Christopher Dean

Kiser

SURFSIDE BEACH- Christopher Dean Kiser, affectionately known as Chris, was born on April 16, 1973, in Shelby, North Carolina, and passed away peacefully on October 31, 2026, in Surfside Beach, South Carolina.

Most people would never know by looking at Chris that he entered this world with the odds stacked against him. Born with tetralogy of Fallot, a congenital heart defect, Chris faced challenges from the very beginning. He proudly carried a large scar down the center of his chest, a testament to the three open-heart surgeries he endured, the first taking place shortly after birth. But Chris never allowed his medical challenges, surgeries, or countless heart procedures to interfere with his life or define the person he was meant to be.

Chris was a graduate of Crest High School and Lenoir-Rhyne University. He was a member of Shelby New Bethel Church and served on the Board of Directors for the Mental Health Association of Cleveland County.

One might have thought Chris would naturally become a devoted Duke Blue Devils fan, considering Duke University Hospital saved his life and was home to him, Mom, and Dad for a significant part of their lives. However, his “heart” apparently had other plans and led him a little farther south, where he became an avid Florida Gator fan. To this day, we’re still trying to figure out where that came from! But once Chris began his college journey at Lenoir-Rhyne University, there was no team that could come remotely close to the pride and enthusiasm he had for his LR Bears. That loyalty only grew stronger as Lenoir-Rhyne became his beloved alma mater, so joining the LR Bears Club to support scholarships and program costs for Lenoir-Rhyne’s intercollegiate athletic teams was a natural choice.

Chris was employed by Carolina Services of North Carolina as a deeply cherished and highly respected Certified Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counselor, dedicating his life to helping others navigate some of their most difficult moments. He had a remarkable ability to meet people exactly where they were in life, without judgment, and with compassion, understanding, and an unwavering desire to help. His dedication to serving others extended beyond his work and ultimately led him to serve on the Board of Directors of the Mental Health Association of Cleveland County.

That same compassion and dedication extended far beyond people. Throughout his work in mobile crisis, Chris encountered animals in need and couldn’t turn a blind eye. His heart led him to rescue and adopt Snickers, Dexter, Stewie, and Lil Bit; his beloved furry children, one cat and three dogs, whom he welcomed into his home from various circumstances. They were more than pets; they were his family, and he loved them with all of his heart.

Chris was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Lloyd and Blanche Kiser; maternal grandparents, Ruby Lee and Clyde Poston Jr.; and uncles, Timothy Kiser and Richard “Dick” Poston.

Left to cherish his memory are his parents, Dean and Anita Kiser of Surfside Beach, South Carolina; his sister, Lara Hollifield, and her husband, Brian, of Surfside Beach, South Carolina; Leanne (Jonathon) Jolley, whom he considered more a sister than a cousin; and Caroline Hartman and Chase (Candace) Hartman, whom he held in his heart as a niece and nephew. Also left to cherish his memory are his aunt and uncle, Scott and Tammy Kiser; uncle, Steve Kiser; aunts, Cynthia Blackwell , Amelia Poston and Rhonda Kiser; nieces, Monica (Chad) Bridges and Manda (Jeff) Fauble; great-niece, Jordyn Bridges; and great-nephew, Connor Bridges.

He is also survived by his cousins, Kristen Lance, Kyle Kiser, Jordan Kiser, Colby Kiser, Cortlan Zaludek, Caroline Thebeau, Eli Lance, Grayson, Addison, and Luca Hartman.

He is additionally survived by his chosen family, Chris Beaver, Ty Eaker, John Cline, Katie Cabaniss-McDaniel, and Kathy Allen, whose friendships held a special place in his life.

Chris lived a life that was never defined by the condition he was born with, but rather by the lives he touched, the people he helped, the loyalty he carried, and the love he gave so freely. He faced more heart procedures and challenges than most could imagine, yet he continued to give so much of himself to others.

Chris may have been born with a congenital heart defect, but we’d like to think that, in the end, his heart simply became too big for this side of heaven.

A celebration of life will be scheduled at a later date, allowing family and friends to come together to celebrate Chris’s life and the legacy that will live on in each of our hearts.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial contributions be made in Chris’s honor to either of the following:

Lenoir-Rhyne University Athletics

Contributions may be mailed to:625 7th Avenue NE, LRU 7467Hickory, NC 28601

Online: https://lr.edu/give

RED House Recovery Environment Delivered

Contributions may be mailed to:222 North Lafayette St, Suite 2 Shelby, NC 28150

Aquamation services provided by Tranquility Cremation by Aquamation