James “Jim” Norwood Vause

ROCKY MOUNT - James "Jim" Norwood Vause, 88, passed away August 15, 2017. Born on February 11, 1929 in Lenoir County, NC to the late Carl and Bonnie Sutton Vause, he is preceded in death by his first wife, Vera Stroud Vause, his brother Robert Carl Vause, and his two sisters, Allene Corbin and Marguerite Kennedy. Jim leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife Ann Jones Vause of Rocky Mount; his children James Norwood Vause, Jr. and his wife Beth, Bonnie Vause Berry and her husband Matthew, Brenda Sasser and her husband Steve, Kaye Smith and her husband Danny, Martha Asby and her husband Al, and Bob Driver and his wife Melinda. He is also survived by his grandchildren, Maggie Vause, Kelsey Smith and her husband Chase, Jaclyn Berry, Paul Berry, Bobby Kay Terrill and her husband Daniel, Robbie Ann Driver, Mary Scott Driver, Brandon Smith, Kari Smith, Sydney Asby, and Morgan Asby; as well as 3 precious, great grandchildren. Jim graduated from LaGrange High School where he played both football and basketball and then went on to study construction management at NC State University. His career in construction spanned over 5 decades beginning with operating his family owned business as a building moving and rigging contractor. He later worked for NC DOT before going into commercial construction as a project manager in heavy construction and retired from Petrochemical Construction in 2007. Outside of construction, Jim was a faithful member of Dortches Baptist Church, a veteran of the United States Army, a member of the Elks Lodge of Rocky Mount, the Sudan Temple, Corinthian Lodge, a member of the Rocky Mount Shriners, a Scottish Rite member, and the Royal Order of Jesters in New Bern, NC. A Memorial Service will be held on Friday, August 18, 2017 at 3:00 PM in the Chapel of Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services with Rev. Phillip Barton, Pastor of Dortches Baptist Church, and Rev. Billy Howell officiating. Visitation with the family will be held prior to the service beginning on Friday at 2:00 PM until 2:45 PM. Burial will be the following day, Saturday, August 19, 2017 at 11:00 AM at the Westview Cemetery in Kinston, NC. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial contributions be made to the Sudan Shriners Hospital for Children, 403 East Front Street, New Bern, NC 28560, or to Dortches Baptist Church, 4776 Dortches Boulevard, Rocky Mount, NC 27804, or to Nash Hospice and Palliative Care, 2460 Curtis Ellis Drive, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. Arrangements entrusted to Wheeler and Woodlief Funeral Home & Cremation Services, 1130 N. Winstead Avenue, Rocky Mount, NC 27804. You may share memories and condolences with the family by visiting www.wheelerwoodlief.com. Visitation Location Not Available Friday 8/18, 2:00 pm - 2:45 pm Service Location Not Available Saturday 8/19, 11:00 am Cemetery Memorial Chapel of Wheeler & Woodlief Funeral Home 1130 N. Winstead Avenue Rocky Mount, NC 27804 ID ) ); ?>"> --> 252-451-8800 --> | Friday 8/18, 3:00 pm