Herbert Clifton Quarles, 82, of Hendersonville, NC, passed peacefully at home on November 29, 2024. He was born in Shelby, NC in 1942 to Hugh Shepard Quarles and Mary Ellen Owens Quarles. His family moved to Hendersonville when he was young, where he grew up and graduated from Hendersonville High School before studying Industrial Arts at Western Carolina University. In 1963, he married his first wife, Linda Carol Jenkins. Together they had his only child, Cecilia Elizabeth.
Upon graduation from Western Carolina, Herb began a career in the furniture industry with Thomasville Furniture Company. During these early years, he and Linda began showing dogs, traveling up and down the east coast, and breeding some of the top Scottish Terriers in the country. Over time they grew apart; however, he still loved the dogs and continued to show them. During this time in his life, he met the love of his life, Betty Virginia “Ginger” Quarles who shared his mutual love for Scottish Terriers. They married in July 1987 and started on their great adventure together.
All through Herb’s life, he was very creative. His hobbies included photography, stained glass, pottery, needlework, and making furniture. In the fall of 1987, he and Ginger decided to move back to Hendersonville, leaving the furniture industry behind. He had been turning wood as a hobby, giving gifts to friends and family and decided to pursue his creations in earnest. He built a shop in the backyard and founded Aerie Wood. Now he and Ginger were traveling to craft shows up and down the east coast. He always looked for unique ways to highlight each piece of wood. In 1990, he received an Emerging Artist Grant, which allowed him the opportunity to study under some of the best wood-turning artisans in the country at Arrowmont School in Gatlinburg, TN. His work has been shown in galleries and gift shops all over the southeast. Even after he “officially” retired, he maintained his working shop continuing to make gifts for friends and family. He even gave lessons to a few aspiring wood turners, paying the art forward.
Herb enjoyed traveling. He and Ginger were able to complete one of their life goals of traveling to every state. Most of that was done by car, except where impossible. He particularly enjoyed visiting state and national parks where he would take photographs of nature. Not only did he like to take pictures of nature, but he was also an avid hunter and fisherman. If it wasn’t in season, he would be getting ready for the next one. Another one of his creative outlets was a love of gardening. He collected uncommon plants and at one time had something blooming in his yard 365 days a year. Along with travel during his retirement years, he worked at A Growing Concern and taught adult education classes in landscaping at Blue Ridge Community College. You could always go to him with a gardening question. He had an eye for placement and understanding of how to help the plants thrive. He enjoyed being out in nature and the beauty of the land. We will all miss his knowledge and excitement about the wonders of the world.
Herb was preceded in death by his parents Hugh Shepard Quarles and Mary Ellen Owens Quarles, his siblings Linda McCoy and Kevin Shepard Quarles.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Virginia “Ginger” Quarles, daughter Cecilia Elizabeth Higgins, her husband Jason Corbett Higgins and grandchild Jennifer Zappa-Higgins along with several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
There will be a memorial service at St John in the Wilderness in Flat Rock, NC on December 12, 2024, at 2:00 pm followed by a reception in the parish hall. In lieu of flowers, donations to St John in the Wilderness are greatly appreciated.
Jackson Funeral Service is honored to servce the Quarles family.