Robert Ray Storey

Newland - Robert "Bob" Ray Storey departed this world on August 27, 2024. He will be remembered for his faith, wisdom and experience which he shared with his family, his friends and his faith communities. He never knew a stranger and was always a positive thinker and an optimist.

Robert was born in Aurora, Indiana in 1930 to Harry Duvall and Anna (Pendell) Storey and grew up there. He met and married his high school sweetheart, Sandra Childers, on October 20, 1951. Following graduation from Aurora High School, he enlisted in the Navy in 1951, serving on the staff of Rear Admiral Dale Harris, USN, Chief of Naval Air Basic Training in Pensacola, Florida. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1955 and embarked upon a lifelong, successful career as an insurance executive with Provident Life & Accident in Jacksonville, Florida, Memphis, Tennessee and Little Rock, Arkansas. He served as president of the Jacksonville Association of Life Underwriters, receiving the C.G. Snead Memorial for Outstanding Service to the JLUA in 1964. While in Jacksonville, he served on several non-profit boards, the Duval County School Board and enjoyed working with Team Entertainment for the annual Gator Bowl football game. He became a thirty-second degree Mason and was also a member of the Shriners Club in Jacksonville.

His faith was of utmost importance to him. He was proud to have been a charter member of three churches during his lifetime. He served on many committees in his service to the church and served as District Lay Leader for the Methodist Church in Florida. He loved to teach Sunday school, spending hours deep into his Bible and commentaries preparing.

Bob loved the game of golf and was fortunate to have played courses all over the country and the world. He was honored to play in several PGA ProAm Tournaments and enjoyed crafting his own clubs in his workshop once he retired to Newland, North Carolina. He enjoyed volunteering at the Avery County Senior Center, taking road trips on his Harley with his son, Rob, and turning his efforts to growing Christmas trees at the farm in North Carolina.

Robert was predeceased by his parents, a sister and several brothers. He is survived by his loving wife of seventy-two years, Sandra (Childers), daughter Cheryl (Brad Fontenot) of Wake Forest, North Carolina, and son Robert Lee Storey (Jill Beaudry) of Jacksonville, Florida; grandchildren Stephanie Marrs (Drew Marrs), Kristine Fontenot (Brandon Gremchuk), James Robert Thomas Fontenot, Robert Charles Storey (Tory), Jonathan Lee Storey, Marcus Taylor Storey (Augusta), Melissa Beaudry (Dominic Luzzo) and great-grandchildren Richard "Richie" Andrew Marrs and Sebastian "Bash" Ray Storey, sister Audrey (Lameier) along with numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial service will be held at Newland Presbyterian Church on September 21, 2024, at 11:00 A.M. in Newland, North Carolina.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you consider supporting the Dementia Alliance of NC (https://dementianc.org/get-involved/donate/) or Newland Presbyterian Church (http://newlandpresbyterianchurch.org/)