Ancel Garfield Bradley

Asheville ~ Ancel Garfield Bradley, 84, of Asheville, died Monday, March 17, 2003 in Mission-St. Joseph's Hospital. A native of Buncombe County, Mr. Bradley was a son of the late Leonard G. Bradley and Ida Owenby Bradley. He was also preceded in death by his beloved wife of 57 years, Marie Higgins Bradley, who died in 1996; a sister, Frances Williams and two brothers, Eldon and Furman Bradley. A World War II Army veteran, Mr. Bradley was a retired mechanic for Southern Railways and had also worked for Ryder and Biltmore Dairy Farms. He was an avid gardener and loved to read. Survivors include two daughters, Mary E. Baker and her husband, J.V. of Asheville and Sharon Davis and her husband, Roger of Florence, SC; one son, Larry Garfield Bradley and his wife, Scarlett of Asheville; seven grandchildren, Jeffrey Baker, Barry Baker, Christopher Baker, Connie Knight, Anthony Bradley, Stephanie Pridgen and Rodney Davis; three great-grandchildren, Lane Baker, Celeste Baker and Garrett Pridgen; three sisters, Ethelyn Dotson of Fletcher, Lillian Hare and Betty Lou Hare and her husband, Don, of Asheville; three brothers, Leonard "L.G." Bradley and his wife, Bonnie of Asheville, Franklin Bradley and his wife, Paulette of Fletcher and Mitchell Bradley and his wife, Louise of Asheville. A funeral service will be conducted Wednesday at 11:00 AM at Chapel Hill Baptist Church conducted by the Reverend Willard Pruitt. Interment will follow in Chapel Hill Baptist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 7:00 until 8:30 PM at Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian on Long Shoals Road.