William Gary Abernathy, age 73, of Connelly Springs, went home to be with the Lord on Sunday, January 17th 2010 while in the care of the Palliative Care Center and Hospice of Catawba Valley. Gary was born on May 28th 1936 in Catawba County to the late William Love Abernathy and Mildred Maggie Powell Abernathy. He served his Country Honorably in the 82nd Airborne Division of the Army, and was a member of Shady Grove United Methodist Church. Gary was a master woodworker who enjoyed building clocks and had worked many years as a poultry farmer. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, brother and friend. Gary will be greatly missed.
Along with his parents, Gary is preceded in death by his wife of 51 years, Clara Lee Smith Abernathy, and a daughter-in-law, Cindy Abernathy.
Those left behind to cherish his memory include two sons, William Alan Abernathy and his wife, Judy, Russell Glenn Abernathy and his wife, Leigh Anne; a daughter, Sandra Lee Abernathy Spann and her husband, Roger, all of Connelly Springs; a sister, Barbara Byro and her husband, Thomas of Morganton; a uncle, Wayne Powell and his wife, Clara of Drexel; an Aunt Norma Hice of Valdese; special friends, Mike and Reba Fullbright of Hildebran; 11 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; and 1 great-great grandchild. Also surviving are numerous other relatives and friends.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 A.M. on Wednesday, January 20th 2010 at Shady Grove United Methodist Church with the Rev. Bobby Hallyburton officiating. Interment with Military Honors provided by the Valdese American Legion's Post 234 Ceremonial Team will follow at Burke Memorial Park. The family will receive friends at the church on Tuesday evening from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M.
Memorials may be made to Shady Grove United Methodist Church, PO Box 267, 6908 Oak Ridge Church Road, Connelly Springs, NC 28612.