Ann Hartline

Ann Hartline

Asheville - Ann Hartline, 48, died Thursday, January 30 2014, at the John F. Keever Solace Center after a six and a half year valiant battle with breast cancer. Ann passed away peacefully surrounded by her family and dear friends.

Ms. Hartline was born September 10, 1965 in Columbia, SC, and was the daughter of Leon M. Hartline of Huntersville, and the late Elizabeth Hankins Hartline. She was preceded in death by her maternal grandparents John and Reba Hankins and paternal grandparents Nathan and Katherine Hartline.

Ann graduated from South Mecklenburg High School in Charlotte in 1984. She received her RN in nursing at AB Tech in Asheville in 2002. Ann worked as a cardiac care nurse at Mission/ St Joseph Hospitals and later as a traveling nurse at several locations across the country. After her illness started and she was no longer able to work as a nurse she became an accomplished artist under the tutelage of her wonderful friend and mentor Bee Sieburg. Ann had a studio in the River Arts District of Asheville. She loved the outdoors especially camping, hiking, and riding on canoes and kayaks in the river. She also loved to travel and her adventures took her to Italy, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico and many other locations. She loved her dogs and is probably playing in the rivers of heaven with Moonshine, Bleu and Raleigh. Her little Boone has been her constant companion for the last year

Ann had a magnetic personality that drew people to her. She never met a stranger. She always had a smile or a laugh for all those that she touched. She will be greatly missed but will live on in the hearts and minds of those who knew and loved her.

In addition to her father, she is survived by her sisters, Kelli Hartline of Brooklyn, NY and Katie Hartline Gay and husband Larry T. Gay, Jr of Florence, SC. Nieces Brittany and Ariel Gay of Nicholasville, KY. Stepmother Sandra Hartline of Huntersville and step brothers Scott, David and Jimmy Wilson. In addition she is also survived by her Aunt Reba Ann Wilson of Charlotte and Uncle Paul L. Hartline of Statesville, cousins Tina Bobrowski (Bo), Pamela Fisher (Dave), David Wilson of Charlotte and Stephanie Styers and Paul Hartline (Becky) of Statesville.

Ann's family would like to acknowledge and thank her many friends and caregivers who encouraged her. Anne Kaufmann, Bee Sieburg, Audie Bayer, Erica Battle, Tracey Elmore, Tori Fugate, Natalie Dorsey, Linda Nall, Kim Ogburn, Thomas Wagner, Dave and Shannon Pschirer, Winnie White Bolam, her friends with the Young and the Breastless and numerous other friends that strengthened her along the way.

We would also like to thank Ann's cousins Pamela Fisher and husband Dr. David Fisher, Tina Bobrowski and Lauren Neuhaus for the time, compassion and vigilance during the last week of her life. Also thank you to Michael Platz, Michelle Knight and Reverend Butch Stillwell of The Solace Center.

Ann's family would also like to acknowledge and thank the following for the care given to Ann during the last several years of her life. Dr. Anita Deshpande and the staff at Asheville Hematology and Oncology, Dr. Sesalie Smathers of Mountain Radiation Oncology, Dr. Keri Anders and the staff of Lineburger Cancer Center; Chapel Hill. To the many doctors and nurses that treated Ann at MD Anderson, Chapel Hill, Duke, Nashville and Charlotte thank you for the excellent care and adding years to her life.

A Celebration of Ann's life is scheduled for 1 pm on Saturday, February 8th at Homewood Event Center , 19 Zillicoa Street, Asheville.

Private interment will be at Evergreen Cemetery in Charlotte next to Ann's mother Libby who also passed away of breast cancer in 1975.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Wind River Cancer Retreats & Programs, 430 Larsen Lane, Tryon, NC 28782-6760, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, PO Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265-0309, or CarePartners Hospice Solace Center, PO Box 25338, Asheville, NC 28813.

Groce Funeral Home on Patton Avenue is assisting with the arrangements and the on-line register is available at www.grocefuneralhome.com.