Edna Pearl Bowers Ayers, a resident of Hillview Health Center, Elizabethton, died Monday, February 2, 2015, at the age of 93. Pearl was a native of Carter County and a daughter of the late William Chrisley and Lola Carriger Bowers.
Pearl was a graduate of Elizabethton High School. She was married to Navy Seaman Willie Ayers from North Carolina for 54 years before his death in 1998. A former employee of North American Rayon Corporation, Pearl and her husband moved to Colorado for a short time where they ran the Loveland Café. Their next move was to Washington, D.C. where they owned and operated Ayers Guest Houses and Laundry Route Services from 1948 to 1995 before retiring and returning to Carter County.
Pearl was an avid gardener, loved animals and birds, crocheting, mystery novels, collecting postcards and elephants. She was of the Baptist faith.
In addition to her husband, Pearl was preceded in death by her daughter, Barbara Jean Ayers; her brothers, Ray and Floyd Bowers; nephews, Larry Dean Bowers and Ray Roberson; and a sister-in-law, Irene Roberson.
Survivors include her sister, Ina Mae Soto; her nieces, Deborah Meyer, Dianna Tucker and Christina Soto Whitfield and husband Rex; a great-niece, March Goodling; a great-nephew, Jesse Meyer; and great-great-nephew, Jeremy Bell. Other special nieces and nephews are Roseanna Lowe, Gary Roberson and Ann Willis, and special friends, Helen Blevins and Luther Taylor.
Funeral services for Edna Pearl Bowers Ayers will be conducted at 2 p.m. Friday, February 6, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with the Rev. R.L. Poole officiating. Interment will follow at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 p.m. Friday, prior to the funeral service. The family would like to express a special “Thank You” to the staff of Hillview Health Center. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website at www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Ayers family.