Peter Reid Nagle left this life and his dearly beloved family and friends suddenly and unexpectedly on February 9th, one day before his and Karen’s 44th wedding anniversary.  He lived every moment of his life to the fullest with a big, loving and generous heart.  Among his all-time favorites were his family, his work, his community, solving challenging problems, traveling and peppering every situation with a dash of his own special brand of humor.  He had a special place in his heart for these mountains, the people of Hot Springs, restoring old buildings, antiquing with Karen and he loved his animals.  He loved the small farm he and Karen had purchased and moved to this past September and was looking forward to spending the last years of his life gardening, raising chickens, having bonfires by the water of Spring Creek and sitting on the porch with friends and family.

Publicly known for his skills in the financial world, at heart Pete was truly a mentor to others.  People of many ages and walks of life looked to him for counsel, support or just as a fatherly figure.

Pete was born on March 26, 1947 in Boston, MA to Henrietta and James Nagle and was raised there and then in Wilmington, DE.  He played football and graduated from Colgate University and then tried out as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys.   Deciding that wasn’t the path he wanted, he served in the US Army and then moved to Dayton, OH, was employed with a bank where he met Karen, and then went on to pursue his Master of Business Administration at the University of Dayton.

Moving to North Carolina in 1977 he enjoyed a successful financial career and raised his family in Charlotte until moving to Hot Springs in 1999.  There he passionately enjoyed restoring and running the Mountain Magnolia Inn and working with the Hot Springs Tourism Association and the town.  He was also an investment advisor for a small number of clients.

He served his family as a solid rock throughout the years following his youngest child, Jenna’s, Traumatic Brain Injury in 2003.

He is survived and sorely missed by his wife, Karen, his daughters, Dana Nagle, Jenna Nagle, son, Phil Jones (Angie); brother, Reid Nagle (Sarah); grandsons, Ian and Tripp Jones; nephews McKenzie Nagle, Daniel Gornall and Nathan Gornall; nieces, Erin Atkiss and Sophie Pepper Nagle; mother-in-law, Dottie Mercer; Sister-in-law, Teresa Gornall (Nik); brothers-in-law Scot Bach and Tom Bach.

It is hard for his family and loved ones to imagine the world without him.

The family requests donations in his memory/honor be made to either the Hot Springs Fire Dept., PO Box 218: Hot Springs, NC  28743; The Hot Springs Library Fund, PO Box 175, Hot Springs, NC  28743 or the Madison County Arts Council, PO Box 32, Marshall, NC  28753. 

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