Jean Dillingham Dempsey

Heaven has gained another angel as Jean Dillingham Dempsey, of Asheville, departed from this earth after years of declining health to spend eternity with our heavenly Father and her beloved Bob Dempsey. Jean was the daughter of the late Duffy Coe and Mary Jane Wheeler Dillingham. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Robert "Bob" Nathan Dempsey Jr., in 2017. While we are left to mourn the loss, we are so thankful that Jean, "Sweet Thang" as Bob called her, will now be reunited with him and all of her pain and sickness is gone. She was also preceded in death by her oldest son, Charles "Chuck" Dempsey; grandson, Robert Louis "Little Rob" Dempsey; sisters, Ruby Bromilow, Evelyn Dillingham, and Coe Combs; and brothers, Roy and George Horton, and Lin and Elmer Dillingham. Jean is survived by her son Robert Nathan "Robbie" Dempsey, III, and wife Ruthie, of Asheville; grandchildren, Laura Dempsey, Brandy Echols (Lamar) and Dennis Doherty (Ying); and great-grandchildren, Charles Dishman, Morgan Echols and Luke and Devin Doherty. Jean never knew a stranger and her door was always open to anyone. She knew just about everyone who lived in the Enka-Candler area having been a nurse for Dr. Candler Willis and Dr. Chipley at Candler Medical. One of the neighborhood kids who had the pleasure of growing up on the street where the Dempsey’s lived recently said, “Jean was the mother that all the kids wanted.” She was loving and fun and all of the kids migrated to the Dempsey house. Jean always said, I knew where my boys were at if they brought their friends home with them. She always had a rule for her two boys: whatever time you come home during the night you must always come to my bed and kiss me. She needed to know that her two boys were home safe, but this also accomplished another thing: she could tell if her boys had been smoking or drinking. She was a pretty smart mama. Not only was Jean a devoted wife and mother and grandmother, but she was an exceptional friend. She was an amazing woman who impacted many lives. She was honest to the core and if she called it a duck it was a duck, no ifs, ands or buts. She was such a good story teller and could keep you laughing and intrigue for hours. She even convinced her husband, Bob, to dress up as a woman one year when they were going to a tacky party. Needless to say, they went to the wrong house, but it made for one heck of a story that columnist Bob Terrill even wrote about it in one of his books. Everyone said that when Jean was there, you knew a good time would be had. Gone were the stories, the happy memories, the recognition of dear friends and loved ones. A dreadful disease had invaded her mind, but through it all, the "I love you too's" still came. It is those precious moments for which the family is thankful. A celebration of her life will be held at Groce Funeral Home on Patton Ave. at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, February 3, 2018. The Rev. Charlie Sams will officiate. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. The family asked that in lieu of flowers that donations be made to the Alzheimer's Association, Western Carolina Chapter, 4600 Park Road, Suite 250, Charlotte, NC 28209.