James Greeley

Canton, NC—James Patrick Greeley, 87, passed away on Saturday, December 24, 2011, in his home. Known by everyone as Pat, he will be remembered for his dedication to his lifelong work in funeral service, where he served families with compassion, love and empathetic understanding. Born in Roanoke, Virginia on September 19, 1924, he was the son of Emmett Edward Greeley and Lula Baker Greeley. He was preceded in death by his wife, Miriam Wells Greeley, who passed away on December 26, 2001; a sister, Charlotte Murphy; and a brother, Emmett Edward "Hank" Greeley, Jr. Pat graduated from the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy in Kings Point, New York and served as a Deck Officer in the Maritime Service during World War II. He attended Richmond Professional Institute and while in college, met and married his wife, Miriam. After accepting a position to join Wells Funeral Home, he graduated from mortuary science school in Nashville, Tennessee. Pat's career in funeral service spanned more than 50 years, and he and his late wife, Miriam, were co-owners of Wells Funeral Homes, Inc. for a number of years. He was a Past President of the North Carolina Funeral Directors Association and the North Carolina State Board of Funeral Service. Pat was very civic-minded and served many different roles within the community. He was a member of Canton First Baptist Church where he served as a former deacon and member of the Finance Committee; member of Pigeon River Masonic Lodge 386; Past President and member of Canton Lions Club; former Alderman of the Town of Canton; member of the seven-man Haywood County School Consolidation Committee; former member of the Advisory Board of the Canton Branch of First Union National Bank, Canton Savings Bank and was a member and former Chairman of the Advisory Board of RBC Centura Bank. Pat was also active in the referendum to build and relocate the Haywood County Hospital, now MedWest Haywood and served on the Hospital Foundation Committee as well as the Haywood Economic Development Commission. Pat was a consummate gentleman and his kindness and generosity, he displayed daily, will live on in the hearts and lives of those he touched. He is survived by his daughter, Laura Greeley Baker of Beaufort, South Carolina; one son, J. Wells Greeley and his wife, Kathy, of Waynesville; a sister, Dorothy Meador, of Roanoke, Virginia. His five surviving grandchildren are Michael Robinson Ragsdale, Jr. (Kacey) of Raleigh, North Carolina, Patrick Greeley Ragsdale of Beaufort, South Carolina, Judson Battle Ragsdale of Atlanta, Georgia, Jennifer Greeley Jacobson (Ryan) of Clyde, North Carolina, and James Alexander Greeley of Wellington, Florida. Also, surviving are five great-grandchildren, Miriam Cordelia Ragsdale, James Robinson Ragsdale, William Sewell Ragsdale, Caden James Rodgers-Greeley, and Wells Patrick Jacobson. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, December 28, 2011 at Canton First Baptist Church with Reverend Jay Meadows officiating. Burial will follow at Bon-A-Venture Cemetery, Old Clyde Road. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 27, 2011 from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Wells Funeral Home of Canton. The family would like to express their deep appreciation to Care Angels for their exemplary care over the past two years. Memorials may be made to Canton First Baptist Church, 74 Academy Street, Canton, NC 28716 or MedWest Haywood Hospice, 560 Leroy George Drive, Clyde, NC 28721.

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