Elizabeth Pless

Canton – Elizabeth Reece Pless, affectionately known as “Wibbie”, 80, passed away on Sunday, October 16, 2022, at Silver Bluff Nursing Home.

Wibbie was a native and lifelong resident of Haywood County and a daughter of the late Caswell McDowell and Mabel Henson Reece.  In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Homer Pless, who died in 2013; and her brother, Edgar Reece.  She was a graduate of Bethel High School and worked at American Enka Corporation.  Later Wibbie worked for a number of years at Silver Bluff Nursing Home in the Dietary Department as a baker.  She was a member of Pisgah Free Will Baptist Church.

She is survived by a daughter, Theresa Bates (Raymond) of Canton; a sister, Naomi Reece Henderson of Bethel; a sister-in-law, Elizabeth Reece of Cruso; two granddaughters, LeAnn and Cyrena Bates, both of the home; and several beloved nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19, 2022, in the Canton Chapel of Wells Funeral Home with Pastor Dewayne Rathbone and Pastor Jeff Heatherly officiating.  Burial will follow at New Cruso Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:45 p.m. prior to the service at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Pisgah Free Will Baptist Church, c/o Karen Leatherwood, 110 Harley Creek, Canton, NC  28716.

The care of Mrs. Pless has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Homes of Canton and an online memorial register is available at “Obituaries” at www.wellsfuneralhome.com