Claude Ray Squires

Claude Ray Squires, 76, of Kelly, North Carolina passed away on Monday, November 4, 2024, while at Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center. He was born in Bladen County on March 15, 1948, the son of the late John Douglas Squires and Sadie Squires. He was also preceded by siblings, Kathleen Malpass, Buddy Squires, Alfred Ray Squires, and Cherry Sholar.

 Left to cherish his memory are daughter Amanda Faircloth and husband Kevin of Graniteville, South Carolina, brother Jerry Squires and wife Sherry of Kelly, North Carolina, sister Carolyn Bui and husband Howard of Kelly, North Carolina, three grandchildren Lauren Johnston (Casey), Matthew Faircloth (Brittany), and Erica Ballard (Briggs), and four great grandchildren Brookelyn Wilson, Brayden Wilson, Corbin Johnston and Cohen Johnston, and Baby Bennett on the way.

We are here to celebrate the life of Claude Squires, a son, brother, father, grandfather and friend to many. Known by most as Curly. Your presence today says in some way he influenced you. We are also here to acknowledge the Lord, Jesus Christ and receive God's comfort and peace. Claude's homegoing was sudden and unexpected. Today things are different and route's of life have been disrupted. A new journey of healing has begun, maybe not at this exact moment but very soon. 

Everything Claude did was done at the beat of his own drum. He spent his whole life on Natmore Road. During his younger years, he spent many weekends pitching softball games. He worked in construction & if one thing is for certain he knew how to run heavy machinery. Claude could do anything he set his mind to, maybe not always the textbook way. Anything he did, was Claude's way. This included hunting and fishing. He loved the outdoors, telling stories and teaching many nephews and friends, "his way". There was never a morning you wouldn't find him in the woods without his green Stanley thermos filled with coffee. 

Alongside his outdoor hobbies, one thing that took importance more than anything was being a daddy. From a young age, Claude would teach Amanda how to be a boy but never expected her to turn away from being a daddy's girl. One thing they shared a special bond over was many weekends at the dirt track. Everyone knew Amanda always had that special place in his heart, even that one spanking he gave her & swore to never do it again. Their bond was something worth noting and that bond grew stronger when he became a granddaddy. From the moment he welcomed them in his life, he never called them by their names. Big sis, Pedro and Baby girl kept him young and he loved being around them. Teaching them how to hunt, fish and drive his old red stick shift Toyota. Even living 4 hours away, every nightly phone call with Amanda would end in checking on his grandchildren.

 A graveside service will be held on Wednesday, November 6, 2024 at 2 pm in the Natmore Baptist Church Cemetery in Kelly, NC with Jackie Squires officiating.