Benjamin James

"Loving Husband, Father, Grandfather"

Clyde, Benjamin "Karlisle" James, 94, passed away on Thursday, February 8, 2018 at Haywood Regional Medical Center.

Karlisle was a native and life-long resident of Haywood County and was the son of the late Benjamin and Monnie Ann McCracken James. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Edith Frances Smith James; an infant son, Anthony Dale James; sisters, Margaret Coe, Elizabeth Davis and Ellen Clark; and brothers, David and Dewitt James. Karlisle was a custodian and school bus driver for the Haywood County School System and retired on April 1, 1988 with 40 years of service. Karlisle loved farming and was the oldest living member of James Chapel Baptist Church. He served 22 years as a Deacon, Sunday School Superintendent and teacher.

Karlisle is survived by two sons, William James and his wife, Anna and Alan James and his wife, Elizabeth, of Clyde; two sisters, Sue Baldwin and Stella Sanford, of Waynesville; 7 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 5 great-great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 11, 2018 at James Chapel with Reverend Jeffrey Moore officiating. Burial will follow at Upper Crabtree Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Saturday at Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Upper Crabtree Community Cemetery Fund, 537 Bald Creek Road, Clyde, NC 28721; James Chapel, 94 James Chapel Road, Clyde, NC 28721; or to the Crabtree/Ironduff First Responders, 99 Susie Noland Road, Clyde, NC 28721.

The care of Mr. James has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes and an online memorial register is available at "Obituaries" at www.wellsfuneralhome.com

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