Raymond Mike Koontz, 91, went to his Heavenly home on March 8, 2025 at Amorem Hospice in Hudson, NC.

Mike, as he was called, was born March 7, 1934 in Welcome, NC to the late Roy and Lillie Koontz.

He graduated from Welcome High School in 1952. He served in the U.S Army from 1954 to 1956. In 1957, he married the former Shirley Smith of Lexington, NC. In 1958, he decided to become a furniture designer and he and Shirley moved to Grand Rapids, Michigan to attend Kendall School of Design and graduated in 1960.

He began his career with Drexel Furniture Company, in Morganton, NC, where their daughter was born in 1963. He accepted a job offer from Bernhardt Furniture Company in Lenoir, NC, where the family moved to in 1968 and continued to live. He worked for several furniture companies in the area and ended his career at Hickory Furniture where he was head designer. He retired in 2008 after 20 years of service.

Besides his parents, he was preceded inh death by his only sibling, Benny Joe Koontz.

Survivors include his wife, Shirley, of 67 years; one daughter, Marla Younce and husband Lennie; one grandson, Mikeal Younce; and one great-grandson, Mikeal Norman McLendan- Younce.

He was a member of First United Methodist Church in Lenoir, where a Celebration of Life will be held on Sunday, March 16, 2025 at 3:00PM.

A receiving will be held in the CLC following the service.

Memorials may be made to FUMC of Lenoir or Country Grace Church at 533 Ned Herman Rd. Taylorsville, NC.