Berkley Goal "Butch" Hardee, Jr.

Berkley Goal “Butch” Hardee, Jr, 69, met his Heavenly Father on Monday evening (4/30/2024), surrounded by his loving family. He was the only son of Berkley G. “Buck” Hardee, Sr. and JoNita Gore Hardee, born on December 8, 1954.

Butch was a member of the 1973 graduating class of Asheboro High School, where he developed many good friendships that lasted the rest of his life. Following high school, Butch attended Pembroke University, where he was a member of the wrestling team. He received his Bachelor of Arts degree from Pembroke University in 1976. 

Butch loved all types of water sports. From waterskiing at Badin Lake to racing sailboats, he was always looking for his next adventure on the water.  He was widely known for his barefoot waterskiing performances that he would give at Badin Lake. His love for the water drew him to own several boats over his lifetime, from sailboats and pontoons to speedboats and jet skis.  And his love for the water also drew him to the beach, one of his favorite places to be. He enjoyed spending a lot of his time over the last few years in the salty air at the beach. 

Butch was a very hard worker his whole life.  He was the second-generation owner of Melvin’s Department & Variety in Randleman (now Melvin’s True Value), where he loved serving the community for over 30 years. He always said, “Our customers are our extended family,” and he loved many of his customers just like they were his family. His career in the retail industry started at a young age, with his dad taking him to work at Eagle’s Department Store in downtown Asheboro. Butch’s dad would sit him on a stool and pay him a penny for every bag of popcorn he sold. Butch always told that his secret to selling so many bags of popcorn was that he added lots of butter. His dad would tell him that the butter was cutting his profit, but Butch said it was the butter that made it sell! When Butch retired from the retail industry in 2020, he did not sit still. With remodeling and landscaping projects to gardening and everything in between, he continued to work hard and stay busy right to the end of his life. Butch never met a stranger, as he was always quick to crack a joke and knew how to make easy conversation. He made fast friends with people everywhere he went. We admire the way that he lived his life to the fullest!

Butch was preceded in death by his parents, and a grandson, Blake Arlen Hardee.

The family that is left to cherish Butch’s loving memories are: his loving wife of 38 years, Brenda Terry Hardee; son, Berkley G. Hardee III (Brad) and wife, Christy; daughter, Ashley Terry Peterson and husband, Brian; son, Aaron Lee Hardee; grandchildren, Madison Hardee, Kerrigan Peterson, Quinn Peterson and Berkley G. Hardee IV (Berk); and sisters, Marsha Robson, Dianne Hoffman (Ed) and Jori Jones (Phillip).

Visitation will be held on Friday, 5/3/2024, 6:00 – 8:00 PM at Pugh Funeral Home in Asheboro. The funeral service will be held on Saturday, 5/4/2024, at 11:00 AM at Pugh Funeral Home Chapel, followed by the burial at Randolph Memorial Park.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the First Baptist Church of Asheboro (133 N. Church St, Asheboro, NC 27203).