Mary Mears

Waynesville, Mary Ruth Rhinehart Mears, age 90, stepped into eternal life in Newnan, Georgia Thursday night on November 29, 2018.  Mary was born on January 14, 1928 in the Jones Cove section of Haywood County, North Carolina and was the daughter of Charles Herman and Cubie Jones Rhinehart.  Mary was the last remaining grandchild of Pinkney L. Jones, whose Father originally owned the land known as Jones Cove located between Clyde and Lake Junaluska in Haywood County.  P. L. Jones was one of the original Trustees of The Little White Church, later named Longs Chapel United Methodist Church, at Lake Junaluska.  Mary Ruth was the church’s current oldest member.  She was preceded in death by her husband Benjamin Leyton Mears who died in 2011; her oldest child, Nancy Coleen Hocker; and her daughter-in-law, Margaret Remley Mears.

Mary Ruth was an exceptional homemaker and wife and mother to Steve Mears (Lovenda) and her twins, Patricia Sherlin (Ron), and Paul Mears; son-in-law Jerry Hocker; her beloved grandchildren, Chris Sorrells, Amy Hofmeier, Eric Hocker, Andrea Mears McClure, Reverend Leyton Alan Mears, Justin and Jessica Mears and Meredith Sherlin Hendley; and also her precious 13 great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, December 3, 2018 at Long’s Chapel United Methodist Church with Reverend Leyton Alan Mears and Reverend Andrew Hendley officiating.  Burial will be at Garrett-Hillcrest Memorial Park.  The family will receive friends from 12:30 until 1:45 p.m. prior to services at the church.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to Memory Care, 100 Far Horizons Lane, Asheville, NC 28803, Crossnore Children's Home, P.O. Box 249 Crossnore, NC 28616; Bethany Christian Services, 901 Eastern Ave NE, Grand Rapids, MI 49503; or a charity of your choice.

The care of Mary has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes and an online memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at www.wellsfuneralhome.com