Earl Allan Sarvey

Earl Allan Sarvey, aged 75, died Wednesday, January 8th following a lengthy battle with COPD.  Earl was born December 8, 1944, the eldest son of Floyd and Verna (nee Dano) Sarvey of Endicott, New York.  He graduated from Vestal High School and enlisted in the United States Army and served from 1969-1975 as a Spec5 in the 426th Signal Battalion.  Following his deployment to Germany, his family moved from upstate New York to Charlotte, North Carolina where he worked for IBM as an automation specialist.   

Earl was devoted to veteran affairs and, having many friends and family who fought or died during the Vietnam War, worked to help those who returned readjust to civilian life.  He was an avid fan of racing and raced modified stock cars in Glen Aubrey, NY as a young man and at Concord Motor Speedway later in life.  He had a passion for music, especially bands from the 1960s and was proud of the fact he worked the Woodstock Festival of 1969 and was privileged to see many of his musical heroes in their glory. Earl loved tractors and plowing and developed a passion for the Tractor community. Many of the folks in the Tractor community were also his family.

Earl was also an avid nature lover and would take his young sons out into the woods and regale them with stories of Native Americans, the animals and the land.  He was a man who loved to tell stories, many legendary tales of the family.  He was highly opinionated, stubborn, but also passionate about those people and things he cared for.  He was “the Duke”.  He will be missed, but the family rejoices that he joins his loved ones who have gone before, including his siblings, Larry Sarvey and Cheryl Butler and his children, Floyd Donald Sarvey (“Sarv”) and Kim Sarvey Knudsen.  Their reunion must have been epic. 

Earl is survived by his wife, Mary Lou, of Kannapolis, NC; his sister Sandra Loveless; his daughter, Tina Sarvey Tusar of Glen Aubrey, NY; his sons Shaun (Mari) Sarvey of Matthews, NC and Demian (Andria) Sarvey of Indian Trail, NC; his grandchildren: Logan, Harley, Zach, Rachel, Ella, Luca, Madison and Charlotte and a host of nieces, nephews and friends. 

A memorial service with full military honors will be held Tuesday, January 14, 2020 at 11am at Salisbury National Cemetery.  In lieu of flowers, the family asks those who wish to donate to do so to a charity of their choice.

Lyerly Funeral Home is serving the Sarvey family. Online condolences may be made at www.lyerlyfuneralhome.com.

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