Ray Safrit

Ray Beaver Safrit, 88, of Mt. Pleasant, went to be with his Creator and Jesus Christ our Saviour on Monday, Feb 1, 2021 after a short illness. He died at his family’s 100 year old farm, where he was born and raised. He was under the care of hospice and was surrounded by his children and loving wife at the time of his passing.

A funeral service will be in the barn at his family farm at 3 pm, Friday, Feb 5, 2021 located at 1639 St John's Church Road, Concord, NC 28025. The family will receive friends in the granary from 12-3pm; funeral to follow. He will be laid to rest at St John’s Lutheran Church, Concord, NC. The family understands that friends and family may not be able to attend the service, so they have requested that you share a story of Ray on the Wilkinson Funeral website. The Funeral Service will be live-streamed on the Wilkinson Funeral Home Facebook page, starting at 2:45 pm.

Born Oct 26th, 1932 to the late Grover White Safrit and Grace Beaver Safrit, he was one of 5 children. He was proceeded in death by his four siblings, Helen, Lula, Glenn, and Joe; a son, Stephen; and a granddaughter Casey.

He is survived by his wife, of 67 years Phyllis Barringer Safrit; daughter, Libby Verble; son, Danny Ray Safrit (Taska); daughter, Annette Baker (Steve); grandchildren, Karen Tindal (Steven), Jamie Policastro (JP), Kalie Thomas (Greg), Sam Verble, Luke Verble (Anna), Noah Verble, Jordan Safrit (Leah), Grady Baker, Haley Conovaloff (Adam), and Arlynn Thomas (Blake), Merek Slagle, Brittney Morrison (Nick), Madison Slagle; great-grandchildren, McKenna, Kayla, Karlie, Eli, Axxle, Kate, Alyssa, Katie Rae, Oaklyn, Carter, Kennedy; sister-in-law, Martha Barringer; brother-in-law, John Barringer (Beverly) and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ray served in the US Airforce, stationed Thule Greenland and Cocoa Beach Florida, where he met his life long friends. He was a letter carrier for the US Postal Service in the city of Concord, NC for 43 years. At Christmas time he would have his family shop/deliver a box of food/toys to people along his route that he knew were in need of a Christmas blessing. He always watched from afar, as these people’s received a special gift from an unknown stranger. He earned the One Million Mile Club award for safe driving from USPS. He also worked for the Cabarrus Hospital.

He was a godly man and helped establish 4 new starter churches. He loved to listen to the Mormon Tabernacle Choir every Sunday morning while eating breakfast, but organ music was his favorite, especially the pipe organ. He wore his Sunday best to church but preferred coveralls, a straw hat, and pull over boot to anything else.

He was a cattle farmer and the 1st one to own Beefmaster cattle in NC. He grew a garden large enough, that he had more than he could give away. Many a day he worked a full schedule, only to come home to farm, sometimes into the wee hours of the night. He was active in farm into his 80s and enjoyed his recliner where he would fall asleep watching TV.

He loved to watch sports on TV and was a baseball pitcher at Mt. Pleasant High School, where he made the sports page for his no hit games. He loved the mountains and spent many weekends and vacations there when his children were growing up. He loved to travel with family and friends and visited 49 states in his lifetime.

He was a wonderful and loving husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather to his family. Most folks he knew considered his as their father or grandfather.

The family would like to thank all the hospital staff for making sure my mom got to see him while they were both there at the same time. And everyone who made it possible to grant his last wish to be at home with his family. Thank you also to the hospice staff who attended him.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to Cooperative Christian Ministries, P.O. Box 1717, Concord, NC 28026-1717, Salvation Army, 216 Patterson Avenue, Concord, NC 28025 and Fusion City Church, 101 YMCA Drive, Kannapolis, NC 28081.