Evelyn Pless

Canton – Evelyn Stiles Pless, age 93, passed away on Thursday, January 7, 2016 at The Homestead in Clyde. Mrs. Pless was born in McMinn County, Tennessee. She was the daughter of the late Harley and Dorinda Stiles. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, of 64 years, J. Edward Pless and a brother, Ted Stiles. When she was two years old, her family moved to Canton and she graduated with the class of 1939 from Canton High School. She later graduated from Pfeiffer Junior College and worked in the Main office of Champion Paper & Fiber Company. During World War II she and Mr. Pless were married in Los Angeles, California. During his tour of duty there she was a secretary at the Naval Ammunition Depot in Fallbrook, California. They resumed their family life in Canton after the war where their three children were born. When the children reached school age, she enrolled in Western Carolina University and earned her BS degree in Education. Mrs. Pless taught at Canton Junior High for 23 years. During her retirement years, Mrs. Pless was an active member of the Gideon's Auxiliary, Retired Teachers, the Canton Appearance Committee, and a president of the Canton Woman's Club. She was widely travelled both in the United States and abroad, especially treasuring trips to the Holy Land and Mainland China. She participated in Methodist Building Teams in Moncks Corner, South Carolina; Monterey, Mexico; Barbados; and Kenya. A life-long member of Canton First Methodist Church, she has been a teacher and held various offices over the years in the church and in the district. She is survived by three children and spouses: Denise and Mike Cairnes, Pam and Bobby Justice, and Mark and Kathy Pless. Six grandchildren: Casey Chambers, Jeff Cairnes, Karen Hopkins, Alison McDowell, Jason Pless, and Heather Hyatt. Ten great-grandchildren: Caleb and Colby Chambers, Jonathan and Jessica Cairnes, James and Meredith Hopkins, Jake and Carly McDowell, and Samuel and Isaiah Hyatt. Two brothers: Bruce Stiles of Richfield, North Carolina, and Don Stiles of Canton. Funeral services will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, January 10, 2016 in the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with the Reverend Donnie Henson and Reverend Mark Caldwell officiating. Burial will follow at Piney Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 1:30 p.m. until 3:00 prior to the service at the funeral home. At other times the family will be at the home of Karen and Henry Hopkins, 99 Silo Ridge Road, Waynesville, NC 28786. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Gideon International-Haywood East Camp, P.O. Box 1204, Canton, NC 28716.

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