Richard Lee Coleman Jr.

Richard Lee Coleman, Jr., 67, of Asheville, North Carolina passed away on the morning of December 17, 2012 after an extended illness. Visitation services will be held HM Patterson & Son, 4550 Peachtree Road NE on Wednesday, December 19 from 6 to 8 pm. Funeral services will be held at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church on Thursday December 20 at 12:30pm with Reverend Bill Britt officiating. Rick was born on November 14, 1945 in Asheville, North Carolina. He attended Christ School and Lee Edwards High School and majored in Economics at North Carolina State University. Rick married Maureen "Bam" Kelly of West Palm Beach, Florida in 1969. Rick was a principle of RL Coleman & Company, the real estate development and management business founded by his father, the late Richard Lee "Pokey" Coleman, Sr. Under Rick's leadership, Asheville Mall, the Company's flagship property, was expanded, renovated, and ultimately sold to CBL & Associates Properties in 1997. In addition to managing Asheville Mall, Rick developed several other shopping centers, apartment complexes, and subdivisions in Asheville, NC and the Greater Atlanta Area. Always being mindful of the needs of the Western North Carolina area he dearly loved, he founded a waste management company to fill a gap in service he identified in the community. Rick was a member of Biltmore Forest Country Club in Asheville, and Park Meadows Country Club in Park City, Utah, where he maintained a home in Deer Valley for the enjoyment of his family and friends. He was active in various civic and social organizations in Asheville, including the Brigade of Guards, the Asheville Symphony Board, and the Boy Scout Board. Rick was known for his love of life, his sense of humor, his impeccable style and his unending generosity to those he loved. Rick loved to play golf, snow ski, collect fast cars and Harley Davidson motor cycles, travel, attend sporting events, and spend time with his family. He is survived by his wife Maureen, his son Richard Lee Coleman III, daughter Kelly Prewitt, and three beloved grandsons Coleman Prewitt, Daniel Prewitt, and Philip Coleman, all of Atlanta, GA and his mother Betty Bryan Coleman and brother Thomas Coleman, both of Asheville, NC. The family has requested that in lieu of flowers donations be made to the The Association for Frontotemporal Degeneration at theaftd.org.