Obituary of Cale Burgess, Jr.

Cale Kight Burgess, Jr. passed away peacefully at his home on Saturday morning, January 3, 2015. Born in Raleigh on January 9, 1923 to Edith Lee and Cale K. Burgess, Sr., he was a pupil in the early years of Mrs. Virginia Ligon's kindergarten, attended Raleigh public schools graduating from Broughton High School in 1939. He graduated in 1943 from UNC-Chapel Hill where he was a member of Chi Psi fraternity. After serving in the US Army from 1943-46, he returned to Chapel Hill where he graduated from the School of Law in 1949. After practicing law with his father for a couple years, he was employed by Hartford Insurance Company. He retired after 25 years and became a staff attorney with the N.C. Judicial Standards Commission, completing his service to state government with the Administrative Office of the Courts in 1993.

Cale was a life-long Methodist beginning at Edenton Street United Methodist Church and then tranferring to Hayes-Barton United Methodist Church in 1954. In earlier years he served on the Administrative Board, as a church usher, and assisted at one time with the church-based Boy Scout troop. Membership in the Wesleyan Fellowship Sunday School class was very important to him and he was faithful in his attendance for many years until health issues kept him at home for the last couple months. Until recently he had also been a regular participant at the Men's Tuesday Prayer Breakfast. He also enjoyed his membership in the Raleigh Host Lions Club and the Ole Raleigh Boys Club.

Cale experienced a sudden change in his life when, after being diagnosed a few years earlier with macular degeneration, he awoke one morning in 2003 to find himself severely vision-impaired. He carried on and soon thereafter began participating in the Visually Impaired Program sponsored by the City of Raleigh. A recent highlight was his trip as a World War II veteran on the September 14, 2011 Flight of Honor to Washington, DC. He married Jacqueline Witmer on May 7, 1949; they were married for 63 years until her death on November 13, 2012. Over the years they became parents to six daughters and a son. The great sorrow of Cale's life was the loss of his 5-year old son Cale, III (Pete) to cancer in 1958.

He is survived by his daughters and their spouses/partners: Cheryl Hall (Charles), Meg Byron (Duke Underwood), Jackie McLaurin (Keith), Betsy Way (Thomas), Harriet Banner (Bill Stewart), and Susan Burgess (Maureen O'Meara); grandchildren: Major Curt Byron (Major Michelle Byron), Laura Byron Hunt (Danny), Keith and Andy McLaurin, Taylor and Katy Way; great-grandchildren: Camryn, Carsyn, and Emerson Hunt and Michael Byron. He is also survived by two brothers and their wives: Bob and Martha Burgess and Bill and Ann Burgess; a sister-in-law, LaVerne Witmer Pendergrass; numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great-nephews. He was predeceased by his parents, wife, son, sister Edith Burgess Futrell, son-in-law Metts Banner, and brother- and sister-in-law Clyde and Rose Marie Stroup.

A memorial service will be held on at 11:00 am on Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at Hayes-Barton United Methodist Church on Fairview Road at Stone Street. Visitation with the family will immediately follow in the Fellowship Hall. Interment will take place at Montlawn Memorial Park at a later date.

Our deepest appreciation and gratitude go to Paula Werk and her team of amazing care-givers--Jacque, Keisha, Ernestine, Jane, Leslie, Phyllis, and Carolyn--who superbly ensured our father's comfort and well-being, enabling him to finish life in his home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that any memorial contributions be directed to Hayes-Barton United Methodist Church, 2209 Fairview Road, Raleigh, NC 27608 or to a charity of one's choice. Online condolences may be made to www.montlawn.com