Earl Phifer

Earl Cooper Phifer, 87 years of age of Stanfield, passed away Tuesday, December 25, 2012 in Carolinas Medical Center – NorthEast in Concord. Mr. Phifer was born April 12, 1925 in Mecklenburg County to the late Henry Taylor Phifer and Jodie Marshall Curlee. He was also preceded in death by his son, Henry Phifer; his brother, H. T. Phifer; and his sisters, Verlie Arthur and Bernice Peale. He was a veteran of the U. S. Navy from 1943 – 1946 and served in WWII, surviving the Normandy Invasion Landing. He enjoyed attending the yearly Naval LCI reunions and keeping in touch with his shipmates. Mr. Phifer was the co-founder and owner of Superior Piping, Fabricators & Erectors, Inc. His business was located in Charlotte for 35 years before relocating to Stanfield. He was actively engaged in the mechanical piping business for over 64 years. He was a member of Union Masonic Lodge # 618 A.F. & A.M. and served as a Master Mason for 50 years. He was a devoted member of First Baptist Church of Stanfield, truly loving his church and church family. The family will receive friends from 3 – 4 p.m., Friday, December 28, 2012 at First Baptist Church, 200 NC Hwy. 200 North, Stanfield in the fellowship hall. The funeral service, officiated by Rev. Bruce League, will be in the sanctuary at 4 p.m. Burial will follow in the church cemetery. At other times, the family will meet at his home. Survivors include loving wife of 70 years, Velma Louise Tarlton Phifer, of the home; his daughter, Joanne Morton and her husband, Dale, of Norwood; his granddaughters, Brandi Lambert of Norwood, Julie Phifer of Stanfield, and Amy Buckles and her husband, Ralph, of Stanfield; his step-grandsons, Phillip Morton and his wife, Tara, of Concord, and Shea Morton and his wife, Ashley, of Oakboro; and his great-grandchildren, Gavin Amick, Kyle Ford, Cody Buckles, Brittany Buckles, Ashton Morton, Elijah Morton, and Shaphan Morton. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, P. O. Box 279, Stanfield, NC 28163. Hartsell Funeral Home of Midland is serving the Phifer family.