John Nerney

Waynesville, Dr. John Joseph Nerney, 72, died peacefully at his residence on Wednesday, July 6, 2016. John was born in Buffalo, New York, in 1944, but grew up in Atlanta. He was the son of the late Francis Xavier and Phyllis Wysocki Nerney. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Emmie Jones Phillips Nerney, and by his sister, Margaret Frances Nerney Stein. John was a graduate of the University of Notre Dame and received his Doctor of Medicine from the Medical College of Georgia. He interned at the University of California at San Francisco's Harkness Memorial Hospital. John served as a flight surgeon in the United States Navy and later acquired his training as an ophthalmologist at the University of Pittsburgh. In 1977, he established Mountain Eye Associates, where he worked until his retirement in 2001. A strong believer in giving back to his community, John was a member of St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church and the Waynesville Rotary Club, serving as Rotary president in 1985 and receiving the Paul Harris award for service to the community. He was an Eagle Scout, a regular participant in volunteer medical expeditions in Bolivia, and served for a time on the Haywood Community College Foundation Board. He was a member of the Waynesville Country Club where he frequently played golf and gin rummy with many friends. He established the July 4th Red, White & Blue Tournament and enthusiastically supported the Rotary Tournament. He was a long time board member of the 10 Country Club Homeowners Association and served a term as its president. John loved the outdoors, spending summers camping, hiking and horseback riding with family and friends in America's National Parks. He was never happier than when watching Notre Dame's Fighting Irish play on a Saturday afternoon, beating an opponent at cribbage, or spending time with the people that he loved. His family wishes to thank Bayada Home Health Care, Four Seasons Hospice, and the many medical professionals who provided excellent care during his 16 year Parkinson's illness. John is survived by his friend and companion of many years Rosalie "Bo" Prevost; daughters Sarah Agnes of Williamsburg, Virginia, and Elizabeth Jane of Chicago; sons John Andrew of Atlanta and Joseph Robert of Asheville; brother Thomas Nerney of Atlanta; sisters Mary Lyons of Melrose, Florida, Jane Burns of Gainesville, Florida, and Patricia Lewit of Atlanta; and many extended family members. Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, July 14th, at St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church with Father James Cahill officiating. A private interment will follow at Green Hill Cemetery at a later date. The family will greet friends on Wednesday, July 13th, from 5p.m. to 7pm at Wells Events & Reception Center. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the John and Emmie Nerney Scholarship Fund at Haywood Community College, 185 Freelander Drive, Clyde, North Carolina 28721 or to the Emmie Nerney Scholarship at the University of Notre Dame, Department of Development, 1100 Grace Hall, Notre Dame, Indiana 46556.

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