James Clontz

James Roy "Pete" Clontz, age 72, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, April 22, 2007 at John F. Keever Solace Center in Asheville surrounded by his family. He was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County and the son of the late Eldon L. and Effie Ingle Clontz. He was also preceded in death by his step-mother, Mozelle Clontz. He was a United States Navy veteran serving during the Korean War and retired from Champion International with 39 years of service. Pete was a lifelong member of Morning Star United Methodist Church where he served as a youth counselor and a member of the church's work team. He was a retired member of Haywood County Rescue Squad, a CPR instructor receiving the Navy award for teaching CPR classes at Pisgah High School, and he was one of the first volunteer paramedics in North Carolina. Pete dedicated 31 active years of service to the Center Pigeon Volunteer Fire Department. Pete was a member of Canton Kiwanis Club and was recognized as "Man of the Year" and distinguished past president. He loved to tell jokes, loved his family and pets, and was well-known as a person who would always do things for others and never asked for any recognition for his deeds. In addition to his wife of 48 years, Barbara Sawyer Clontz, he is survived by a daughter, Maria Clontz Rogers and her husband, Mike, of Canton; three sons Jim Clontz and his wife, Kelly, Mike Clontz and his wife, Sherry, and Pat Clontz and his wife, Lisa, all of Canton; three sisters, Ellen Rhinehart and her husband, Calvin, of Spartanburg, SC, Louise McCoy and her husband, Kelly, of Candler, Barbara Slania and her husband, Bob, of Chicago, IL; two brothers, Hugh Burnette and his wife Jeanie, of Candler and Larry Burnette and his wife, Tracy, of Gulfport, MS; step-mother and step-father, Grace and Roy Davis; six grandchildren, Amanda Bowman, Jacob and Kyle Rogers, Justin, Summer, and Noah Clontz; two aunts, several nieces and nephews, cousins, and many friends. Graveside services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 25, 2007 at Morning Star Cemetery with the Reverend Doug Love and Amanda Bowman officiating. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. Tuesday at Wells Funeral Home of Canton. Pallbearers will be Mike Rogers, Larry Henson, Terry, John, and Chris McCoy, Sonny Moore. At other times, the family will be at the residence. Memorials may be made to Morning Star United Methodist Church Improvement Fund, 2535 Dutch Cove Road, Canton, NC 28716.

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