Thomas "Tommy" Yarborough

KINGS MOUNTAIN: Thomas “Tommy” Dixon Yarborough Jr., 93, died Monday, June 5, 2023, at Hospice at Wendover in Shelby, NC. Born on June 11, 1929, in Gaston County, NC, he was the son of the late Thomas Dixon Yarborough Sr. and Ethel Opal Stroup Yarborough. Tommy was a 1947 graduate of Gastonia High School and served with pride in the Army during the Korean War. He was a member of Resurrection Lutheran Church in Kings Mountain, NC, for over 60 years, where he served on the Church Council and various committees. Tommy continued to serve the Church to the very end, helping with the service the week before his death. In July 2022, he celebrated his 77th year as a butcher at the Ora Super Market, where he was employed for the past 15 years. Prior to the Ora, Tommy worked for A&P, Bi-Lo, and Harris Teeter.

Tommy had especially fond memories of working at the Cleveland County Fair Association for over 47 years. He loved to garden and had a special talent going back to his time in the Army for fixing things and enjoyed his small engine repair business for many years. He loved sports, and most of all, he was a die-hard Carolina Tarheels fan, passionate about watching Tarheels basketball. Ultimately, Tommy was a people person, with an unquenchable positive attitude.

Tommy was devoted to his family. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife, Frances Lee Yarborough, and his sister, Betty Willis. He is survived by his son, Terry Yarborough, and wife, Gale, of Kinston, NC; daughter, Myra Pellissier, and husband, Steve, of Charlottesville, VA; brothers, Henry Yarborough, and wife, Lelia Jane, of Shelby, and Pete Yarborough and wife, Jean, of Kings Mountain; grandchildren, Lee Yarborough, and wife, Hayes, of La Grange, NC; Emily Whitehead and husband, Michael, of Greenville, NC; and Mark, Chris, and Alan Pellissier of Charlottesville, VA; and great-grandchildren, Hardy and Sallie Yarborough.

A graveside committal service will be held at 10:00 A.M., Saturday, June10, 2023, in Cleveland Memorial Park, with Reverend Karl Varn officiating. Military honors will be rendered at graveside. A Celebration of Life Service will follow at 1:30 P.M. at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 600 Crescent Circle, Kings Mountain, NC 28086. Memorials may be made to Resurrection Lutheran Church Preschool. Funeral services are entrusted to Clay-Barnette Funeral Home & Aquamation Center ( www.claybarnette.com ) in Shelby, NC.