Furman Thomas Petty, 86, of 1553 Chesnee Hwy., passed away on Wednesday, April 9, 2008, at Upstate Carolina Medical Center.

Born in Cherokee County, he was the the husband of Bennie Parker Petty for 61 years and son of the late Thomas A. Petty and Eula Clary Petty. He was a member of Macedonia Baptist Church, where he was a member of the Adult 1 Men's Sunday School class.

Mr. Petty retired from the Duke Energy Cliffside Steam Station after 39 years of service, was a charter member of the Cherokee Creek Volunteer Fire Department and was a Mason.

Also surviving are two sons, Ronnie T. Petty and wife, Jan, and Reggie L. Petty and wife, Jane, of Gaffney; a daughter, Rachel P. Farmer and husband, Sid, of Pigeon Forge, Tenn.; three granddaughters, Merri Anna P. Allred and husband, Ryan, of Rock Hill, Brooke Petty and Lauren Petty of Gaffney; and two great-grandchildren, Alex Allred and Emily Allred of Rock Hill.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Petty was preceded in death by a grandson, William Taylor Petty, and a brother, H.C. Petty.

Services will be held Saturday, April 12, at 2 p.m. at Macedonia Baptist Church, conducted by Dr. Terry Duvall. Interment will be in Frederick Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends Friday, April 11, from 6-8 p.m. at Blakely Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Macedonia Baptist Church Building Fund, 216 Macedonia Road, Gaffney, S.C. 29341.

The family is at the home.

An online guest register is available at www.blakelyfuneralhome. com.