John Ray McGuirt

FORT MILL - Mr. John Ray McGuirt, age 82, of Fort Mill, died Friday, July 22, 2011, at Agape Senior and Palliative Care Center in Rock Hill.

A memorial service will be at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, July 27, 2011, at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 602 Pine Street in Fort Mill, with the Rev. Bill Walters officiating. Military Honors and Masonic Rites will follow; after which, the family will receive friends in the Parrish Hall.

Born in Fort Mill, Mr. McGuirt was a son of the late John Bunyon McGuirt and Eula Flo Griffin McGuirt. He graduated from Fort Mill High School and Kings Business College. Mr. McGuirt served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was a member of the Eli Bailes American Legion Post No. 43. He retired from the Corporate Accounting Division of Springs Industries and was a member of its 25-Year Club. Mr. McGuirt was a former chairman of both the York County Planning Commission and the Fort Mill Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Fort Mill Lions Club, where he was a former president and was awarded the Lion of the Year. Mr. McGuirt was a master mason of the Catawba Masonic Lodge No. 56, and received a 60 Year Lifetime Member Certificate in April. He was a member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church and was a lay eucharist minister.

Surviving are his son, Stephen Ray McGuirt and his wife, Janice, of Fort Mill; his granddaughter, SarahMargaret McGuirt of Fort Mill; his sister, Doris Ann Baker of Rock Hill; and his dear friend, Loyce Sutton. He was preceded in death by his wife, Sarah Louise Johnson McGuirt; and his brother, Hoyt Vance McGuirt.

In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the York Place Episcopal Home for Children, 234 Kings Mountain Street, York, SC 29745-1131.

Condolences may be made at www.wolfefuneralhome.com.