Obituary of Ned R. Trivette

On August 15, 2014 the Lord welcomed Ned Reeves Trivette home. Ned was born in the family�s farm house in the Beaver Dam Township of Watauga County on January 29, 1933 where he still resided at the time of his passing. He was the son of the late Audie E. Trivette and Susie Hagaman Trivette and was married for 33 years to the late Maxine Joyner Trivette. He was also predeceased by his brother Max Wilson Trivette. Ned grew up in Watauga County and graduated from Bethel High School in the Bethel Community. Through the influence of his mother, who had attended Appalachian Training School, and the influence of many elementary and secondary teachers who attended Appalachian State Teachers College, it seemed natural for Ned to enter Appalachian as well where he graduated in 1955 with a bachelor�s degree in business. It was at Appalachian where he met the former Maxine Joyner who graduated in 1957, they were wed that same year. Ned began his professional career with Appalachian in July 1956 when B.B. Dougherty, Appalachian vice president and comptroller, invited him to join the business office staff of five persons. During this period, Ned took a leave of absence to earn a master�s in business administration from Florida State University in 1960 returning to Appalachian after graduation. Dougherty�s untimely death in 1964 placed Ned in a position of responsibility for the fiscal and physical affairs of Appalachian, challenging the limits his enthusiasm and dedication to the Institution. For the next twenty-five years, Ned helped facilitate the transformation of a teacher�s college into a university of more than eleven thousand students. Under the leadership of President William H. Plemmons, Appalachian experienced unprecedented growth during the late fifties and early sixties and even more growth under Chancellors Herbert W. Whey and John E. Thomas in the seventies and eighties. During the growth of the University, Ned directed the planning and construction of more than thirty major campus structures. Some thirteen high-rise residence halls were financed and built that now provide campus housing for more than 4,500 students. The University also constructed 100 apartments for campus housing, academic facilities were expanded by building seven major classroom buildings, and a new library was constructed in 1968 followed by a major renovation in 1975. The development of support facilities such as food services, a new bookstore, a new student center, a new postal and health facility, warehouse and physical plant facilities, parking, walkways, and other campus enhancement were a part of the total campus expansion effort Ned led that provided for a complete university setting. The Broyhill Inn and Conference Center was planned and constructed during Ned�s tenure and Conrad Stadium, now known as Kidd Brewer Stadium was expanded twice during his time at the University, providing artificial surfaces which gave year-round activity access to students. In 1978 Appalachian State University recognized Ned as an outstanding alumnus. Ned retired as Vice Chancellor of Business Affairs on July 31, 1990. At his retirement dinner after serving the University for over thirty years, the administration announced that the new food services building on the west side of campus overlooking the scenic Duck Pond would be named Ned and Maxine Trivette Hall. Community affairs were also a source of commitment and satisfaction for Ned, as demonstrated by his service in civic, church and public activities. He served as president of the Boone Jaycees, president of Watauga County United Way, Chairman of the Watauga County Planning Board, Chairman of the Watauga County Transportation Authority and chaired numerous church committees at the First Baptist Church of Boone. After retiring from Appalachian, Ned returned to the family farm and continued his service in his church, music and the arts. He experienced great joy and love as a member of Bethel Baptist Church, where he could be found many evenings visiting members of the Bethel community with the church�s pastor, Charlie Martin. Ned was inspired by the music of Joe Shannon, the founder of Mountain Home Music and soon became an active board member and attending concerts. Ned�s love of art found a home with the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum where he was also board member. Ned hosted numerous �pig pickings� at his home in Bethel honoring both Mountain Home Music and BRAHM where attendees would delight at his skill in cooking a pig all the while engaging in conversation, enjoying the music and developing life-long friendships. In addition to his days at the family farm, Ned enjoyed traveling to Ireland and England to experience the people, culture, music and history. Ned remarried in September of 1993 to Barbara Waters of Wilmington, NC. They resided in the family farm house in Bethel and divorced in 2003. Ned is survived by his son, Mark Edward Trivette of Atlanta, GA, his daughter and son-in-law, Susan Trivette Black, wife of Dr. Keith Black of Asheville, NC and six granddaughters; Rachael Maxine Trivette, Holland Reeves Trivette, Leslie Reagan Trivette, Lauren Michelle Black, Kathryn Joyce Black and Sarah Elizabeth Black. Also surviving are his sister Mary Faye Tester of Sugar Grove, NC, niece Betsy Tester Church, nephew Larry Trivette , niece Mary Ruth Taylor, sister-in�law Ann Barr and nieces Pam Woods and Nicole Rice and several great nieces and nephews. In addition to family, Ned is survived by his two closest friends who he met while in college at Appalachian in the 1950�s, Wade Wilmoth and Robert Snead, both of Boone, NC. Ned�s family will welcome visitors at Austin & Barnes Funeral Home on Thursday evening, August 21 from 5 pm until 8 pm. A private graveside service for family will follow on Friday morning. A memorial event to celebrate Ned�s life is being planned by the family and will be held at a later date. In place of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Bethel Baptist Church Building Fund, 123 Mountain Dale Road, Vilas, NC 28692 or to Mountain Home Music, PO Box 572, Boone, NC 28607 or the Blowing Rock Art and History Museum, PO Box 828, Blowing Rock, NC 28605 Online condolences may be shared with the Trivette family at www.austinandbarnesfuneralhome.com Austin & Barnes Funeral Home & Crematory is serving the Trivette family.