Kurt Vance, age 82, of Avery County High School Road in Newland, passed away Tuesday, September 22, 2026. 

Born on July 10, 1944 in McDowell County, he was the son of the late Luther and Lida Cornett Vance.

Kurt was an active member of the Oak Grove Baptist Church for seventy-five years and had served as a deacon since 1970. He was the owner and operator of Christmas Tree Hill Garden Center for thirty-one years. He loved spending time with his family, particularly his grandchildren and great grandchildren. He enjoyed old vintage cars, going to car shows and antiques of all kinds. He enjoyed traveling and had visited many parts of the United States and he enjoyed camping as well. He was proud of being at the opening ceremony of the Lin Viaduct with one of his vintage cars.

Left to cherish his memories is his wife of sixty-two years; Hazel Buchanan Vance, his sons; Jeff Vance and wife, Sharon and Joe Vance and wife, Missy, his sister; Melba Burleson and husband, Kerry, his grandchildren; Allison Phillips (Samuel), Abigail Johnson (Travis), Hailey Avery (Sawyer), Shayna Cole (Danny Ray), and Jeremiah Vance (McKenzie), and his great grandchildren; Tripp, Teagan, Whitt, Huxton, Harlan, Kollyns, Declan, Corrinne, and Jameson.

Graveside Services and interment will be on Saturday, September 26, 2026 at 2:00 pm at the Clark Cemetery with the Rev's Casey Rayfield and Travis Johnson officiating. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to Oak Grove Baptist Church for their playground project.

The care of the Vance family has been entrusted to Beam Tri-County Funeral Service.