MURFREESBORO – J. Lewis Storey, age 86, passed away on July 1, 2015, peacefully at home.

J. Lewis was born August 20, 1928, in Murfreesboro NC, to the late Gladstone and Eldorado (Whitley) Storey. He was a member of Murfreesboro Baptist Church. J. Lewis farmed for fifty years and lived his entire life on the farm which has been in the Storey family since 1877.  He served in the US Army, stationed in Germany.

J. Lewis served on numerous boards and committees, including President of NC Peanut Growers, Ridgecroft School, Peanut Growers Cooperative Marketing Association, Southern Bank, Secretary Treasurer of Roanoke Electric Cooperative, Murfreesboro Historical Association, Chairman of ASCS County Committee, President of Hertford County Farm Bureau, and Trustee at Chowan University. Two of his proudest accomplishments were being named North Carolina’s Conservation Farm Family of 1994 and being presented The Order of the Long Leaf Pine by Governor Jim Hunt, Jr.

Besides his parents, J. Lewis was preceded in death by his sisters, Sara Storey Batten, Hazel Storey Fisher, Gladys Storey Martz, and Miriam Storey Leverage.

Left to cherish his memory is his loving wife of 62 years, Pansy Brown Storey; his daughter, Patsy Storey Marriner and husband, Stacy of Elizabeth City, NC; and two sons, Ronnie Storey and wife, Connie, and Jerry Storey and wife, Melanie, of Murfreesboro, NC. Also surviving are two granddaughters, Allison Storey Hollowell and husband, Daniel of Greenville, NC, and Jessie Storey Taylor and husband, Evan of Kinston, NC; a step grandson, Roy Marriner; and a great granddaughter, Avery Brooke Hollowell.

A celebration of life service will be conducted on Monday, July 6, 2015, at 11:00 a.m. at Murfreesboro Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Lee Canipe officiating. The family will receive friends immediately following the service in the church fellowship hall. A private burial will be in Highland Memorial Gardens, Ahoskie, NC.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Vidant Hospice, 521 Myers Street, West, Ahoskie, NC, 27910; or to Murfreesboro Baptist Church, 200 West Main Street, Murfreesboro, NC.

The family would like to thank Vidant Hospice, Dr. Charles Sawyer, Dr. Michael Alston, Caregivers Angela, Freida, Crystal, and Sarah, for their support and end of life care.

Garrett Sykes Memorial Chapel, Murfreesboro, NC, is handling the arrangements for the Storey family and online condolences can be directed to the family by visiting www.garrettsykesfs.com.