Lonnie Ray Josey, 73, of Statesville, passed away Sunday, Jan.
24, 2010, at Iredell Memorial Hospital following a lengthy battle with cancer. He was born
Dec. 21, 1936,
in Iredell
County, and was the son of the late David Sidney Josey and
Nellie Mae Westmoreland Josey. Mr. Josey was a graduate of Statesville City
Schools and served in the U.S. Navy during the Korean War. He was married to
the late Martha Jane "Tootsie" Keller, who died Jan. 12, 1995. Mr. Josey was a member of Pressly Memorial A.R.P. Church, where he was a former Deacon and was retired from Clark-Schwebel Company. Ray was an active member of V.F.W. Post
2031 and served for many years on the burial detail. He was a member of the
Twin Oaks Senior Golf Group and he had trophies for all five of his
holes-in-one. Mr. Josey is survived by a son, Lonnie Josey (Beth), of
Charlotte; a daughter, Samantha Josey Johnston (John), of Mooresville; a
granddaughter, Allison Rae Johnston, of Mooresville; two brothers, Harold
Josey, of Statesville, and Don Josey, of Denver, N.C.; four sisters, Mary Nell
Thompson, of Lugoff, S.C., and Brenda Walker,
Patricia "Tinnie" Josey, and Vickie Rufty, all of Statesville; and a long time friend, Roy
"Shorty" Brown, of Statesville. In addition
to his wife, "Tootsie", Mr. Josey was preceded in death by a brother,
Richard Josey. Funeral services will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday at Pressly A.R.P. Church with the Rev. Dr. Steven Myers and the Rev. Mark Tankersly officiating. Burial will follow in Iredell Memorial Gardens Cemetery with full military honors. Twin Oaks Senior Golf Group will serve as
honorary pallbearers. The family will receive friends from 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesday evening at Nicholson Funeral Home.
Memorials may be made to V.F.W. Post 2031, 139 Jordan Lane, Statesville, NC 28677; or to the charity of the donor's choice. Nicholson Funeral Home is
serving the family of Ray Josey.