Johnnie Eury

Johnnie Ray "CHIEF" Eury took the checkered flag to victory lane on Saturday January 30, 2021 just 4 days shy of his 92nd birthday in the arms of his son John.

He was born in Cabarrus County on February 3, 1929 to John Eury and Bertie Lee Eury.

He learned to plow on the land where Central Cabarrus High School is located. He was 8 years old and had to hang his lunch sack from a tree limb so the ants would not eat it. He plowed from sunup to sundown barefooted.

He worked at Plant 9 Cannon Mills from January 23, 1946 as a card grinder until he retired in 1991. He earned 30 cents an hour and his first paycheck for 3 weeks work was $35.00.

He was a member of the "Carolina Posse" a group of local dirt track race car drivers in the 50's and 60s feared in the Southeast which included Ralph Earnhardt. That is what they became known as because when they showed up at a racetrack, they dominated everything and one of them came home as a winner. They always seemed to have the best cars and the latest equipment, and their knowledge of race cars was unmatched. They would pit together, hang out together and if anybody ever got in trouble all of them were there to help.

He raced in Tennessee, NC, Virginia and SC. His race car was the black 5A Chevrolet and named "Miss Pearl" after his loving wife of 71 years Pearl Simpson Eury.

He loved to tell his racing stories and blue grass music.

Above all he loved his family. Their get togethers were the highlight of his life.
He is survived by his wife Pearl Simpson Eury
Daughter Brenda E Cook and husband Grady
Daughter Kathy Heberlein and husband John
Son Micheal Eury and wife Gladys
Son John Eury and Tammy
Daughter Rachel Allmond and Mark Steele
Sister Ruby Barringer
He has 7 grandchildren. Kenny Eudy, Tina Cook Coble and husband Nelson, Phillip Drye and wife Heather, Greg Stamper and wife Brandy, Houston Stamper and wife Emilee, Crystal Allmond and Nathan Allmond
He has 14 greatgrand children. Austin Eudy, Blake Coble, Abigail Coble, Leacy Coble, Anthony Drye, PJ Drye, Cody Drye, Kirstyn Drye, Dane Stamper, Willa Stamper, Pearl Stamper, Briggs Stamper, Hattie Stamper and Mabel Stamper

Johnny Eury, Mike Eury, Kenny Eudy, Phillip Drye, Greg Stamper and John Heverlein will serve as Pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm, Tuesday, February 2, 2021 at Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord. The funeral service will be on Wednesday at 2:00 pm at Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord in Concord officiated by Rev. Rodger Bostic. Livestream: https://video.ibm.com/channel/hartsell-funeral-home-concord Burial will follow at the Oakwood Cemetery at 421 Church Street, Concord.

Hartsell Funeral Home of Concord is serving the Eury family.