Thad Moran Poteat

 Thad Moran Poteat, 84, of Morganton, formerly of Drexel, died Thursday, February 5, 2015 at his home.  Born in Drexel on September 23, 1930, he was the son of the late Connelly Moran Poteat and Minnie Mae Pope Poteat.  Thad graduated from Clevenger College in Hickory in 1950.  In his early years, Thad worked on the family farm, Woodside Dairy.  Woodside Dairy then combined with four other dairies to become Burke Farmers Dairy.  He later became owner and operator of Currier Piano Company in Marion.  After a move to High Point, he joined Erwin-Lambeth Furniture in Thomasville, NC. Following his retirement from the furniture industry, Thad’s love of nature led him to partner with his good friend and neighbor at Randy’s Outdoorsman Shop in High Point.

Thad was a long-time resident of Drexel. He was a former city councilman, and was very involved in the Drexel Fair and other civic organizations.  Thad was an original trustee and former Board Chairman at Western Piedmont Community College from 1963 until 1980.  He was an avid golfer at Mimosa Hill Country Club in Morganton.  Thad was a passionate woodworker, crafting anything from tiny bird houses to beautiful family furniture.

Mr. Poteat is survived by his daughters, Lisa McNeely and her husband, Cam, and Debra Poteat, all of Morganton; grandchildren, Mary McNeely Royal and her husband, Michael, of Mooresville, NC, Kilpatrick McNeely and his wife, Meredith, of Alexandria, VA, and Shannon Long and her husband, Jimmy, of Conover, NC; great-grandchildren, Mary Connelly Royal of Mooresville, Ashlee Bransford and her husband, Cale, of Hickory, NC, and Sydney Caroline Sweezy of Morganton.

In addition to his parents, Thad was preceded in death by his wife and love of his life, Marcia Eileen Aikens Poteat; and two sisters, Hilda Poteat Cannon and Ruth Poteat Garrison.

The cryptside service will be held at 3:00 p.m., Sunday, February 8, 2015 in the chapel at the Burke Memorial Park Mausoleum with the Rev. Donald Smith officiating.  The family will receive friends in the mausoleum chapel from 2:00 until 3:00 p.m. prior to the service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Burke County Friends For Animals, P.O. Box 1884, Morganton, NC 28680.