Individual Details

Death

GRANITE FALLS Ray Coolidge Starnes, 89, of Granite Falls, went to his heavenly home Sunday, May 25, 2014. Born Aug. 10, 1924, he was a son of the late Edgar Vance and Amanda Jane Anderson Starnes. Surviving are his loving wife of 65 years, Sara Otis Capshaw Starnes; two daughters and sons-in-law, Celia and Tom Furr, of Wilkesboro and Sally and George Burdette, of Greenville, S.C.; two sons and daughter-in-law, Edgar and Marilyn Starnes, of Granite Falls and Allen Starnes of Granite Falls; nine grandchildren, Adam Furr and wife, Jennifer, Emily Furr Hogan and husband, Matt, George Burdette III and wife, Rebecca, Jonathan Burdette and wife, Margaret, Caroline Burdette, Mary Catherine Starnes, Kristin Rogers and husband, Zane, Clint Starnes and wife, Cari and Kelly Starnes; and 10 great-grandchildren, Wesley and Joshua Furr, Parker, Darby, Jay and Hadley Burdette, Hunter Rogers, Carson Skipper, Cooper Starnes and Alaina Harris. He was predeceased by his brothers Howard, Clarence and Everette Starnes and his sisters, Annie Starnes Smith and Bertha Starnes Christopher. Ray was a member of Poovey's Grove Baptist Church for over 50 years before joining First Baptist Church of Hickory. During these years he served as a deacon, Sunday School Director, Sunday school teacher, and Royal Ambassador Leader and was a member of the Poovey's Grove Ruritan Club. He was active in missions through Baptist Men and was always willing and ready to help those in need. His mission trips included travel to Africa, Russia, Tennessee and disaster relief projects in both eastern and western North Carolina. He also helped with building houses through Habitat for Humanity. Growing up on his family's dairy farm, Ray learned the skills and techniques required to be a successful dairyman. When World War II broke out in 1942, Ray returned home from Mars Hill College to help the war effort through working alongside his father on the farm. That century old farm and land was passed down to him to carry out his passion of farming. As an active member in the North Carolina Farm Bureau, he served as President of the Caldwell County Farm Bureau for 28 years and as a State Director in Raleigh for 20 years. After retiring from the dairy business, he designed and built the Old Farm Miniature Golf Course which he operated with his wife for 10 years. The family will receive at Bass-Smith Granite Funeral Service in Granite Falls Friday, May 30, from 6 to 9 p.m. The funeral service will be held Saturday May 31, at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Hickory. Burial will follow in the Poovey's Grove Baptist Church Cemetery in Granite Falls. Serving as pallbearers will be the grandsons of Mr. Ray Coolidge Starnes. Memorials may be made to Baptist Men of First Baptist Church of Hickory, 339 Second Ave. NW, Hickory, NC 28601. Bass-Smith Granite Funeral Service is serving the family of Mr. Ray Coolidge Starnes.