Mrs. Helen Bradley Krickhan

Helen Bradley Krickhan, 94, passed away peacefully, Saturday, October 30, 2010 in the loving care of nurses at Brooks-Howell Home. A native of Asheville, she was daughter of Clyde William and Annie Boone Harmon Bradley. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Richard E. Krickhan in 1992, her sister, Margaret B. Hudson, her brother, Col. Clyde William Bradley, Jr. and her nephew, Richard L. Hudson. She is survived by daughter, Elaine Anderson Motley (Charles) of Raleigh; son, J. Bradley Anderson (Donna) of Charlotte; step-daughters, Sarita K. DeRamus of Selma, AL and Katherine K. Brantley (William) of Fort Mill, SC; special daughter, Joan M. Anderson of Charlotte, NC and brother, Eckel C. Bradley (Rita) of Asheville; nine adoring and adored grandchildren who lovingly named her “Ma”; Michael Allan Cottrell (Mary Bowes Cottrell) of Castle Rock, Colorado, Debra Cottrell Painter (John Mark Painter) of Newport, NC, Gregory Scott Anderson (Gail Hardegree Anderson of Lantana, Texas, Amy Anderson Volpe (Rocco Volpe) of Durham, NC. Elizabeth Dermaus Sommerville (William Harold Sommerville) of Birmingham, Alabama, William Edward Deramus of Ft. Worth, Texas, Kristine Breazeale Carpenter (Gordon James Carpenter) of Charlotte, NC and Kelly Breazeale Hanson (Michael Lewis Hanson) of Louisville, Kentucky; twelve great-grandchildren, Kaitlyn Elaine Cottrell, Kevin Michael Cottrell, Caroline Blair Painter, Alexandra Bowe Painter, Ashlynn Bailey Anderson, Kelleigh Madeline Anderson, Roger Dale Crump, Jr., Justin Reid Crump, Nathaniel Lewis Hanson, Kaitlyn Janell Witte, Cass Hawkins Carpenter, Ainsley Anderson Volpe; two nieces, Dianne Bradley Farabow (John) of Raleigh, NC, Brenda Bradley Binning (Fay) of ValleCrucis, NC; three nephews, E. C. "Chip" Bradley, Jr., (Pam) of Charlotte, NC, Clyde William "Bill" Bradley of Asheville, NC and Brian Alan Bradley (Katherine) of Huntsville, Alabama; several great nieces and nephews, particularly close ones, Kimberly Merideth Linville and her husband, David of Asheville, NC. Mrs. Krickhan, a 1935 graduate of Asheville High School, was voted most beautiful girl in her class. She was also chosen a princess in the Court of the Queen in Asheville’s renowned Rhododendron Festival. She returned to AHS, this time as secretary to principal, Lee H. Edwards. In 1935 she married C. A. “Tip” Anderson and from that union were two children, Elaine and Bradley. In 1939 Tip was drafted and Helen went to work as a keypunch operator with Postal Accounts. The family left Asheville in 1952 for Greensboro where Tip opened a new business. The love of the mountains and being separated from her close family brought her back to Asheville in 1958. A willing chaperone and chauffeur, she became a favorite of the children’s contemporaries. It was not unusual for her to drive them to a game in Greenville after she had worked all day or to feed three of four hungry boys after basketball practice. This continued into Elaine’s years at Wake Forest where she was invited to the annual mid-winter’s dance and subsequently to chaperone a spring break beach trip. She held a variety of jobs over the years – receptionist at WLOS-TV, hostess at Buck’s Restaurant, clerk at Asheville Water Department, Grove Park Inn Gift Shop, with sister-in-law, Evelyn Anderson and great niece, Kim Linville catering. In 1971, she married her high school beau Richard Krickhan and gained two more daughters and sons-in-law and four more grandchildren. “Ma and Pa” enjoyed twenty-one years together canning, gardening, traveling, catering and bartending, laughing and loving. They were active members of First Congregational Church. Helen was the ultimate cook. Any occasion was reason for fried chicken or roast turkey, green beans canned by Dick, fresh creamed corn, country gravy, rice, cornbread and butterscotch pies. She often cooked enough on a regular basis to take portions to neighbors who lived alone. She baked brownies for children in the neighborhood and fixed lemonade or hot chocolate for the mailman and the trash collectors to enjoy with their brownies. She took great pride in her appearance and would never answer the door much less leave her home without her makeup and her hair just so. Her hair was “fixed” weekly for more than twenty-seven years by Doris Woods, the same hairdresser who prepared her hair for the final time this week. She hated to miss a hair appointment; there are fabled tales that illustrate this - Eighteen years ago while she was in Colorado babysitting with first great-grandchild, Kaitlyn, she insisted the family return from a ski-trip in blinding snow so that she could return to Asheville to keep an appointment for a haircut and perm. When she quit driving, a great niece, Kim Linville or her husband, David made weekly trips from North Asheville to Arden then to Orange Street for her appointment; Doris would return her back to Crescent View. On one occasion, Elaine and Charles drove to Asheville to take her for a perm and had to return to Raleigh the same day. For forty years, she lived in the little home on Clairmont with the well-kept yard. She moved to Crescent View Retirement Center in 2005 and ultimately to Brooks-Howell in October 2008. She was a member First Baptist Church of Asheville and the Chatmore Club. A funeral service will be held 1:00 PM Saturday, November 6, 2010 at First Congregational Church, 20 Oak Street with Revs. Joe Hoffman and Dorri Sherrill officiating. Interment will follow at Lewis Memorial Park. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service. The family request that memorial gifts in Helen’s honor be made to Brooks-Howell Home and earmarked for the Employee Enrichment Fund or for the Rose Fund at 266 Merrimon Avenue, Asheville, NC 28801. “To know her was to love her” - and to be loved by her. Morris Funeral Home, 304 Merrimon Avenue, is in charge of arrangements. Condolences may be sent through the website, www.morrisfamilyfuneralhome.com

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Mrs. Helen Bradley Krickhan

February 23, 1916 - October 30, 2010