James Soesbee

Waynesville, James Burgin �J.B.� Soesbee, age 91, of Lodge Lane, passed away on Sunday, September 26, 2010 at his residence. A native of Haywood County, he was the son of the late Herbert and Mattie Bradley Soesbee. He was also preceded in death by his first wife, Mary Lou Morrow Soesbee, who died in 1997; three brothers, Paul, Adam, and Vanice Soesbee; and one sister, Decie Jenkins. He was a US Navy veteran of World War II and was employed by Champion International and retired as manager of the Maintenance and Engineering Department after 30 years service. J.B. was active in both the Masons and the Order of the Eastern Star. He was a 33rd Degree Mason and the past master of Clyde Lodge No. 453 and a member of the Scottish Rite. He was a member of Snug Harbor. He is survived by his wife of eleven years, Oree Hudgins Soesbee; a son, James Soesbee and his wife, Kitty, of Hunterville, North Carolina; a daughter, Sara Jo Armstrong, and her husband, Kevin, of Pearl City, Hawaii; a stepson, Ernest Hudgins, and his wife, Janice, of Knoxville, Tennessee; one brother, Wade Soesbee of Matthews, North Carolina; four grandchildren, Amanda Soesbee, Pualani Armstrong, and Leah Hudgins, and Seth Soesbee and his wife, Marla; one great grandson, Chase Soesbee; and several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, September 29, 2010 in the Waynesville Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Reverend Tim Lolly officiating followed by an Order of the Eastern Star service. Burial will follow at Pisgah View Memorial Park with Masonic graveside services. The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. on Tuesday at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Hazelwood Baptist Church, 265 Hazelwood Avenue, Waynesville, NC 28786 or the Masonic, Eastern Star Home and Oxford Orphanage, 600 College Street, Oxford, NC 27565.

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