William Ray Whiteside

Mr. Whiteside was born December 16, 1913 in Haywood County and was next to the youngest of Four children of the late William Andrew and Minnie Brown Whiteside. He was preceded in death by two brothers, Lee and John Whiteside and a sister Vella Whiteside Chambers. He and his wife moved to Candler in 1944.

Ray retired from Canton Champion Paper adn Fiber Company in 1978 after 43 years of service. He was active in church work all his productive life as Deacon and a Brother in Christ at Glady Baptist Church.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Alice Gasperson Whiteside; nine children, Bill Whitesdie of Waynesville, Don, Jack and Steven Whiteside, Beki Taylor and Sheila Hunter all of Candler, Diane Jenkins of Kernesville, Dennis Whiteside of Decatur, AL, and Roger Whiteside of Bryson City; twenty-four grandchildren and thirty-seven great-grandchildren.

He is rightly described as a man devoted to his family. He worked diligently to care for his family as long as he was able. He loved to fish and make billfolds.

his family will receive friends from 7-9:00pm Tuesday at Groce Funeral Home, and at other times will be at the home. A funeral service will be at 2:00 pm Wednesday at Glady Baptist Church with the Reverend's Charles Sprinkle(Pastor for 47 years), Gerald Sprinkle and Greg Warren officiating. Mr Whiteside will be laid to rest at Pisgah View Memorial Park.

Pallbearers will be grandsons James, Dickey, Jeff, Warren, James, Keith, Dwayne, Billy and Josh Whiteside; David Taylor, Brian Wilson and Brad Jenkins.

Memorials may be made to the Alzheimer's Association, PO Bopx 1066, Asheville, NC 28802 or to Mountain Area Hospice, PO Box 16, Asheville, NC 28802, in memory of William Ray Whiteside.