Online Obituaries

Bess Littleton

April 07, 1926 - October 08, 2009

Bess T. Littleton, of Spruce Pine, North Carolina passed away on Thursday, October 8, 2009 after a long battle with cancer. She was born in Honokaa, Hawaii April 7, 1926. She later moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan, where she earned her Bachelors Degree from the University of Michigan, and met and married Harvey K. Littleton. They moved to Wisconsin where Harvey taught ceramics and later glassblowing at the University of Wisconsin, Madison. During their early years she milked cows, raised ducks and guinea hens, and cared for an assortment of cats and dogs and their four children on their farm. She was an active volunteer on community committees and boards, was a member of the League of Women Voters and the Sunset Garden Club, led a Girl Scout troop, and assisted her husband in developing his career as an artist and university professor.

In 1976 Harvey retired from the University and they moved from Wisconsin's cold winters to North Carolina, seeking a more temperate climate. Harvey established a hot glass studio, Littleton Studios, with Bess as General Manager.

She served on the board of the Mitchell County Department of Social Services and was instrumental in establishing hospice care in Mitchell County. She was a founding board member of Mitchell County Hospice and also volunteered with patients and their families until she retired in 2002. Mitchell County Hospice named her the Volunteer of the Decade in 2003.

Bess was very passionate in anything she did and loved animals, gardening, and family, and was an ardent supporter of the arts.

She is survived by her husband of 62 years, Harvey K. Littleton; her children, Carol L. Shay of Bakersville, Thomas H. Littleton of Spruce Pine, Maurine B. Littleton of Washington DC, and John C. Littleton and wife, Kate Vogel of Bakersville; her sister, Louise Eberhart and husband, Lyle of Madison, Wisconsin; brother Thomas Tamura of Mississippi; along with eight grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

A sister, Dorothy Mangan, and a young daughter, Kathryn Tamara preceded her in death.

Funeral Information

No services are planned at this time, but a family gathering will be held at a later date

Donations Information

Donations may be made in memory of Bess T. Littleton to The Hospice and Palliative Care Center of Mitchell County, PO Box 38, Spruce Pine, NC 28777



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