Anita Owenby Obituary
Visit the Church Street Funeral & Cremation website to view the full obituary.
It is with heavy hearts we announce that Anita "Nita" Owenby passed away on Monday, September 22, 2025.
Nita is survived by her beloved partner, Sharon Oxendine of Fletcher; her brother, Roy "Butch" Owenby (Bobbi) of Hendersonville; her niece, Tegan Goins (Wayne) of Georgia; her nephew, Alex Owenby of Tennessee; and her cherished spiritual family at Unity of the Blue Ridge and Medicine Wheel Way.
Born in 1956 to Marjorie and Roy Owenby in Bat Cave, NC, Nita was raised in Gerton, NC. A mountain woman through and through, Nita brimmed with mountain know-how. She was a force of kindness and care, a beloved friend, and a natural jokester who loved to laugh. With a strong civic and entrepreneurial spirit, she built deep connections and left behind a legacy of community service.
In 1974, as a founding member of Gerton's first Volunteer Fire Department, Nita served as a firefighter, EMT, and rose to the level of Fire Captain. She especially loved the thrill of driving the fire trucks.
Nita owned and operated Nita's Groceries and with her beloved mother Majorie ever present, the two created a local hub for the Gerton Community. Nita later founded and operated two additional successful businesses: New Moon Market Place and Nita's Lawn Service, as well as being a founding member of LIM.
As Property Manager for Medicine Wheel Way, Nita nurtured a space of beauty through her care of the land and oversaw its restoration following the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Through her deep commitment and stewardship, Nita ensured that Medicine Wheel Way will continue to be a place for healing and ceremony.
After her accident in May, Nita took the name, North Dakota. She was held in fierce love and care led by her partner Sharon and beloved community members of Medicine Wheel Way, Unity of the Blue Ridge, friends of Bill W., Renewal and Resilience Tribe, big brother Butch and his wife, Bobbi Jean, and many others. Following the accident, Nita's spirit, strength, and humor remained steadfast, with stories of simple pleasures such as Moon Pies and other snack deliveries, car rides, music and song sessions, and late-night conversations now serving as cherished moments with her.
There is no replacing our dear Nita, our warrior, our North Dakota. We are forever grateful for the precious gift of her presence in our lives.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Unity of the Blue Ridge on October 12, 2025, at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Nita's memory to Medicine Wheel Way.
To read more about Nita's life and legacy, see the Folks of Fairview article by Aileen Mitchell Lawrimore: https://aileenmitchelllawrimore.com/2023/05/08/folks-of-fairview-nita-owenby/
Nita is survived by her beloved partner, Sharon Oxendine of Fletcher; her brother, Roy "Butch" Owenby (Bobbi) of Hendersonville; her niece, Tegan Goins (Wayne) of Georgia; her nephew, Alex Owenby of Tennessee; and her cherished spiritual family at Unity of the Blue Ridge and Medicine Wheel Way.
Born in 1956 to Marjorie and Roy Owenby in Bat Cave, NC, Nita was raised in Gerton, NC. A mountain woman through and through, Nita brimmed with mountain know-how. She was a force of kindness and care, a beloved friend, and a natural jokester who loved to laugh. With a strong civic and entrepreneurial spirit, she built deep connections and left behind a legacy of community service.
In 1974, as a founding member of Gerton's first Volunteer Fire Department, Nita served as a firefighter, EMT, and rose to the level of Fire Captain. She especially loved the thrill of driving the fire trucks.
Nita owned and operated Nita's Groceries and with her beloved mother Majorie ever present, the two created a local hub for the Gerton Community. Nita later founded and operated two additional successful businesses: New Moon Market Place and Nita's Lawn Service, as well as being a founding member of LIM.
As Property Manager for Medicine Wheel Way, Nita nurtured a space of beauty through her care of the land and oversaw its restoration following the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Through her deep commitment and stewardship, Nita ensured that Medicine Wheel Way will continue to be a place for healing and ceremony.
After her accident in May, Nita took the name, North Dakota. She was held in fierce love and care led by her partner Sharon and beloved community members of Medicine Wheel Way, Unity of the Blue Ridge, friends of Bill W., Renewal and Resilience Tribe, big brother Butch and his wife, Bobbi Jean, and many others. Following the accident, Nita's spirit, strength, and humor remained steadfast, with stories of simple pleasures such as Moon Pies and other snack deliveries, car rides, music and song sessions, and late-night conversations now serving as cherished moments with her.
There is no replacing our dear Nita, our warrior, our North Dakota. We are forever grateful for the precious gift of her presence in our lives.
A Celebration of Life will be held at Unity of the Blue Ridge on October 12, 2025, at 2:00pm. In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation in Nita's memory to Medicine Wheel Way.
To read more about Nita's life and legacy, see the Folks of Fairview article by Aileen Mitchell Lawrimore: https://aileenmitchelllawrimore.com/2023/05/08/folks-of-fairview-nita-owenby/
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