Rex B. Mann, 80

Rex B. Mann, 80, of Mt. Sterling, took his last deep breath Wednesday, July 2, 2025, with his high school sweetheart and wife of 59 years, Anita at his side.  His lifelong journey of impact began with his birth July 20, 1944, in Canton, N.C., to the late Howard H. Mann and Pearl Pressley Mann.  He was a child of the Appalachians who carried the ancient mountain culture deep in his soul.  Born near the “the cradle of forestry,” nestled in the Pisgah National Forest, he developed a profound love for the woods.  Even as a young boy, he was most at peace walking among the oak and ash trees, softly humming bluegrass tunes.  His philosophy on life was to leave deep tracks of legacy.  The “Woodsman,” as he came to be known by his sons and many young leaders he mentored, spent nearly 42 years as a forester in the U.S. Forest Service.  He earned a reputation as one of the most respected and revered wildland firefighters in the country, leading thousands of brave firefighters in defeating some of the deadliest fires in American History like the 1998 Florida Fires and 2000 Montana Fires.  His leadership and forward thinking on massive fires resulted in him being invited to attend a White House Rose Garden Ceremony and personally recognized by the President of the United States.  After retiring, he became a passionate advocate for the environment, at-risk native species, and working with indigenous communities to empower their vision and land use ethic as a conservation roadmap for America.  Most notably, he led the charge to restore the iconic and functionally extinct American Chestnut Tree, the Grandfather of the Forest.  He earned the coveted Board Emeritus lifetime status with the American Chestnut Foundation, gave a rousing TED Talk about the American Chestnut at 73 years old, just months after recovering from the first of three bouts with cancer, and inspired President George W. Bush to plant an American Chestnut Tree at the White House as his Presidential Tree, where it still stands today.  He was a devoted member of the First Christian Church and had a deep love for bluegrass music.  His amazing talents as a vocalist and guitarist brought joy to many, especially his family, children and grandchildren on cool summer nights around campfires.  As much as he loved the woods and fighting for American Chestnuts and the voices of Native Americans, his deepest tracks were left with his two boys and six grandchildren.  Hand-written letters weekly to his sons serving in the Global War on Terror were the norm for this quiet patriot.  “Papa Mann” as the Mann grandkids called him, could always be seen walking hand in hand with one of the little ones, talking softly to them about trees and squirrels as they gazed in wonder.  You’d also find him sitting in the heat, rooting the grandkids on at ball games. 

Survivors include his beloved wife of 59 years, Anita Hill Mann; his forever proud sons, Scott Mann (Monty) and Travis Mann (Emily); grandchildren, Cody Mann, Cooper Mann, Brayden Mann, Hunter Mann, Molly Mann, and Isabel Mann; siblings, Jerry Mann (Geraldine), Danny Mann (Jackie), and Kathy Long.

In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by a sister, Shirley Whiteside.

His cremated remains will be interred in a private family ceremony, with care and reverence, at a site in the Appalachians that reflects his love for the woods and all they contain, very near young American Chestnut Trees reaching for the Carolina sky.

In lieu of flowers the family requests donations in Rex’s memory to the American Chestnut Foundation, 50 North Merrimon Ave., Ste. 115, Ashville, N.C., 28804 or donate directly to https://support.tacf.org/give.

Guestbook available at www.coffmanfuneral.com.

Arrangements under the direct care of Coffman Funeral Home and Crematory.