Lonnie Perry “Dude” Shuffler

Lonnie Perry “Dude” Shuffler, 89, of Morganton, died Thursday, May 5, 2022, following a period of declining health due to dementia.

Born on Dec. 4, 1932, he was a son of the late Lonnie Lee Shuffler and Sadie Gertrude Smyre Shuffler. He was preceded in death by his wife of 64 years, Martha Jo Terry Shuffler and siblings Isabell Setzer, Jeannie Shuffler, Evelyn Leaf, Ann Crytz, Jack Shuffler and Lee Shuffler.

Survivors include son Wes Shuffler and wife, Cheryl; son Greg Shuffler and wife, Kathy; grandchildren Josh Shuffler, Brittany Shuffler England and husband, Dan; and Caleb Sage Shuffler; great grandchildren Wyatt Shuffler, Emma Shuffler, Behr England and Lochlan England; brother Bill Shuffler and wife, Betty, and special nephews John Shuffler and Steve Shuffler and nieces Pam Shuffler and Kim Shuffler.

Mr. Shuffler spent his career working the Shuffler Brother’s sawmill, which his father started. He and his brothers were introduced to hard work early on, and he passed that same work ethic on to his sons. The sawmill was well respected in the community and Mr. Shuffler was known for his skills driving a tractor and pulling logs. Those same skills he honed while working the sawmill followed him to the military, where he was a combat engineer. A veteran of the U.S. Army, Mr. Shuffler was deployed to Iceland for a year during the Korean War. When he returned home, he returned to work on the sawmill, eventually running it with his brother Jack until they retired in the late 1990s.

In his later years, Mr. Shuffler was soft spoken and a man of few words, but when he did speak, his words were impactful. His younger years were filled with a little more mischief. He and his friends even made headlines in the paper a few times for outrunning the law and staging drama in downtown Morganton. Mr. Shuffler spent most of his life living in the shadow of Table Rock mountain. He enjoyed sitting on his front porch admiring the view of the mountain and pointing out names of ridges and places he worked and hunted. He was known for his skills on a tractor and his love of NASCAR, bear and raccoon hunting and raising prized hunting dogs.

The receiving of friends for Mr. Shuffler will be held at 2 p.m Saturday, May 7, 2022, at Zion Baptist Church, at 3394 pea Ridge Road, Morganton, followed by the funeral at 3 p.m. with the Rev. Keith Rose officiating. Military honors will be provided by the NC National Guard and the Caldwell County Veterans Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in Mr. Shuffler’s honor to Purple Heart Homes, Inc. at 755 Washington Ave., Statesville, NC 28677.

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