Obituaries
Eugene Darrell Lail
( August 31, 1938 - July 28, 2022 )
Eugene Darrell Lail, known to everyone as Darrell, age 83, passed away on July 28, 2022 at the Levine & Dickson Hospice House in Huntersville, NC. He was born on August 31, 1938 to Ruffin and Gazzie Buff Lail in Cherryville, NC. Darrell graduated from Cherryville High School in 1956 and married Mary Joyce Lail from North Brook Community on August 3, 1958. The two met at an engagement gathering for Darrell’s brother and Joyce’s sister and would have celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary this month. Together they enjoyed spending time with their daughter, Sheila, her husband, Tim, and their four granddaughters.
Darrell began his career driving for Carolina Freight in Cherryville, NC. He missed his family and transitioned to a position at Burlington Industries. He later worked for Wiley Brothers Marble and Granite Works until his retirement. Darrell was skilled with numbers and his personal investments.
Darrell was honored to have played on the 1953 Cherryville American Legion State Championship Baseball Team that went to the American Legion World Series in Miami, Florida. Aside from his love of baseball, Darrell’s interests included hunting, fishing, softball, watching sports, and gardening. He spent time cultivating a large vegetable and flower garden with Joyce and always gave away their extra produce. He never liked anything to go to waste. Darrell was a committed husband and in later years cared for Joyce ensuring that they could continue to spend time together in their home in Crouse, NC.
Darrell was proud of his family and looked forward to visiting with them. He valued education and exhibited great interest in his granddaughters’ careers, education, and accomplishments. He always attended dance recitals, graduations, plays, and other performances, along with holidays and annual beach trips.
Darrell was a devoted Christian and read his Bible daily. He was a long-time member of Boger City United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday school and served on committees. He also enjoyed visiting Second Baptist Church of Cherryville, NC to hear sermons by his brother, Reverend Jerry Lail.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruffin and Gazzie Lail, sister, Hazelene Beam, and brothers, Earl Lail, Roy Lail, Carroll Lail, and Jim Lail. He is survived by his wife, Mary Joyce Lail, of Crouse, NC, his daughter, Sheila Starnes and husband, Tim, of Huntersville, NC, his granddaughters, Anna Welham and husband, Tom, of Bury St. Edmunds, England, Carley Starnes, of Charlotte, NC, Mara Monti and husband, Will, of Mooresville, NC, and Emma Starnes, of Huntersville, NC, and his brother, Reverend Jerry Lail and wife, Rita, of Cherryville, NC.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 6, 2022 from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm in the fellowship hall at Boger City United Methodist Church, 2320 East Main Street, Lincolnton, NC 28092. Directly following the receiving of friends, the memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm at Boger City United Methodist Church with Pastor Ronnie Roseboro officiating. Following the memorial service, immediate and extended family are invited to the burial at Bess Chapel United Methodist Church, 6073 Flay Road, Cherryville, NC 28021.
Memorials may be made to Boger City United Methodist Church, 2320 East Main Street, Lincolnton, NC 28092, or to Bess Chapel United Methodist Church, Cemetery Fund, 6073 Flay Road, Cherryville, NC 28021.
Darrell began his career driving for Carolina Freight in Cherryville, NC. He missed his family and transitioned to a position at Burlington Industries. He later worked for Wiley Brothers Marble and Granite Works until his retirement. Darrell was skilled with numbers and his personal investments.
Darrell was honored to have played on the 1953 Cherryville American Legion State Championship Baseball Team that went to the American Legion World Series in Miami, Florida. Aside from his love of baseball, Darrell’s interests included hunting, fishing, softball, watching sports, and gardening. He spent time cultivating a large vegetable and flower garden with Joyce and always gave away their extra produce. He never liked anything to go to waste. Darrell was a committed husband and in later years cared for Joyce ensuring that they could continue to spend time together in their home in Crouse, NC.
Darrell was proud of his family and looked forward to visiting with them. He valued education and exhibited great interest in his granddaughters’ careers, education, and accomplishments. He always attended dance recitals, graduations, plays, and other performances, along with holidays and annual beach trips.
Darrell was a devoted Christian and read his Bible daily. He was a long-time member of Boger City United Methodist Church where he taught Sunday school and served on committees. He also enjoyed visiting Second Baptist Church of Cherryville, NC to hear sermons by his brother, Reverend Jerry Lail.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Ruffin and Gazzie Lail, sister, Hazelene Beam, and brothers, Earl Lail, Roy Lail, Carroll Lail, and Jim Lail. He is survived by his wife, Mary Joyce Lail, of Crouse, NC, his daughter, Sheila Starnes and husband, Tim, of Huntersville, NC, his granddaughters, Anna Welham and husband, Tom, of Bury St. Edmunds, England, Carley Starnes, of Charlotte, NC, Mara Monti and husband, Will, of Mooresville, NC, and Emma Starnes, of Huntersville, NC, and his brother, Reverend Jerry Lail and wife, Rita, of Cherryville, NC.
The family will receive friends on Saturday, August 6, 2022 from 1:00 pm until 2:00 pm in the fellowship hall at Boger City United Methodist Church, 2320 East Main Street, Lincolnton, NC 28092. Directly following the receiving of friends, the memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm at Boger City United Methodist Church with Pastor Ronnie Roseboro officiating. Following the memorial service, immediate and extended family are invited to the burial at Bess Chapel United Methodist Church, 6073 Flay Road, Cherryville, NC 28021.
Memorials may be made to Boger City United Methodist Church, 2320 East Main Street, Lincolnton, NC 28092, or to Bess Chapel United Methodist Church, Cemetery Fund, 6073 Flay Road, Cherryville, NC 28021.
Posted on 02 Aug 2022
Current Information
Contact
125 Dave Warlick Drive
Lincolnton, NC 28092
704/735-2521