JoAnn Marie Pless
June 6, 1932 ~ November 24, 2008
Resided in:
Asheville, NC
JoAnn M. Pless
Asheville – JoAnn Marie Messer Pless, 76, of Asheville, died Monday, November 24, 2008 at the Memorial Campus of Mission Hospitals.
A native of Haywood County and lifelong resident of Buncombe County, she was a daughter of the late Edward C. and Marie Rhymer Messer. She was also preceded in death by her husband, Paul Joseph Pless, Sr., who died in 2002 and a granddaughter, Hayley Brooke Pless who died in 1986.
JoAnn, known as "Nanna" to many, was a wife, mother of four, sister of five, and loving grandmother of nine. Nanna will be remembered as a sassy Tar Heel cheering social butterfly with a beautiful love for life. Her love for her family and friends is evident in the collage of pictures she has hanging on her refrigerator. "We love you and will miss you until we see you again."
She was a member of Biltmore Baptist Church.
JoAnn is survived by two sons, Paul J. "Dusty" Pless, Jr. and his wife, Judy, of Asheville and Timothy Kelly Pless of Asheville; two daughters, Debbie Harris and her husband, Mike and Kathy Bowman and her husband, Mack, all of Asheville; one sister, Marilyn Smith of Charlotte, NC; eight grandchildren, Meredith Tuten of Charleston, SC, Natalie Taylor of Chicago, IL, McKenzie Kanipe, Emily Bowman, Colby Harris, Hunter Pless, Grant Bowman and Maddison Harris, all of Asheville.
A memorial service will be held at 4:00 PM on Wednesday, November 26, 2008 in the chapel of Groce Funeral Home at Lake Julian with the Reverend Gerald Davis officiating.
Interment will be private.
The family will receive friends following the service at the funeral home until 6:00 PM.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be made in JoAnn's memory to the Asheville Optimist Club Santa Pal, PO Box 1912, Asheville, NC, 28812.
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To all of the Pless Family:
Jessie and I are so sorry to hear about the passing of your Mother. Please know that all of you are in our thoughts and prayers.
JoAnn was a very special lady; who was always full of laughter, and just plain fun to be around.
May God give all of you the peace, that only He can give.
Blessings,
Tommy and Jessie Koontz
Debbie, Kathy, Dusty, and the Pless family, We are so very sorry to hear about the loss of your Mother. Jo Ann was a wonderful, loving person who was always happy, and who greeted everyone with a smile. She was a joy to be around. We’ll truly miss her.
Marsha Furness & family
To the Pless family: We extend our deepest sympathy to the entire family. When she waited to go into church, she was at Gene’s door where he greeted. She always gave him a big smile and asked about our family. She was such a beautiful lady inside and out. We know she is with Jesus. We are thankful we had the chance to know her. Our love and prayers to all of you.
Dusty, Debbie, and the rest of the Pless family.
I am am sorry to hear of the passing of your mother. Both your mom and dad were special to me while growing up in the neighborhood.
Dusty,Debbie,and Kathy and family,
I am so sorry to learn about the loss of your mother. It is a difficult time no matter when it happens, but the holidays seems to magnify the loss even more. I know how much you will miss her. I pray that memories of your mother will give you happy moments. You all are in my prayers. Sandy
Debbie & Mike: I have such wonderful memories of JoAnn since our high school days. She was always smiling, laughing & making people happy. I can’t think of anything better to be remembered for. I’ll really miss her. Love & God’s blessings on all your family.
Dusty, Debbie,Kathy & Families:We are so sad to learn of the death of our dear JoAnn. She was a true friend and we loved her very much. We will always remember the mornings at the Mall with coffee and donuts. Also, we remember so well all those years at Santa Pal with Joe, JoAnn and your family. We send our deepest sympathy and love. Cecil&Kathy
Dusty, Debbie, and Kathy, We would like for you, and all of your family, to know we are thinking of you at this difficult time. Joanne was a lovely lady with such a jovial personality. She will be missed by so many people.
