Mr. Edward Dean Paisley, age 64, of Jefferson passed away Monday evening, February 13, 2012, at Ashe Memorial Hospital. Funeral services will be held Saturday, February 18, 2012, at 2:00 pm at First Baptist Church in West Jefferson with Reverend Kennith Morris and Reverend Michael Lea officiating. Burial will follow in Ashelawn Memorial Gardens with Masonic rites. The family will receive friends on Friday evening, February 17, 2012, from 5:30 - 8:30 pm at Boone Family Funeral Home. Mr. Paisley was born in Ashe County on March 4, 1947, to the late Dale Paisley and Grace Carter Paisley. He graduated from Lansing High School in 1965 and subsequently enlisted and served in the United States Army from 1966 to 1969. Upon his return from military service, he joined the North Carolina State Highway Patrol in 1969 where he graduated from the University of North Carolina Institute of Government for NC Highway Patrol and served as a patrolman based in Salisbury, NC. While working as a NC Highway Patrolman, he enrolled in Catawba College and earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in 1972 with a major in Political Science and a minor in Anthropology. He also completed the Wilkes Community College Real Estate Course. Following his career with the NC State Highway Patrol, he owned and operated two restaurants in Wendell and Zebulon, NC. In 1985 he returned to Ashe County and began a career in car sales that would span three decades. Mr. Paisley initially worked for Ashe County Motors and Scenic Chevrolet, and in 1993, he and his wife, Ann, established Paisley's Auto Sales, which he owned and operated for the past 19 years. As member of Mission Home Baptist Church, he served as a Bible study and Sunday school teacher, member of the Finance Committee, lay pastoral speaker, Baptist Men's Day speaker, and served in many other capacities within the church. Mr. Paisley was always quick to serve the Lord when he was called upon as one of His most dedicated servants. He was also a member of Gideon's International-Jefferson Camp and served this organization for many years as a dedicated member and certified Gideon speaker. As a Gideon, he spoke to numerous churches in Ashe and neighboring counties. In 1970, while living in Salisbury, NC, Mr. Paisley was initiated, passed, and raised into the Fraternal Order of Ancient Free and Accepted Masons (A.F. & A.M.) at the Andrew Jackson Lodge #576, and upon moving to Ashe County, he transferred his membership to Ashe Lodge #594 A.F. & A.M. He received his Masonic 32nd Degree in 1996. In 2000, he served as Master of Ashe Masonic Lodge #594 and also held the office of Secretary for several years. In 2009, he received the Certified Lecturer Class A Certificate of Proficiency from The Board of Custodians of The Grand Lodge of Ancient, Free, and Accepted Masons of North Carolina in Raleigh, NC. He was also a charter member of Ashe Shrine Club where he served as Ambassador for several years. In 1999, Mr. Paisley was appointed by the Oasis Shrine Temple Potentate to serve as a Potentate Ambassador for Ashe and surrounding counties. He was also a member of the Royal Order of Jesters, Charlotte, NC. While attending Lansing High School, he excelled in sports, both football and basketball, and in 1999 he was inducted into the Ashe County Sports Hall of Fame as a member of Lansing High School's undefeated football team where he played tight end and fullback. His love of sports continued throughout his life. He refereed and umpired both youth and adult league basketball and baseball games. He loved cheering on the UNC Tar Heels, New York Yankees, and Washington Redskins. Mr. Paisley enjoyed many hobbies; he was an avid hunter and fisherman, master gemstone cutter and custom jeweler, and archaeologist. He loved more than anything spending time with his wife, family, and especially his grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by two sisters, Barbara Paisley Brooks of Piney Creek, NC, and Nancy Paisley Davis of Cape Coral, FL, and a brother, Richard "Dick" Paisley of Oklahoma City, OK. Mr. Paisley is survived by his wife, Ann Dunnaway Paisley; two daughters, Marsha Paisley Absher and husband, Glen, of Mebane, NC; Melanie Paisley Miller, and husband, Tim, of Glendale Springs, NC; one son, John Mark Paisley of North Wilkesboro, NC; one stepdaughter, Heidi Smith Petrihos, and husband, Peter, of Washington, DC; two grandsons, Lane Curtis Miller of Glendale Springs, NC; and Mason Glen Absher, of Mebane, NC; one granddaughter, Maggie Grace Paisley of North Wilkesboro, NC; and three stepgrandsons, Adam Petrihos, Nicholas Petrihos, and Benjamin Petrihos all of Washington, DC. He is also survived by one sister, Jeanette Paisley of Lansing, NC; and two brothers, Terry Paisley of Lansing, NC; and Earl Paisley, of New York City, NY. Memorials may be made to: Ashe Masonic Lodge #594 , c/o Jeff Jones, P.O. Box 1911, West Jefferson, NC 28694; or Ashe Shrine Club, c/o Jim Barlow, P.O. Box 244, Jefferson, NC 28640.