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BORN
1934
DIED
2025
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James Starkey Obituary
James Robert Starkey
March 4, 1934 - March 24, 2025
James Robert (Bobby) Starkey, 91 passed away on Monday, March 24, 2025, peacefully in his sleep. He was a resident of Taylorsville, NC.
Jim was born on March 4, 1934, to the late Paul Clifton Starkey and his loving, beloved mother, Martha Sewell Starkey in Chestertown, MD.
After graduating from high school, he joined the military, serving around the country and overseas and served in the Vietnam War.
Jim was married to Lee Adell Ann Scheer for almost 60 years, until her passing in 2019. Together they raised two children in faith and love. They were very active in their various church families.
After his retirement from the military as Master Sargeant, Jim went back to school In Biomedical Engineering. He worked at the Denver, Colorado Hospital, repairing and working on surgical and emergency room equipment. After retirement, he and his wife moved to Hickory, NC. He was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church, serving His lord with gladness. He was an active member of various organizations, including the Rotary Club of Hickory, a member of the Vietnam Veterans and the Disabled American Veterans of Hickory. He served as commander of the Hickory DAV and was instrumental in developing the Stand Down Program for Homeless Veterans and served as chairman for many years.
Jim was passionate about helping his fellow veterans and dedicated the last years of his life in service to and with them and to others he met along life's way.
Jim married Patty Sherrill on July 10, 2021. They met at Christ Lutheran Church and shared 4 cherished, loving years together. They were active at Christ Lutheran Church and enjoyed time with family and traveling together.
Jim was a devoted husband and loving father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was a caring friend and gave from his heart.
Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Lee Adell, his brother, Paul Starkey and sister, Ginny Crew and their respected spouses.
Survivors include his wife, Patty Sherrill Starkey, his daughter Sandra Sue Starkey Abernathy and husband John of Hickory; son Bryan James Starkey and wife Shari of Parker, Colorado; stepdaughters, Tami Barnhart and husband Steve of Little River, SC and Traci Cartrette of Yadkinville, NC; grandchildren, Rachel Abernathy Ciudad and husband Manuel, Elizabeth Abernathy, David Abernathy, Kayla Kaminski, Breann Sommerlin; Ashley Cobb, Joshua Starkey and Erin St. John, and grand pups, Winston and Willow; great grandchildren, Emma Monahan, Tarver, Braxton and Kadence Cobb, Vera Starkey, Sophia and Kennedi Kaminski.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 1 p.m., at Christ Lutheran Church. Rev. Alec Fisher will be officiating the service.
Inurnment with military honors will be held at Salisbury National Cemetery on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 11 a.m.
The family would like to thank their family/friends for their love and support during this time.
A special thank you to Sherrills Ford Hospice House for their wonderful, dignified care during his last days with us.
Thank you also to Hickory Funeral Home for all their help.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the D.A.V. of Hickory and to the Stand Down Program for Homeless Veterans.
Hickory Funeral Home
www.hickoryfh.com
March 4, 1934 - March 24, 2025
James Robert (Bobby) Starkey, 91 passed away on Monday, March 24, 2025, peacefully in his sleep. He was a resident of Taylorsville, NC.
Jim was born on March 4, 1934, to the late Paul Clifton Starkey and his loving, beloved mother, Martha Sewell Starkey in Chestertown, MD.
After graduating from high school, he joined the military, serving around the country and overseas and served in the Vietnam War.
Jim was married to Lee Adell Ann Scheer for almost 60 years, until her passing in 2019. Together they raised two children in faith and love. They were very active in their various church families.
After his retirement from the military as Master Sargeant, Jim went back to school In Biomedical Engineering. He worked at the Denver, Colorado Hospital, repairing and working on surgical and emergency room equipment. After retirement, he and his wife moved to Hickory, NC. He was an active member of Christ Lutheran Church, serving His lord with gladness. He was an active member of various organizations, including the Rotary Club of Hickory, a member of the Vietnam Veterans and the Disabled American Veterans of Hickory. He served as commander of the Hickory DAV and was instrumental in developing the Stand Down Program for Homeless Veterans and served as chairman for many years.
Jim was passionate about helping his fellow veterans and dedicated the last years of his life in service to and with them and to others he met along life's way.
Jim married Patty Sherrill on July 10, 2021. They met at Christ Lutheran Church and shared 4 cherished, loving years together. They were active at Christ Lutheran Church and enjoyed time with family and traveling together.
Jim was a devoted husband and loving father, grandfather, and great grandfather. He was a caring friend and gave from his heart.
Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Lee Adell, his brother, Paul Starkey and sister, Ginny Crew and their respected spouses.
Survivors include his wife, Patty Sherrill Starkey, his daughter Sandra Sue Starkey Abernathy and husband John of Hickory; son Bryan James Starkey and wife Shari of Parker, Colorado; stepdaughters, Tami Barnhart and husband Steve of Little River, SC and Traci Cartrette of Yadkinville, NC; grandchildren, Rachel Abernathy Ciudad and husband Manuel, Elizabeth Abernathy, David Abernathy, Kayla Kaminski, Breann Sommerlin; Ashley Cobb, Joshua Starkey and Erin St. John, and grand pups, Winston and Willow; great grandchildren, Emma Monahan, Tarver, Braxton and Kadence Cobb, Vera Starkey, Sophia and Kennedi Kaminski.
A funeral service will be held on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at 1 p.m., at Christ Lutheran Church. Rev. Alec Fisher will be officiating the service.
Inurnment with military honors will be held at Salisbury National Cemetery on Tuesday, April 1, 2025, at 11 a.m.
The family would like to thank their family/friends for their love and support during this time.
A special thank you to Sherrills Ford Hospice House for their wonderful, dignified care during his last days with us.
Thank you also to Hickory Funeral Home for all their help.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the D.A.V. of Hickory and to the Stand Down Program for Homeless Veterans.
Hickory Funeral Home
www.hickoryfh.com
Published by Hickory Daily Record on Mar. 27, 2025.
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