Edward "Sam" Lee Kirkley

Mr. Edward Lee "Sam" Kirkley, 76, went to be with the Lord on Thursday, March 21, 2024, at his home in China Grove after a battle with cancer.

A funeral service is scheduled for 4:00 pm Sunday, March 24, 2024, at First Reformed Church in Landis. Rev. David Franks will officiate. A private entombment will follow at Carolina Memorial Park in Kannapolis.

The family will receive friends from 2 to 3:45 pm Sunday at the church.

Sam was born February 9, 1948 in Jefferson, SC. He was a son of the late Newell Edward Kirkley and Doris Louise Johnson Kirkley. After 38 years, he retired from Hoechst Celanese in 2006. He received a Bachelor of Arts Business Degree from Catawba College in 1999. He was a member of First Reformed Church in Landis. He was a former member of Community Baptist and Blackwelder Park Baptist where he also served as a Deacon. Sam was a Boy Scout Leader and Sunday school teacher. He loved everything about the outdoors and was a jack of all trades.

He was a beloved husband, father, brother and "Pawpaw Sam".

Sam is survived by his wife, Sandye Bonnell Kirkley; three daughters, Angela Kincaid and Meredith Jones (Brian), both of China Grove and Lori Blackledge (Scott) of Salisbury; sister, Cathy Farrington (Michael) of China Grove; brother, Nathan J. Kirkley (Patty) of Rutledge, TN; nine grandchildren, Lucas (Ashlyn) and Samuel Kincaid, Madilyn (Dustin) Jenkins, Andrew and Aaron Jones, Maxwell, Anna Grace, Sophia and Piper Blackledge; and a great granddaughter, Lana Kincaid.

Memorials may be sent to Missions at First Reformed Church, 210 North Central Avenue, Landis, NC 28088.

The family would like to thank Levine Cancer Institute at Atrium Cabarrus.