John W. Ervin, Jr.

John W. Ervin, Jr., 83, of Morganton, NC passed away on November 23, 2020. John was born on March 27, 1937, to the late Dr. John Witherspoon Ervin and Dorothy Downes Ervin.

John was a graduate of his beloved University of North Carolina, where he also attended the School of Law. He referred to his time there as “the best seven-year vacation I ever had.” He practiced law in Burke County for over 50 years with Byrd, Byrd, Ervin and then in private practice, John Ervin Law, PLLC.

John’s eldest granddaughter wrote: “He was a storyteller, a talented photographer, an attorney, a hiker, and a champion for his community.” He loved the mountains of North Carolina and many of his photos, which captured the beauty of the state, are found in offices and buildings throughout Burke County. John found great joy in flower gardening and maintaining the beauty of the farm where he loved living.

During his years of practicing law, John volunteered his services for multiple nonprofit organizations and their causes. He believed that his greatest contribution was the creation of the Community Foundation of Burke County because he knew that it would continue to serve the needs of the citizens of the county that he loved so much, well beyond his lifetime.

John is survived by a large and loving family, including his wife, Nancy Ward Taylor; his children: Kimball Ervin Smith and her husband, Dr. Keith Smith; Laura Ervin Mulwee and her husband, Scott; and John W. Ervin III and his wife, Claire; his grandchildren: Dorothy Smith and fiancé, Charles Hearn; Dr. Stephen Smith, Caroline Smith, Tom Randolph Jr., Julia Randolph, Grace Ervin, and John W. Ervin IV; his sister, Dorothy K. Ervin; his brothers-in-law: James M. Taylor and wife, Cathy; Dr. W. Robert Taylor and wife, Kathy; his nieces and nephews: Suzanne Taylor, Daniel Taylor and his wife, Farah; Julia Taylor, Kelly Griendling and her husband, Daniel Cooksey; Michael Taylor and his wife, Amanda; Christopher Taylor, Terry Taylor, and Morgan Taylor; and his great nieces and nephews: Alex Cooksey, Allie Cooksey, Will Taylor, Ella Taylor, and Olivia Taylor.

A private graveside service for family and close friends will be held at 10 a.m., Tuesday, December 1, 2020 in Forest Hill Cemetery with Rev. Marshall Jolly officiating.  At the request of the family, all practical safety measures are to be observed for those who attend, especially face masks.  The service will be live-streamed begining at 10 a.m. on the Facebook page for Sossoman Funeral Home (www.facebook.com/sossomanfh).

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the Community Foundation of Burke County, P.O. Box 1156, Morganton, NC, 28680, earmarked for the John W. Ervin, Jr. Endowment Fund. This fund provides unrestricted dollars to be used by the Board of Directors in their sole discretion to meet the needs of the Foundation and the Burke County community.

Sossoman Funeral Home and Crematory Center is assisting the family with the arrangements.