be subscribed to this list. If you would like to reply to them, please click on the Message Board URL link above and respond on the board.