Carlton “Wes” Wesley Bland, 87, of Orange, Texas, joined the Lord on January 25, 2019, in Beaumont.

A celebration of life will be at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, January 29, 2019, at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange. Officiating will be Reverend Lynn Ashcraft and Reverend Damon Bickham. Burial will follow at Orange Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Visitation will be prior to the celebration of life, starting at 12:00 p.m., at Claybar Funeral Home in Orange.

Born in Mauriceville, Texas, on December 29, 1931, he was the son of Walter Doug Bland, Sr. and Lucille (Bourgeois) Bland. Wes proudly served in the Army during the Korean War. He was a faithful member of North Orange Baptist Church for a number of years, serving his Lord endlessly. Wes, affectionately known as “Mr. Canter” at times, was Proprietor of Canter’s Country Center for almost 40 years and also was a former member of Orange Lion’s Club. He worked at Texaco/ Star Enterprise in the Pipefitting Department, retiring after 43 years of hard work. Wes had a great dry sense of humor and was a firm believer of honesty and seeing the best in everyone he met. He will be deeply missed by all those who came to know and love him.

He is survived by his loving wife of going on 64 years, Sylvia Canter Bland; son, Richard Jay Bland and wife Rhonda of West Orange; daughters, Jennifer Bland Johnson of Pasadena, and Joanie Bland Tandberg and husband James of Orange; granddaughters, Elizabeth Gaspard of Orange, and Emily Johnson Eubanks and husband Drew of Pasadena; brother, Francis K. Bland and wife Frances of Buna; and in-laws, Allen & Joan Landry of Georgetown, and Lucy Canter of Georgetown; along with numerous other well-loved nieces, nephews, family and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Walter and Lucille Bland; his brother, Walter Bland, Jr.; his in-laws, Francis Bess and LaVada Canter; and his brother-in-law, Bruce Canter.

Serving as pallbearers will be Ronnie Bland, Roy Dale Bland, Russell Roberts, James Tandberg, Drew Eubanks, and Randy Howard. Honorary pallbearers are John Cryer, Billy Garrett, Ray Bland, David Landry, Johnny Phillips, and Johnny Roberts.