Worth Lee Ashley

WORTH LEE ASHLEY, age 74, of Palm Bay, Florida, formerly of Bel Air, Maryland passed away at his home on June 29, 2006 after a long battle with lung cancer. Worth, as he was known to all his friends, was born February 3, 1931 in Smithport, North Carolina. He was one of eleven children born to the late Rev. Arthur Ashley and his wife, the late Molly Williams-Ashley of Smithport, North Carolina.

The Ashley family moved to the Bel Air area when Worth was a young man. For many years he assisted his father on the family dairy farm located near Hickory, MD. He attended Franklin Baptist Church where he met his wife, Helen Dalinger of Darlington.

Worth later joined the Maryland Water Works where he worked as a meter-reader around the Bel Air area. Following retirement from the Water Works, Worth and Helen began another exciting venture, ASHBETS Crafts. Their craft shows took them to many states where they enjoyed exhibiting their beautiful floral arrangements and unique craft pieces. This truly was an enjoyable time of life for Worth and Helen as they not only got to see many different places, but met and made new friends along the way.

Worth also enjoyed fishing on the Bay, and spending time at their place in Ocean City, MD. They attended Bel Forest Baptist Church for many years before retiring to Florida.

Worth is survived by his wife, Helen of 55 years of marriage. They had two children, Martha Mosch and Mark Douglas Ashley. Mark was killed in an automobile accident in 1993 in North Carolina. Martha and her husband, Brad now reside in Cocoa, Florida. Another dear and beloved member of Worth’s family is his little pug dog, Sadie Mae.
Worth’a other immediate living family members consist of his sisters, Lora Mae Abraham and her husband, Tommy of Havre de Grace, MD, Micki Thomas-Firsow and her husband, Alex of Abingdon, MD, and Pat Hitchcock and her husband, Arnold of Street, MD; and a very special family friend and supporter, Father Joseph C. Martin who resides with the Abraham family.

In addition to his son and parents, Mr. Ashley was predeceased by his brothers, Arthur Ashley, Jr., Claude Ashley, Carl Ashley, Roger Ashley and Daryl Ashley and his sisters, Grace Bull and Mary Testerman.

Mae Abraham and Father Martin are the co-founders of Father Martin’s Ashley, a non-profit alcoholism treatment center located on the Susquehanna River near Havre de Grace, MD. The Center opened in 1983. Worth volunteered to help with the restoration and renovation of the old Mansion on the grounds which is an important part of the Center today. He was so pleased to be part of the early history of Ashley and proud of his sister Mae’s efforts to bring about this wonderful addition to the treatment field.

Pallbearers will be Roger Ashley, Michael Hitchcock, Arnold Hitchcock, Alex Abraham, Brad Mosch, and Alex Firsow. Honorary pallbearers will be Robert Taylor, Herb Hurst, Paul Church, Tyro Brooks, Harold Blevins, and Jeff Barton.