Henry Grier Bustle

Henry Grier Bustle, 95, of Statesville, North Carolina, died Thursday, April 13, 2023, surrounded by his loving family and dedicated caretakers at Gordon Hospice House.

Grier was born in Iredell County on Nov. 25, 1927, to the late Joseph Backman Bustle and Mamie Forsyth Bustle. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 66 years, Frances Nash Bustle; sisters, Mary Lou Brown and Greta Bustle; and brothers Allen Bustle and Louis Bustle.

A member of Beulah Baptist Church since 1938, Grier served as a youth leader, deacon, deacon chair, Sunday school teacher (for 64 years), Sunday school director and, even into his 90s, served on the senior adult ministry team visiting shut-ins.

A veteran of the U.S. Army, Grier was assigned to the 1st Battalion 38th Infantry Regiment in the late 1940s as a mountain warfare instructor. After the Army, Grier drove a truck for an oil company for a short time before going to work at Southern Screw, where he retired in 1989. He became a full-time farmer, growing vegetables and raising cattle, pigs and chickens. The food he farmed served many meals to his family and friends as Mamaw and Papaw’s house was the gathering place for Sunday lunches, Monday and Wednesday night suppers, family birthdays and holidays. Their backyard swimming pool also provided a place for many happy summer memories for family and neighborhood kids.

Grier loved his family and loved spoiling his grandchildren and great grandchildren. Days before his death he found out he was going to be a great, great grandfather, which brought him much joy. Survivors are daughters Kathy Moose (Gary), Debbie McNeely (Lynn); son David; grandson Rob McNeely (Ali); granddaughters Jennifer Davenport (Joe), Cheryl Shuffler (Wes); great granddaughters Timber, Breanna, Loch, Grier and Abi; sister-in-law, Shirley Bustle; a number of nieces and nephews; and special long-time family friends Joan Morrison, and Paul and Joan Billings.

Funeral services with full military honors for Grier will be held 2:00 pm, Monday, April 17, 2023, at Beulah Baptist Church with the Rev. Brian Burgess officiating. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 12:30 to 2:00 pm at Beulah Baptist Church.

Memorials may be made to Beulah Baptist Church, 1851 Old Mountain Road, Statesville, NC 28677 or Gordon Hospice House, 2341 Simonton Road, Statesville, NC 28625. 

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