John Pless

Canton- John Edward "Ed" Pless of the Stamey Cove Community went to be with the Lord on Monday, September 19, 2005, at Memorial Mission Hospital. He was a son of the late Ray and Ada Rogers Pless and was preceded in death by a brother, Hilliard Pless. He retired from Champion International Papers with 45 years of service having worked as a supervisor in the finishing room and was later promoted to a paper inspector in the Industrial Engineering Department. Mr. Pless graduated from Bethel High School. He was a member of First United Methodist of Canton and served as a Sunday School teacher, was active in local and at district levels and on building teams in Mexico, Kenya and Florida. He was a member of Gideon's International, Wycliffe Bible Translators, Haywood Christian Ministries, Habitat for Humanity and Champion Old Timers. He was a United States Marine veteran having served in World War II in California and the South Pacific. He received the North Carolina Governor's award in 1991 for his work with the Council on Aging. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Evelyn Stiles Pless; two daughters and their husbands, Denise and Mike Cairnes of Canton and Pamela and Bobby Justice of Waynesville; one son and his wife, Mark and Kathy Pless of Waynesville; one brother, Carroll Pless of Waynesville; 6 grandchildren, Casey Chambers, Karen Hopkins, Jeff Cairnes, Jason Pless, Heather Hyatt and Alison McDowell; 7 great-grandchildren, Jonathan Cairnes, Caleb Chambers, James Hopkins, Colby Chambers, Meredith Hopkins, Jessica Cairnes and Jacob McDowell. Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, September 22, 2005, at First United Methodist Church of Canton with the Reverend Alice Day officiating. Burial will follow in Piney Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 9:00 p.m. Wednesday evening at Wells Funeral Home in Canton and also one hour prior to the service at the church Thursday. Pallbearers will be grandsons and grandsons-in-law and nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be great-grandsons and the Men's Bible Class of Canton First. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church of Canton, 29 Newfound Street, Canton, NC 28716 or Gideon's International, East Haywood Camp, Box 1204, Canton, NC 28716. At other times, the family will be at the residence in Stamey Cove.

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