Bobby Ray Hartsell

Bobby Ray Hartsell, 65, of Concord, died Wednesday, January 16, 2008, at his home. A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Saturday, January 19, 2008, at First Wesleyan Church in Kannapolis. The Rev. Wayne Preusz and the Rev. John Perry will officiate. Interment will follow at Carolina Memorial Park. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday, January 18, 2008, at Lady's Funeral Home in Kannapolis. Bobby was born July 10, 1942 in Cabarrus County, son of the late Hubert Marshall Hartsell and Zelma Beaver Hartsell. He graduated from Winecoff High School in 1960 and worked for Winn-Dixie Grocery, becoming manager of the produce department. In 1964, he joined the United States Air Force and trained as a weatherman. From 1968 until 1998, he was employed by United Parcel Service in Charlotte. For many years he had a concession business at various festivals and fairs, selling funnel cakes, hamburgers and roasted corn from trailers. He called himself a mechanical engineer. He loved music and was a part of the Tributes Quartet at First Wesleyan Church. Everyone remembers him most for his wonderful sense of humor. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Kathy Lynn Hartsell in 1968. Bobby is survived by his wife, Ruth Miller Hartsell; daughters, Kelly Coggins and husband Lee of Concord, and Lee Ann Seabolt and husband Chris of Kannapolis; stepdaughter, Malea Williams and husband Steve of Matthews; stepson, Bryan Stover and wife Connie of Hendersonville; brothers, Terry Hartsell and wife Cheryl of Richfield, David Hartsell; sister, Mildred Flinchum of Concord; grandchildren, Alex Coggins and wife Michelle of Concord, Kara, Kayla and Ashley Seabolt of Kannapolis, Ryan and Dylan Williams of Matthews, Christina, Nicole, Jennifer, and Christian Stover of Hendersonville; great-granddaughters, Katie and Taylor Coggins of Concord. Memorials may be sent to the Humane Society of Concord & Greater Cabarrus County, PO Box 3104, Concord, NC 28025 or Kitty City Cat Rescue, 36 South Union St., Concord, NC 28025 or Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis, NC 28081 or Epilepsy Foundation of N.C., Medical Center Blvd., Winston Salem, NC 27157-1078.