Tonia Lanise Bouhkris, age 55, of Hendersonville, North Carolina, passed away on Tuesday, January 27, 2026.

She was born on Saturday, February 14, 1970, in Hendersonville, NC, to Vernon Eugene King and Teresa Phillis Stepp King. Tonia lived her life deeply rooted in the community she loved, spending her entire life in Hendersonville.

On August 21, 1992, Tonia married the love of her life, Luis J. Bouhkris, with whom she shared more than three decades of marriage, partnership, and creativity.

Tonia is survived by her devoted husband, Luis; her son, Alex T. King; and her daughter, Cara Lanise Simpson.

Preceeding her, are her parents and her brother, Adrian Eugene King.

A botanist by trade and an artist at heart, Tonia was best known for her decades-long presence at the Hendersonville Tailgate Market, where her perennial sales became a familiar and cherished part of the community. She was also the owner and creator behind Fairy House Works, a beloved local business where she handcrafted unique stone fairy houses—each one built stone by stone, often taking more than 40 hours to complete.

As shared on her business site, in words she loved and lived by:“We make these houses one stone at a time. Most take 40 hours to build, and you can set them outdoors—they will last for years.”

Her fairy houses have found homes across the United States and are now treasured as collector’s items—enduring symbols of her imagination, patience, and love for the natural world.

Tonia’s life was marked by creativity, dedication, and a quiet magic she brought to everything she touched. She will be remembered for her artistry, her work ethic, her love of plants and stone, and the beauty she left behind—both in her family and throughout her community.

She will be deeply missed.

The care of Mrs. Bouhkris has been entrusted to A Simple Cremation in Candler, NC.