Norman Keith Pavey

Norman Keith Pavey, a steadfast church member, community leader, and family man passed away at Atrium Health Center Cabarrus on the morning of November 26th, 2024 after a tough fight against rapidly advancing lung disease. Born on March 16th, 1942 in Hardinsburg, Indiana, Keith, as he preferred to be called, was impossible to forget after meeting him.  

Visitation will be held on December 3rd, 2024 at Cold Springs Global Methodist Church located at 2550 Cold Springs Road, Concord, North Carolina, 28025, from 2:00 PM to 3:00 PM, followed by a funeral service at 3:15 PM officiated by Reverend Cliff Wall. 

Keith graduated from Hardinsburg High School in Hardinsburg, Indiana in 1960 where he served as the artist for the school newspaper and played on both the varsity baseball and basketball teams. After high school, he attended Indiana University Bloomington for a year before enlisting in the United States Army, serving as a steely-eyed missile man responsible for launching Nike missiles. During the Cuban Missile Crisis, Keith spent 36 hours straight in a missile command trailer listening to countdowns over his headset after having just read the novel Fail Safe. He always described that as the most frightening day and a half of his life. 

After serving three years, he earned an honorable discharge from the Army and joined IBM as a mail clerk. His superiors recognized his talent and work ethic and quickly promoted him to a Mechanical-Electrical Engineer. This was the first of many role changes within the company as he grew into new responsibilities. During his time at IBM, he was transferred from Maryland to Kentucky, Colorado, finally settling in North Carolina. He took an early retirement from IBM in 1992. He continued to work, first as a volunteer on several Mission trips with the Cold Springs Methodist Men to Puerto Rico, later as a contract Systems Programmer back at IBM for 10 years, followed by five years at Century Door before fully hanging up his wage-earning hat.

Keith met his wife, Barbara Ann Johnson, in March of 1964 and married her March 11th, 1965 in Clarksburg, Maryland. They had two sons, Shawn Christoher Pavey of Mission, Kansas and Eric Daniel Pavey of Portland, Oregon. 

He is preceded in death by his father, Luther K. Pavey, his mother Ruth Hendershot Pavey, his father-in-law and mother-in-law, Charles Henry Johnson and Ida Amelia Beauchamp Johnson, and his brothers-in-law Wiley Thomas Johnson, Allen Schaffer, and Carl Sears. He is survived by his wife and sons, sisters Kay Schaffer, Judy Sears, and brothers Jon Pavey, Dale Pavey, Kent Pavey, and Jim Pavey. 

An avid outdoorsman, Keith fly-fished the wildest rivers on the continent, hunted everything from quail to elk throughout the country, and was an active member of Trout Unlimited and Ducks Unlimited. As an engineer, he contributed to the design of machines that continue to drive business even today. In his retired life, he dedicated his time to his passions – art, carpentry, reading, and gardening. His paintings will continue to be treasured by those who loved his work. His stalwart defense of what is right and true and just drove him to the Army and, later, to hold numerous leadership posts in his church and arts communities. Keith studied the Bible, reading it cover to cover in a variety of English translations. At Cold Springs Global Methodist Church, he served on various committees and was an active member of the Methodist Men. He was a regular fixture at the Cold Springs Annual Barbecue. He served several years on the board of the Cabarrus Arts Guild, holding positions that included Vice President and President.

Norman Keith Pavey leaves a hole in the hearts of all who knew him and his legacy of service, leadership, kindness, fairness, and life-long learning will continue to be an inspiration to his family, friends, and community.  

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made in Keith’s name to Cold Springs Global Methodist Church, Building Fund, 2550 Cold Springs Rd., Concord, NC 28025.