William Edward Ferriss, 87

William Edward Ferriss, 87 passed away at Universal Healthcare on November 24, 2014. Born in Eustis, Florida February 15, 1927; Bill served in the US Navy during WWII. He graduated from Rollins College and began his career as a Quality Assurance, Electrical Engineer at Cape Canaveral, Fl. He worked on project Mercury, the Gemini Program and the Apollo program which landed US Astronauts on the moon, eventually retiring from Bechtel International, to the mountains of North Carolina, after overseeing projects in Taiwan, Italy and Saudi Arabia. A national and international traveler, you could always find his red cap in a crowd.

Bill will be dearly missed by his loving wife Margie; his four daughters, Cathy Ferriss, Pamela Traas (Donald), Bonnie Rich, all of Pinellas County, Florida and Julie Hill (Christopher) of Denver, Co.; step-daughter Cindi Layman and step-son Neil Cagle; his grandchildren, Natasha Hubbard, Rusty Rich, Daniel and Mary Ryczek, Michaela Lowe and Ryan Layman; and nine great grandchildren.

A memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 16, in the Chapel of the Western Carolina State Veterans Cemetery in Black Mountain with Pastor Paul Brown of Canton Central United Methodist Church officiating.

To help further Alzheimer's research, memorial donations may be made to Alzheimer's Association of Western Carolina, 3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215-3220.OB

An online register book is available for family and friends by visiting www.thosshepherd.com. Thos. Shepherd & Son Funeral Directors and Cremation Memorial Center is in charge of the arrangements.