August 14, 2023, 67, Princeton —

Stephen A. Whaley, Sr., 67, of Princeton, NC passed away on August 14, 2023, after a long illness. Stephen was a devoted husband, father, and grandfather and a kind friend to many. He retired from the United States Air Force in 1994 and started his own business in 1993. Stephen was recruited by Bass Pro Shops and departed there as the Operations Manager for Tracker Marine. He also served in other departments and was very proud to have hired the first female to work at the firearms counter, and the first African American to work in the same department. Stephen was told by many it was a huge mistake as this was a “white male” dominated business, but he proved them wrong, and sales rose 27% and the customer base became much more diversified. This is how he ran all the future businesses he was called to manage, ending with an 18-year career at OfficeMax where he retired in 2018.

Survivors include his wife, Cathy Whaley of Princeton, NC; his children, Aubrey Nicole and husband, Mike Christy of Clayton, NC, Stephen Whaley Jr and wife, Harley Whaley of Spring Hope, NC, Hunter Stephen Whaley and Christian Andrew Whaley, of Princeton, NC; grandchildren, Brayden, Theo and Harper, and Mother Ethel Mae (Jacobs) Jarman, and sister Pamela Whaley McBride of Cumming, GA. He was preceded in death by his first daughter, Stephenie Sheri Whaley, and father, S.O. Whaley, Jr.

Memorial services will be held at 2:00 pm on Friday, August 18, 2023, at the Seymour Funeral Home with CH (MAJ) Wayne Scholle officiating. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Thursday, August 17, 2023, from 6 pm-8 pm.

In lieu of flowers, the family would like for donations to be made to Wounded Warriors and/or Tunnel for Towers.

Services are entrusted to Seymour Funeral Home and Cremation Service.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.seymourfuneralhome.com.