Obituary: Gearl Gene Asher Sr.

Gearl Gene Asher Sr., age 78, of Oak Ridge, passed away Aug. 13, 2013.

He was born in Barbourville, Ky., on Aug. 15, 1934, to parents Wilke C. and Arizona Asher. He was a graduate of Barbourville High School and attended Union College in Barbourville, Ky.

He received a scholarship to the University of Louisville in Louisville, Ky., for undergraduate and graduate studies. As a student at U of L, he was president and business manager of the Division of Bands, head athletic trainer for major sports, president of Phi Kappa Omicron [Music Fraternity] and member of Phi Alpha Delta [Law Fraternity]. While attending U of L, Mr. Asher created and introduced “COLONEL CARDINAL, the original University Mascot.”

He moved to Oak Ridge after his father’s death in the late ’50s, joining his uncle, Garrett Asher, as sales agent with Ridge Realty Co. While with Ridge Realty, he was directly involved with the planning, submission, and approval of “The Oak Cliff PUD,” Oak Ridge’s first planned unit development. Mr. Asher was active in various civic organizations: Oak Ridge Jaycees, receiving the Blue Chip Award while serving as membership chairman, served on their board of directors, and was state Jaycee chairman for the Tennessee Teenage Rodeo; Sertoma Club board of directors, secretary, treasurer, vice president, receiving the Gold Honor Award as president; Oak Ridge March of Dimes: teen chairman, Mothers March chairman, and served on the March of Dimes Anderson County Executive Committee; Oak Ridge Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors; and chairman of the Convention and Visitors Bureau, and secretary, vice president, and president. Gearl was appointed by Mayor Bissell to the Oak Ridge Bi-Centennial Commission establishing the first Oak Ridge Performing Arts Shell in Bissell Park, and he served on the Mayors Committee on Financial Assistance for Oak Ridge.

He was a member of Anderson County Board of Realtors as membership and social chairman, and Oak Ridge High School Boosters Club as secretary, vice president, and president. While a member of Central Baptist Church in Oak Ridge, Mr. Asher enjoyed his involvement with the Sanctuary Choir and Centrals Media Department as lighting director. He moved his church membership in 2001/02 to Grace Baptist Church in Karns/Knoxville, enjoying his work with the Grace Media Department as lighting director and team media director. He was awarded the first annual “Gearl Asher Media Award” for his dedicated work with the Grace Media Department.

Mr. Asher left Ridge Realty Co. in the early ’80s, later joining The Norcoal Group of Tornado, Canada, as vice president and operations director of Norcoal of Kentucky Inc. He expanded their Kentucky Mining Division from one operating mine to three producing units in east and southeastern Kentucky. He left Norcoal in the mid-80s, forming his own coal and real estate brokerage companies, supplying coal to various industrial accounts in the North and Southeast.

Mr. Asher Sr. is pre-deceased by his parents W.C. and Arizona Asher, of Barbourville, Ky., as well as two sisters, Charmaine Asher-Wiley of Prairie Village, Kansas, and Malloney Asher of Sterling, Colo.. He leaves a son, Gearl G. Asher Jr. of Key West, Fla.

The memorial service will be held in the chapel of Weatherford Mortuary on Saturday, Nov. 16, at 5 p.m. with Rev. Mark Braddom officiating. The receiving of friends will be from 4-5 p.m. at Weatherford Mortuary.

It is requested that any memorials be sent to Grace Baptist Church, Media Department, 7171 Oak Ridge Highway, Knoxville, TN 37931. An online guest book may be signed at weatherfordmortuary.com.