James Rhea

Canton - James D. "Jim" Rhea, age 82, of North Canton Road died Sunday, June 15, 2003 at Haywood Regional Medical Center.

He was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County and was the son of the late Dewey and Polly Duckett Rhea. He was preceded in death by his wife, Edith Ivester Rhea who died in 1995 and a grandson, James "Bo" Rhea who died in 1992.

He retired in 1986 from the Haywood County Schools with 33 years of service. He was also employed with American Enka Corp. He was a member of North Canton Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and was a choir member. He was a World War II United States Army Veteran serving mostly in New Guinea and was also awarded two Bronze Service Stars.

He is survived by a daughter Kathy and her husband, Mark Pless; a son, James H. Rhea and his wife, Freddie Jane; a sister, Margaret Rhea Surrett all of Canton; three brothers, Johnny W. Rhea of Salisbury, Gene Rhea of Pasadena, TX and Joseph Rhea of MS as well as seven grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, June 17, 2003 at the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with the Reverend Keith Clark officiating. Burial will follow at Bon-A-Venture Cemetery, Old Clyde Road. The family will receive friends from 12:00 noon - 1:45 p.m. prior to the services at the funeral home. Pallbearers will be Matt Rhea, Jason Pless, Tim Kelley, Jeremy Clark, Jason Tilley, Joshua Kelley, Grady VanLandingham and Ray Pressley. Memorials may be made to North Canton Baptist Church Landscaping Fund, North Canton Road, Canton, NC 28716.

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