Raymond Earp

Raymond Earp, 90, of Beaufort passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2026 at Crystal Bluffs of Morehead City.

A graveside service will be held at 2:00 pm on Monday, March 30, 2026 at Carteret Memorial Gardens in Beaufort.

Raymond Victor Earp was born to Earl & Edith Earp in Bolivia, NC on February 6, 1936. He attended and graduated from Bolivia High School in 1955 where he played basketball and received a scholarship to play basketball at Mars Hill College. While there he met Anita Frances Copeland from Beaufort, NC, who became his wife of more than 50 years. Raymond also served a in the U.S. Army in 1965 and Navy of the United States in 1962. After they married, the Earp’s moved to Beaufort where Raymond joined his father-in-law, Benjamin F. Copeland, in the Nursery/Landscaping business known as Copeland Nursery.

Raymond and Anita had two children, and is survived by son Jae Alexander Earp, (wife Susan) and daughter Sybil Earp King, (husband Michael) six grandchildren: Stephen Earp/wife Dakota, Daniel Earp/wife Samantha, Kimberly E. Dauksys/ husband Nick, Bethany K. Lewis/husband Christian, Christopher King/wife Leslee, & Gracelyn K. Collins/husband Harlan and nine great-grandchildren: Grant Lewis, Arthur Lewis, Annie King, Jackson King, Oliver Collins, Griffin Collins, Julia Earp, Caroline Earp, & Lane D Dauksys. Raymond loved each one of his grandchildren and was highly active in his children’s and grandchildren’s lives and activities. He traveled to countless baseball, soccer, basketball games and tournaments, as well as enjoying countless horse shows with 2 of his granddaughters. He is also survived by his 1st cousin Victor Sullivan and numerous nieces and nephews.

Raymond also coached son Jae and friends in basketball with the Carteret County Parks and Recreation. He was a true mentor to many young boys. Jae and Sybil fondly remember their dad taking them and their friends water skiing, shelling and fishing, camping and exploring at Shackleford Banks and Cape Lookout.

Raymond knew the Lord as his Savior, and lived a godly life serving the Lord, his country, and his fellowman in the many various organizations in which he was involved. He was an ordained deacon at age 21 and was a deacon at First Baptist Church and Calvary Baptist Church, Beaufort NC, where he was a charter member. He taught Sunday School and instructed the young boys in RA’s and became interested and involved in many missions’ organizations such as the NC Baptist Men, where he served as the state president for four years, NC Baptist Men Disaster Relief Response team, where he led many teams to various mission’s fields at home and abroad. He and Anita traveled to many countries spreading the Love of Jesus and the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He was a foreign missionary in the countries of Poland, Ukraine, Russia, Armenia, Jerusalem, Singapore/Maylasia, Haiti, Cuba, Honduras, Kenya & South Africa. Raymond also participated in Disaster Relief with the NC Baptist Men in the NC Mountains, South Carolina, New Orleans, and Florida. After the 9/11 attack on the Pentagon in Washington, he accompanied a team to provide disaster relief. He also served as the Missions Coordinator of the Atlantic Baptist Association, volunteered at the Seaman Center at the Morehead City Port from 1972-2023, for more than 50 years. In 1999 & 2000, he was honored to receive Layman of the Year from the NC Baptist Convention in Raleigh, NC.

Raymond’s other hobby besides his grandchildren, was decoy carving and he served as the President of the Decoy Carvers Guild, Harker’s Island, NC for many years. 

Raymond was preceded in death by his wife Anita, and parents Earl & Edith Earp, brothers Wilber Earl Earp, George Avon Earp, sister Mary Lou Earp Jackson, and Evelyn (Bunny) Sullivan.

The family would like to express their sincere appreciation and gratitude to the loving, professional staff at Crystal Bluffs Rehabilitation & Health Care Center, for their loving compassionate care given to their father and grandfather over the last year.

Condolences and life tributes may be sent to the family at www.noefs.org

Arrangements by Noe Funeral Service, Inc. of Beaufort, NC.