Dr. Lawrence Arney

Dr. Lawrence Arney, 77, of Tate Street, Morganton, NC died Tuesday, September 25, 2007 at his residence after a courageous battle with cancer. Born in Burke County, NC on February 16, 1930, he was the son of the late William Herndon Arney and Mary Prue Loven Arney. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three brothers, Robert, Charles, and Jack Arney, and two sisters, Mary Clay and Edith Holt.Lawrence was a lifelong educator who started his teaching career at Happy Valley and Hudson High Schools in Caldwell County. He taught the next 11 years in Clearwater Florida. After returning to get his doctorate at the University of Florida, he taught at Western Carolina University for 30 years. Dr. Arney was a member of Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church and enjoyed family (especially his grandchildren), coaching and playing sports, gardening, and his church.He is survived by his loving wife of 53 years, Peggy Winchester Arney of the home; sons, Larry Arney and wife, Jenny Filbey, of Huntsville, AL and Bill Arney and wife, Kathy, of Raleigh, NC; daughters, Christie Arney and husband, Allen Miller, of Lenoir, NC, Barbee Vosecky and husband, Bill, of Peachtree City, GA; and six grandchildren.The funeral will be held at 1:30 p.m., Friday, September 28, 2007 at Mt. Pleasant United Methodist Church with Reverends George Williams and Ross O’Neal officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends Thursday evening from 6:00 until 8:00 p.m. at Sossoman Funeral Home 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. Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690 or to UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief), P.O. Box 9068, New York, NY 10087.