Edith L. Asher

Edith L. Asher, 98 of Pineville, passed away peacefully on Friday, August 14, 2026, at the Middlesboro Nursing & Rehabilitation Center. She was born in Fourmile on December 17, 1927, a daughter of Lillie Carmony Lester. She graduated from Lone Jack High School in 1945, with subsequent degrees from the Kentucky School of Cosmetology in 1946 and Kentucky Business School in 1964.

Edith was a remarkable member of the community where her involvement extended beyond her work. She was a former member of the Pineville Utility Commission, Bell County Tourism, Southeast Kentucky Tourism, and Supervisor of Group Sales for Kentucky State Resort Park System until she retired in 1994. She was a member of ASTA and represented Kentucky in Washington DC, American Folk Festival, she represented Kentucky in Montreal, Canada, and Palm Springs, California. She was appointed to the Consumer Advisory Boards, Sole Worker for donations for 7 large outdoor lights for the Pine Mountain State Resort Park, organized swimming classes for those at Clear Creek Baptist Bible College, and hosted the Jaycee International President in 1960. She was a Kentucky Colonel, Kentucky Colonette Career Service Award for 30 years. Belonged to the Wendell Ford Society, on the Reception Committee for the Cumberland Gap Natural Historical Park Tunnel Dedication, House of Representatives Citation, Education Institute 1989-1993, Governor’s Staff for the Kentucky Derby for 15 years. Instrumental worker for “The Book of Job” for 20 years, helped with Boys and Girls Scouts, member of the Pineville Jr and Sr Women’s Club, Garden Club, and Salvation Army. Edith went with mission groups to Israel, Egypt, and Costa Rica, and served on the Democratic Executive Committee for Bell County. She was the Chair of the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival in 1973, worked in festival service since 1947, also served as a director until 2011, when she became an honorary director.

Edith was a believer in the Baptist Faith, becoming a Christian at the age of 10, a member of the First Baptist Church in Pineville since 1945 and later, First Baptist Church in Middlesboro.

Edith is preceded in death by her mother, Lillie Carmony Lester; brothers, Glen Harold Lester and William Henry Lester; sister-in-law, Ruth Lester.

Edith is survived by her son, David Michael Asher and wife, Cassandra; daughters, Georgiana A. Shelby and husband, Roy, and Sharon A. Goodin and husband, Joey; grandchildren, Penny Alexander, Shawna Lowe, Timothy Asher, Alyson Wiggins, Adrienne Jones, Beth Shelby, Rebecca Shelby, Amie Goodin, Evan Goodin, Jonathan Goodin, and Maredith Goodin; great-grandchildren, Elayne Shelby, Luke Wiggins, Maddux Wiggins, Amelia Jones, Mallory Jones, Zoya Goodin, Leon Goodin, Kentucky Anne Christy, and August Christy; nieces, Linda Hillegass, Wanda Noyer, and Sandra Brown; nephews, William “Bill” Lester; special cousin, June Correll; loving caregivers, Rose and Amy; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Funeral services will be at 3:00 PM on Saturday, August 22, 2026, at the Arnett & Steele Funeral Home. Honorary Pallbearers will be John Turpin, Daniel Mongiardo, Brandon Smith, John Combs, John Slusher, Colby Slusher, and John Widner.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made in Edith’s honor to the Kentucky Mountain Laurel Festival Foundation or to a charity of your choice.

The family will receive friends on Saturday from 12:00 PM until the funeral hour at the Arnett & Steele Funeral Home and Cremation Center in Pineville, which is honored to serve the Asher Family.