SHELBY, N.C. - Claude Canipe Jr., 73, of 704 Ware Road, died Sunday, Oct. 19, 2008, at Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte.

Born on Dec. 16, 1934, in Cleveland County, he was the husband of Shirley May Ray

Canipe to whom he

was married for 50

years. He was the son of the late Claude Franklin Canipe and the late Lucy Smith Canipe. Mr. Canipe was retired owner and operator of Canipe's Welding and was a member of Dedmon's Livestock Yard. He was a U.S. Army veteran and of the Baptist faith.

Surviving are a son, Clifton William Canipe of Gastonia, N.C.; two daughters, Pamela Rebecca Ware and Cynthia Ellen Scates, both of Kings Mountain, N.C.; a sister, Betty Laughlin of Lawndale, N.C.; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandhcild.

In addition to his parents, Mr. Canipe was preceded in death by a son, Donald Claude Canipe, and a daughter, Kim Elizabeth Canipe White.

Services will be held Wednesday, Oct. 22, at 2 p.m. at Rose Hill Memorial Park Mausoleum Chapel. The body may be viewed from 1:30-2 p.m. prior to the service. Burial will be at Rose Hill Memorial Park.

Visitation was held Tuesday from 6:30-8 p.m. at Stamey Funeral Home in Fallston, N.C.

Memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society - Carolinas Chapter, 500 E. Morehead St., Suite 211, Charlotte, N.C.28202; or to the American Liver Foundation, 75 Maiden Lane, Suite 603, New York, N.Y. 10038.

A guest register is avaialble at www.stameyfuneralhome. com.