Donald Franklin Lavery
Cherryville - Mr. Donald Franklin Lavery, 82, of Cherryville Hwy., died peacefully in his home on October 22, 2015.
Don was born January 18, 1933 to John Lavery and Estelle Murray Lavery Craft. Don graduated from Waco High School and served in the United States Army from 1954-1956 during the Korean Conflict and was stationed in Germany. Don was a retired truck driver and drove for Aker Motor Lines, Custom Transport, Carolina Freight and Foothills Trucking. Aside from driving trucks, he drove church buses and the Cherryville High School band truck for many years. Don was an active member at Anthony Grove Baptist Church in Crouse, where he was a lay minister and active on prayer teams and a member of the Barnabas Sunday School Class. Don was a member of Cherryville Masonic Lodge #505 A.F. & A.M. for over 50 years and Cherryville American Legion Post 100. Don enjoyed serving the Lord in many ways, from helping neighbors out with lawn mowers to mission trips. He was active in the NC Baptist Disaster Cooking team. He had a passion for missions from Honduras to Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Louisiana for Hurricane Katrina Relief up until a few years ago, when his health started to decline. Don had a passion to keep living no matter the difficulties he faced. When he couldn't get out, he took to the kitchen making brownies for any one on any occasion.
In addition to his parents he was preceded in death by his stepfather, John W. Craft, Sr.; two brothers, Kenneth Lavery, and William Craft and a sister, Elisabeth Odell.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Wilma "Willie" Willis Lavery of the home; four daughters, Donna Lavery of Cherryville, Barbara Hill and husband Paul of Statesville; Anita Lowe and husband Neal of Lynchburg, VA; Carol Ann Hoard and husband Joel of Shelby; a brother, Klent Craft of Cherryville; Don's pride and joy were his grandchildren: Paula and Mindy Hill and fiancé, Marcus Abernathy, Brandon, Grayson and Allena Lowe, and Lavery and Will Hoard. Don had an "extra daughter" and special friend in Jeri and Rob Pasour.
Visitation will be will be on Saturday, October 24, 2015 from 2:00PM to 3:45PM at Anthony Grove Baptist Church in Crouse
Funeral Service will be held at 4:00PM on Saturday, October 24, 2015 at Anthony Grove Baptist Church, with Dr. Dennis Bean and Rev. Ken Faulkenbury officiating.
Burial will be at Mt. Zion Baptist Church Cemetery in Cherryville with Military Rites by Cherryville American Legion Post 100 and Masonic Rites by Cherryville Masonic Lodge at the graveside.
Memorials may be made to Anthony Grove Baptist Church Building Fund, 100 Anthony Grove Church Rd., Crouse, NC 28033 or to Hospice of Cleveland County, 951 Wendover Heights Dr. Shelby, NC 28150.
A guest register is available at www.stameycherryvillefuneralhome.com
Stamey-Cherryville Funeral Home & Cremation Service is serving the family of Mr. Lavery.
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