Obituaries
Jimmy Richard "Ace" Lail
( January 24, 1936 - February 4, 2022 )
Jimmy Richard “Ace” Lail passed away on February 4, 2022 at the Levine & Dickson Hospice House in Huntersville, NC. He was born on January 24, 1936, to Ruffin and Gazzie Buff Lail in Cherryville, NC. He graduated from Cherryville High School and attended Appalachian State University in Boone, North Carolina. He was married for 65 years to the love of his life, Doris Leonhardt Lail, who predeceased him last February . Together they raised 2 daughters, Robin and Kristen.
Jim was the consummate businessman. He began his career with Wiley Brothers, owned and operated Lail’s Gulf in Cherryville with his brother Jerry, and then moved on to the hardware industry. He was employed for 16 years at Vermont American Corporation where he advanced from Eastern Sales Manager to Company President. After leaving Vermont American, he and Doris established Jim Lail & Associates, Inc.
Jim played second base for the 1953 Cherryville American Legion Baseball team that went to the American Legion World Series in Miami, Florida. The team created memories that last until this day and he was proud to have been a part of that brotherhood. He signed minor league contracts with the Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles and was inducted into the Cherryville Sports Hall of Fame.
He had a lifelong love of fishing and hunting and was named Top Gun at the Grand National Quail Hunt in Enid, Oklahoma. If you knew Jim, you heard many stories about the big fish he caught and his bird hunting adventures. He was also an avid golfer.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Lincolnton, a former member of the Lincolnton Rotary Club, served on the Lincoln County Economic Development Commission, was past President of the Lincoln County Republican Men’s Club and past Chairman of the Lincoln County Republican Party, and former President and Secretary of the Southern and Eastern Hardware Association. He was a founder of Carolina Trust Bank and served on its Board of Directors.
He was very proud of his children and grandchildren and loved to share stories of their accomplishments.
In addition to his beloved wife, Doris, he was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Hazelene Beam, and brothers, Earl Lail, Roy Lail and Carrol Lail. He is survived by his daughters Robin Goins and husband, Wayne, of Salisbury, North Carolina, and Kristen Willis and husband, Ed, of Lincolnton, North Carolina; his grandchildren Travis Goins and Amy White, Heather Goins Alexander and husband, J.C., Braden Willis, Graham Willis, and great grandchildren, Dylan and Lucas Alexander. He is also survived by his brothers, Darrell Lail and wife, Joyce, and Jerry Lail and wife, Rita.
He will lie in state at Warlick Funeral Home, 125 Dave Warlick Drive, Lincolnton, NC, on Monday, February 7 through Wednesday, February 9, 2022, between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The family will not be present during those times.
A graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 18, 2022, at Bess Chapel United Methodist Church, 6073 Flay Road, Cherryville, NC 28021, with Rev. Jerry Lail officiating. The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall for one hour prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 201 East Main Street, Lincolnton, North Carolina 28092 or to Bess Chapel United Methodist Church.
Jim was the consummate businessman. He began his career with Wiley Brothers, owned and operated Lail’s Gulf in Cherryville with his brother Jerry, and then moved on to the hardware industry. He was employed for 16 years at Vermont American Corporation where he advanced from Eastern Sales Manager to Company President. After leaving Vermont American, he and Doris established Jim Lail & Associates, Inc.
Jim played second base for the 1953 Cherryville American Legion Baseball team that went to the American Legion World Series in Miami, Florida. The team created memories that last until this day and he was proud to have been a part of that brotherhood. He signed minor league contracts with the Cincinnati Reds and Baltimore Orioles and was inducted into the Cherryville Sports Hall of Fame.
He had a lifelong love of fishing and hunting and was named Top Gun at the Grand National Quail Hunt in Enid, Oklahoma. If you knew Jim, you heard many stories about the big fish he caught and his bird hunting adventures. He was also an avid golfer.
He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Lincolnton, a former member of the Lincolnton Rotary Club, served on the Lincoln County Economic Development Commission, was past President of the Lincoln County Republican Men’s Club and past Chairman of the Lincoln County Republican Party, and former President and Secretary of the Southern and Eastern Hardware Association. He was a founder of Carolina Trust Bank and served on its Board of Directors.
He was very proud of his children and grandchildren and loved to share stories of their accomplishments.
In addition to his beloved wife, Doris, he was preceded in death by his parents, a sister, Hazelene Beam, and brothers, Earl Lail, Roy Lail and Carrol Lail. He is survived by his daughters Robin Goins and husband, Wayne, of Salisbury, North Carolina, and Kristen Willis and husband, Ed, of Lincolnton, North Carolina; his grandchildren Travis Goins and Amy White, Heather Goins Alexander and husband, J.C., Braden Willis, Graham Willis, and great grandchildren, Dylan and Lucas Alexander. He is also survived by his brothers, Darrell Lail and wife, Joyce, and Jerry Lail and wife, Rita.
He will lie in state at Warlick Funeral Home, 125 Dave Warlick Drive, Lincolnton, NC, on Monday, February 7 through Wednesday, February 9, 2022, between 11:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. The family will not be present during those times.
A graveside service will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Friday, February 18, 2022, at Bess Chapel United Methodist Church, 6073 Flay Road, Cherryville, NC 28021, with Rev. Jerry Lail officiating. The family will receive friends in the Fellowship Hall for one hour prior to the service.
Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 201 East Main Street, Lincolnton, North Carolina 28092 or to Bess Chapel United Methodist Church.
Posted on 07 Feb 2022
Current Information
Contact
125 Dave Warlick Drive
Lincolnton, NC 28092
704/735-2521