Roby Deward Burgess

Roby Deward Burgess, Jr., 55. of Canoe Dr., Morganton, NC died Tuesday, February 5, 2008, at his residence following a courageous battle with cancer. He was born July 30, 1952 in Burke County and was a son of Faye Harrington Burgess and the late Roby D. Burgess, Sr. In addition to his father he was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather, Roby W. Burgess; paternal grandmother, Roena Curtis Burgess; and maternal grandparents, Joe and Clara Harrington. Roby was a U.S. Navy veteran serving two tours of duty in the Mediterranean on the U.S.S. Boulder LST during the Vietnam conflict. An employee of Gaines Motor Lines of Hickory, Roby was a graduate of Oak Hill High School and Garner-Webb University. He was an avid motorcyclist and loving son, father, brother, companion, and grandparent. He loved life and those around him.In addition to his loving and devoted mother, Faye Burgess, of the home, he is survived by his son, Christopher Burgess and his wife, Angie, of Morganton; his daughter, Jessica Burgess Williams and her husband, Jeremy, of Drexel; his brother, Phillip Burgess of the home; his sister, Lorrine Burgess Leavitt and her husband, Charles of Lenoir; nephews, Jeff Suttles and his wife, Tabitha, of Marion and Jason Suttles and his wife, April, of Morganton; five loving grandchildren all of Morganton; and his loving companion, Kathy Bumgarner, of Hickory.Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 7, 2008, in the Colonial Chapel of Sossoman Funeral Home with Mr. Mark Silvey officiating. Burial will follow at Burke Memorial Park with military rites conducted by American Legion Post 234 of Valdese. The family will receive friends Thursday one hour before the funeral. Memorial contributions may be made to Burke Hospice and Palliative Care, Inc., 1721 Enon Road, Valdese, NC 28690.