Cedar Mountain - John Douglas Pace went to be with the Lord on May 1, 2025.

He was born on June 22, 1938, to Joe and Elizabeth Heath Pace at the family home on Reasonover Road.  He was predeceased by his wife Thelma Jones Pace, daughter Regina Pace Bouye (Dickie), grandson Ryan Dieterich (Lonnie) and siblings Dorothy Pace Lee, Jean Pace Baynard Hamby and Joe Earl Pace.

Doug loved telling stories of the mischief that took place at the Cedar Mountain School when he was a young boy, He graduated from Brevard High School and attended Brevard College for one year. He was an employee of Ecusta for forty-two years, where he acquired the nickname "Smooth." As owners of Kelly's Restaurant after retirement, Thelma and Doug served the town of Brevard with great food and conversation for seven years and also catered events. He was known to raid the dessert cooler at Kelly's and loved a good German Chocolate cake.

A lifelong member of Rocky Hill Baptist Church, Doug was baptized in a very cold Clear Creek as a boy and later served as a deacon. He was the president of the Cedar Mountain Community Club, a gardener, a wildflower expert, a collector of bottles and a gatherer of Cedar Mountain historical photos, documents and stories.  His knowledge of and experiences on the three turnpike roads that came together in our little community led to the publication of the book The Village And The Turnpike, A Whimsical Cedar Mountain Historical Adventure From Then To Now, authored by Doug, good friend Charles Burden and niece Patty Stahl. Many of the photos and documents in the books were contributed by Doug.

He is survived by his sons Michael (Kathy) and Randy (Elisa), eight grandchildren and twenty-one great grandchildren. He also leaves behind a large family of nieces, nephews and cousins that will always remember him as a kind and loving Christian man.

The family wishes to thank everyone that loved and cared for Doug during this special time of his life, especially his buddy Larry Jackman.

Services will be held on Friday, May 9, 2025 at Rocky Hill Baptist Church, 10811 Greenville Hwy, Cedar Mountain, NC.  They are as follows – 3:30 Graveside, 4:30 Visitation, 5:30 Funeral and Covered Dish Meal.  The Reverends Butch Skerrett and Ralph Lee Jr. will officiate, and memorials may be made to Rocky Hill Baptist Church, PO Box 509, Cedar Mountain, NC 28718.

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