Bern Walser Obituary

“Buy the ticket, take the ride” – Hunter S. Thompson
Edward Bern Walser died at home after a long battle against a brain tumor.
Bern was born and raised in Raleigh, second child of Frank Walser, and Ellen Walser. He attended Sherwood Bates Elementary, Josephus Daniels Junior High School, and Needham Broughton High School. Bern attended North Carolina State University, where he majored in Political Science.
He worked initially in the building trade with his grandfather John Hornbuckle, owner and operator of Carolina Waterproofing. It was under the exacting guidance of award-winning general contractor Frank Walser that Bern acquired the skills in carpentry and home construction that would shape his professional life. Like his father, Bern dedicated himself to general contracting, becoming a master builder in his own right.
Bern is survived by his wife of 24 years, Jill Anderson; mother, Ellen Walser Manooch; brother, Ray (Sandra) Walser of Reston, VA; brother, David (Emily) Walser of Raleigh; sister, Beth Clements (Amy Bullard) of Raleigh, and Jill’s siblings, Suellen (Hal) Hudson of Pensacola, FL; Marc (Maggie) Anderson of Jacksonville Beach, FL; and Craig (Stephanie) Anderson of Jacksonville Beach, FL.
Over the years, Bern and Jill opened their homes and lives to a parade of nephews and nieces, Raymond, Emily, Greyson, Margot, Frank, Mary, Alex, Charles, Ethan, and Duncan.
Bern’s life was deeply enriched by lifetime friendships with Charles, Heyward, Kent, Murray, Pat, Peter, and Sprague who stood by him throughout his ordeal.
Sadly, Bern’s devoted feline companions - Bert, Gordon, Lowell, Lucy and Margaret - will sorely miss their doting friend.
The family wishes to thank the Drs. Reardon and Forman at the Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke University Medical Center and the dedicated and caring staff of Heartland Hospice, especially Jeannie Brown and Priscilla Quinones, and his loving caregivers Yvonne Henry and Marian Pierce.
A celebration of Bern’s life will be held at the home on May 15, 2010 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. Interment of his ashes will be at a later date in the Warren Wilson College Cemetery in Swannanoa, NC.
In lieu of flowers contributions can be made in Bern’s memory to Habitat for Humanity or the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals.

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by The News & Observer on May 3, 2010.

Memories and Condolences
for Bern Walser

11 Entries

Frances Pou Carr

May 6, 2010

My thoughts and prayers are with you and your families. I have many fond memories of Bern growing up.

John Hearn

May 5, 2010

I'm sorry to hear of Bern's passing. I knew him only as a childhood friend, through our common friend and neighbor Bob Oliver. All of us teenage kids played football in the vacant lot beside our house on Fairview Road, where Oaks of Fairview offices now stand. I remember Bern had a kind, friendly personality.

Sharon Barrell

May 5, 2010

Dear Jill: Bob and I have thought of you and Bern often in the last 3 years as you've worked through this challenge. We wish you peace now.

Carmita Meko

May 4, 2010

Dear Ray, Sandra and family, we are sending our condolences to you and your family. We will keep you andfamily in our prayers. Carmita and Ed.

Phil Jarvis

May 3, 2010

Dear Jill and family, I was sorry to hear of Bern's passing. I know it has been a long hard road. All can take comfort that he's not suffering anymore. I'm sorry I will be unable to attend the celebration of Bern's life on the 15th. God bless and take care. Cousin Phil Jarvis

May 3, 2010

Jill, Suellen has kept me abreast of Bern's illness and I have kept both of you on my prayer list for sometime. All of Hal and Suellen's Pensacola friends are keeping you and your family in our thoughts and prayers. God Bless you during this heart breaking time. Joan Bullock

Marie McEachern - NDRI, Inc.

May 3, 2010

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

May 3, 2010

Dear Jill, We wand to send our sympathies to you at thie time. We were so sorry to hear about Bern. We met him once in 1997 - a truly great man who will be missed by all is family and frineds. It was tragic that his life was cut short. And we are sorry that the end of his life was so tramatic.
Take care of yourself. You are in our thoughts.
all our love, glen and jean bennett - Tucson

May 3, 2010

Jill, what a wonderful tribute you and the family wrote for your husband, Bern. The love and admiration for this man came through in every line. Bern obviously loved many and give much; the list of those who loved him and shared time with him confirms his impact on his family and friends. I know you will miss your husband and no words can make this feel better; yet, please know that others do care and will pray for you and Bern's friends and family. Yevonne Brannon

May 3, 2010

Jill,
You and your family are in my thoughts and prayers at this very difficult and sad time.
Becky Ebron

Mike Jones

May 3, 2010

Jill, I'm so sorry to here about Bern. Of all the contractors I have worked with through the years Bern was probably the most unique, he was always very personnable, funny and very easy to work with. I have many fond memories of the jobs we did togather. I still remember the first time I met Bern, I was doing side work at the time and had an ad in the ad pac, Bern called me to do some work at y'alls house. I gave him a price for the work and then began, Bern immediately started helping me, later I asked him why he worked so hard helping me and he told me it was because my price was to cheap, I had underestimated how hard it would be working on that old house and Bern new that, but he didn't leave me out there to hang myself, he pitched in. I think sometimes Bern also helped because he just wanted to have his hands on any work that was done there. I will always have fond memories of Bern and I still tell stories to my guys about some of the jobs we did togather and how Bern was quite a character.
God Bless

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