Leroy "Buck" Abee

Leroy "Buck" Abee, 76, of Winston Drive, Morganton peacefully went to his heavenly home on Saturday, March 9, 2013 surrounded by his family and friends. Born on June 3, 1936 in Burke County, NC, he was the son of the late John R. Abee and Ada Brittain Abee. Buck was a faithful and passionate member of Bethlehem Baptist Church on Watershed Road, where he had served as a deacon since 1986. He was a retired employee of Henredon Furniture. He enjoyed traveling and spending time with his family.A loving husband, father, and grandfather, Buck is survived by his wife of 55 years, Velva Carswell Abee of the home; daughters, Rhonda McNeely and her husband, Ambrose, and Leisa Honeycutt and her husband, Brian, all of Morganton; grandchildren, Zachary Jordan and his wife, Beth, Jonathan Jordan, Sarah Livsey, and Harlee Livsey; step-grandchildren, Brigham McNeely, Blythe McNeely, Josh Honeycutt, Heather Semones and her husband, Chris, and Jeremy Honeycutt and his wife, Breann; brothers, Leonard Abee and his wife, Blaka, Robert Abee and his wife, Kay, and Howard Abee and his wife, Linda, all of Connelly Springs, NC; sisters, Vernie Lowman of Connelly Springs, Norma Cline and her husband, Pete, of Hickory, NC, and Earlene Newton of Connelly Springs; and his canine companion, Wiggles.In addition to his parents, Buck was preceded in death by a brother, Troy Abee, and a son-in-law, Billy Jordan.The funeral will be held at 2:00 p.m., Tuesday, March 12, 2013 at Bethlehem Baptist Church with the Rev. Jesse Carr and the Rev. Charles Lewis officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center where the body will remain until placed in the church thirty minutes prior to the funeral hour. At other times the family will be at the residence on Winston Drive.Memorial contributions may be made to Bethlehem Baptist Church, 7620 Watershed Road, Morganton, NC 28655 or to Catawba Regional Hospice, 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, NC 28658.