We were part of JoAnn’s ‘other family’–her Mall walking buddies. We had so much fun with our ‘do-nut’ Lady. She always had a smile on her face and we will miss her very much. Even though we moved back up North (she called us traitors), we kept in touch. We loved her so very much. Our prayers are with you all, her family was everything to her.
To all of Joan Pless’ family,
As a school mate, I will miss her greatly and her kindness to everyone, she and Joe were always so generous to our high school class with the parties at their home.May God Bless each and every one of you and know that she is with her loved ones now. Shirley and Gus Colagerakis
Dear Dusty, Debbie, and Kathy,
I was very sorry to hear about Joann’s death. She had always been such a good friend of Lynn and her family. I still remember fondly a date over 20 years ago when Joe and Joann took Lynn and me out to a nice restaurant in Winston-Salem when I was a resident in surgery there. I wish all of you only the best. We will all miss Joann.
Love,
Ben Tribble
Dusty, Judy and family:
May God bless you during this time. Am sorry for your loss. You will be in our thoughts and prayers.
Brian & Nicole Boatright
Dear Dusty,Debbin,and Kathy,
I was very saddened to hear of your
Mother’s passing. I will keep you
all in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
Jim Stakias
Dear Dusty, Debbie, Kathy, and family,
We were both shocked and saddened to learn of JoAnn’s passing. We are glad that we were able to see and visit with her during our last few trips back home to Asheville. May God comfort you and bless you during this very difficult time. Although we can not attend the memorial service, please know that our thoughts and prayers are with you.
I will miss you. Thank you for all the highschool pool get togethers. K. C. Anders – Class of 1950
Dear friends,
Even though we will be out of town and miss your momma’s funeral we will be thinking of all of you and your special family at this time.
Dear Dusty, Debbie, Kathy and family,
We are so sorry to hear about Nanna. A lovely lady, always so proud of her children and grandchildren. Our prayer for you is that God will comfort and bless each of you during this difficult time.
Karen and Sonny Hollifield
Dear Pless Family,
Your loss can’t be understood, only shared by those who care, Please know we all care.
Barbara Patterson Banister
To family and friends – My prayers and thoughts are with you at this time.. Blessings and peace, Betty Nelon Rhodes
I will ALWAYS miss and love you.
Love,
Barbara Ramsey Walker
Debbie, Kathy and family, I am so sorry to hear of your mother’s passing. Please know that you both are in my thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.
I was so sad to hear of JoAnn’s passing. My memories of her are boundless and her wonderful laugh will always ring in my ears. You are in my thoughts and prayers. Love you all, Mary Ann
I was so saddened to hear of Nanna’s passing. What a wonderful Lady. I will always remember her generosity, kindness, welcoming spirit, and joyous laugh – I’m so thankful and blessed to have such wonderful memories of her. My deepest sympathy to the entire family – my thoughts and prayers are with you all. Love, Christy
Dear Pless family,
I was very sad to hear the news about JoAnn. I remember going swimming at her house when I was only about 8 years old. I will miss her very much. Best wishes to all of you, and Happy Thanksgiving.
Love,
Brantley Tribble
Dear Pless family,
Our thoughts and prayers are with you at this difficult time. My memories of Mrs. Pless are from my youth, when Debbie and I were friends in school. She was always such an elegant, lovely lady and I remember her with great fondness. I pray that you will have the peace of knowing she is in heaven with the Lord. Blessings to you all. Brenda (Wilson) Gillis
So sorry to hear about Joanne… We were friends from Jr. Hi thru High school. She was a wonderful person, and we had a lot of fun together… She will be greatly missed, but know she is well and happy now in heaven with your father. Joe….. God bless you all and watch over you durning your heart ache and grief… Much love Peggy Turner Michael
Kathy and Mack
Peg and I send condolences to you and yours. Know we are thinking of you and sending nothing but comforting thoughts your way. Take care of each other and know you will see her again. Mike will watch out for her until you can do it yourself.
Peg and Muff Mishoe
Debbie and Kathy,
Thoughts and prayers are with you from here.
Sandy