Joseph Ray Clary

Joseph Ray (Joe) Clary passed away peacefully at home in Raleigh on Thursday November 8th, 2018. Joe was born December 11, 1929 to W. E. and Kate Clary in Cleveland County, North Carolina. He graduated from Number Three Township High School and then from Spartanburg Junior College. He received his BS and Masters degrees from NC State University and his PhD from the Ohio State University. He also served in the Army for two years based in Mildenhall, England.

His career in education included work with the North Carolina Department of Agriculture, North Carolina Department of Public Instruction, Hasty High School in Davidson County, Beaver Creek High School in Ashe County, Caldwell Community College and Technical Institute and NC State University where he retired in 1989.

Joe is survived by his beloved wife of 61 years, Katie; son Kent and daughter-in-law Crystal of Waynesville, NC; and granddaughter Hannah Rose Loman and her husband Austin of Raleigh, NC; brother Bobby Clary of Shelby, NC and numerous nephews and nieces. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by grandson Matthew Clary; brothers Hugh Pinckney, Horace, Everette and Mitchell Clary, and sisters Joyce Helton, Shirley Bridges and Linda Lemons.

Joe also leaves behind a host of former students who he mentored and served as a role model in teaching excellence over the years. He was very active in practicing his faith through the years as a member of Crabtree Valley Baptist and Hayes Barton Baptist Church. He enjoyed sports and was a longtime supporter of both NC State Wolfpack and Ohio State Buckeye athletics. In his retirement, he loved to travel and was very active with the North Carolina FFA Foundation. He loved the many years he spent with students and family at the RJ Peeler FFA Camp at White Lake, NC.

Funeral services will be held at Crabtree Valley Baptist Church on Monday, November 12 at 2:00 p.m. The family will receive friends prior to the service beginning at 12:30 p.m. A private burial will be at Raleigh Memorial Park immediately after the funeral service.

Memorials can be made in Joe’s honor to the NC FFA Foundation (NCSU Campus Box 7654, Raleigh, NC 27695-7654) or to the Matt Clary Scholarship Fund (Cleveland County Schools Foundation, 400 West Marion Street, Shelby, NC 28150).