Richard Peary Mantooth, age 71, of Burgaw passed peacefully from his earthly life to his eternal rest on Wednesday, April 13, 2011 at his residence surrounded by his loving family.

He was born August 14, 1939 in McMinn County, Tennessee, the son of the late Winfrey C. Mantooth and Flora Rogers Mantooth Rockwell. He was preceded in death by his brother, Winfrey Mantooth.

Surviving are his devoted wife of 50 years, Faye Housley Mantooth; children, Richard "Butch" P. Mantooth II (Lisa), Angela M. Beacham (Rick) and Dawn M. Straughn (Steve), all of Burgaw; grandchildren, Christopher Mantooth (Megan), Travis Mantooth (Elizabeth), KerrieAnn Mantooth, Morgan Jordan (Tremayne), Chaysen Beacham, MacKenzie Newkirk (Dorell), Brittany Straughn, Deanna Gouldman and Hunter Straughn; great grandchildren, Kenyon, Trace, Gracelynn, Lila, Jayden, and Sawyer; sister, Betty Shelton (Charles) of New Hope, KY; mother-in-law, Edna Housley; sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Betty and Howard Bivens and family all of Etowah, TN.

Peary was a faithful and long standing member of Riley's Creek Baptist Church. He retired after 25 years of service with Occidental Chemical in 1998. In 1999, the generosity of a stranger, the Grace of God, and the God given skills of surgeons and staff of University of Alabama at Birmingham Hospital came together in the form of a life saving lung transplant that truly made Peary a living miracle.

He was a devoted husband and loving daddy, Papaw, brother and friend. There was nothing Peary enjoyed more than a good round of golf, but his greatest joy in life was his family. Peary was truly loved and will be greatly missed. Memories of Peary are like threads of gold; they will never tarnish or grow old.

Funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Saturday, April 16, 2011 at Riley's Creek Baptist Church with The Rev. E. C. Mattocks, The Rev. Brock Tharpe and The Rev. Jim Herchenhahn officiating. Casketbearers will be Butch Mantooth, Rick Beacham, Chris Mantooth, Travis Mantooth, Chaysen Beacham, Tremayne Jordan, and Dorell Newkirk. Honorary bearer will be Steve Straughn of Afghanistan.

The family will receive friends 6 to 8:00 p.m. Friday at Quinn-McGowen Funeral Home in Burgaw.

The family would like to thank the doctors and staff of the 8th and 10th floors at New Hanover Regional Medical Center for the many times they took such excellent care of Peary.

Memorial gifts may be given to Lower Cape Fear Hospice Foundation, 1414 Physicians Dr., Wilmington, NC 28401.

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