Bobby Ray “Coach” Ledford, age 70, of Forest City, NC, passed away on Saturday, May 25, 2013 at Hospice House of Rutherford County.

     Bobby was born April 11, 1943 in Swain County, NC to the late Omer G. Ledford and Bonnie Cochran Ledford.  He was a veteran of the US Army and a graduate of Hildebran High School, North Carolina State University and attended Western Carolina University.  Before he began his career as an educator, he worked for W. Paul Byers Construction.  Bobby and his wife, Annis, did not have children of their own, but the hundreds of students they taught and coached were just like family.  He taught at the North Carolina School for the Deaf in Morganton and then spent many years at Chase High School.  He taught masonry and sign language and coached a wide array of sports at both schools, which included football, wrestling, basketball, golf and track and field.  He had the distinction of coaching the first little league Chase area football team, which went undefeated.  As a coach, he touched many young lives and was named the Conference Coach of the Year several times.  He was also a faithful member of Caroleen First United Methodist Church and was a sportsman, who enjoyed golfing, horseback riding and fishing.

     In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters: Hazel Seagle, Ruth Austin, Eva Nell Weaver and Lynette Miller; two brothers, Allen Virgil Ledford and Neal Ledford; father and mother in-law, W. Paul Byers and Lucille R. Byers; two brothers in-law, Thorne L. Seagle and Leonard “Pete” Byers; one sister in-law, Dorothy B. Nelson, and nephew, Keith Bridges.

    Besides his loving wife of 50 years, Annis Byers Ledford, he was survived by four brothers in-law, Sam Austin of Hickory, Tommy Miller of Granite Falls, Paul Weaver of Hildebran, Bob Nelson of Atlanta, GA and sister in-law, Paulette Holland and husband Don of Forest City. He is also survived by fourteen nieces and nephews, fifteen great nieces and nephews, eight great-great nieces and nephews, a number of uncles, aunts, cousins and special friends.

     Funeral services will be conducted at 3:00 p.m. on Wednesday, May 29, 2013 at the Caroleen First United Methodist Church with Reverend Lucy Robbins, Reverend Roy Tate Byers and Coach John Keeter officiating.  Interment with military honors provided by the Rutherford County Honor Guard will follow in Rutherford County Memorial Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 6:00 until 9:00 p.m. on Tuesday in the church sanctuary.  At other times they will be gathered at 510 US Highway 221A, Forest City.

     Memorial donations are suggested to Caroleen First United Methodist Church, PO Box 187, Caroleen, NC  28019 or Chase High School Athletic Fund, 1603 Chase High Road, Forest City, NC  28043 or to Hospice of Rutherford County, PO Box 336, Forest City, NC  28043.

     Harrelson Funeral and Cremation Services is serving the Ledford Family.

An online guest registry is available at www.harrelsonfuneralhome.com