Kannapolis-- Joseph (Joe) Evan Staton, 73, of Kannapolis died Sunday, Oct. 16, 2011 at his home after four months of battling lung cancer.

The family will receive friends from 6–8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 18, at Parkwood Baptist Church, 1069 Central Drive, Concord. Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, at Parkwood Baptist Church with Reverends Darrell Coble and Michael Waters officiating. Burial will follow at Carolina Memorial Park.

Staton was born May 25,1938 in Anson County, the son of the late Forney and Mary Ethel Tucker Staton. He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and a member of Parkwood Baptist Church. He was also a member of the Cannon Masonic Lodge. He retired from Conway Southern Express.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister Esther Koontz.

He is survived by his wife of 48 years, Linda Hancock Staton of the family home and two daughters, Sherry S. Cochrane (Kevin) and Leslie S. Henderson, both of Kannapolis; grandchildren, Jennifer Gregg, Jordan and Zachary Henderson, and Ryan and Sean Cochrane; great-grandson, Rocky Gregg II; and two sisters, Barbara Sloop and Iris Matthews, both of Concord.

Memorials may be made to Hospice and Palliative Care of Cabarrus County, 5003 Hospice Lane, Kannapolis NC 28081 or to Parkwood Baptist Church Children Ministry, 1069 Central Drive NW, Concord, NC 28027.

Online condolences may be left at www.whitleysfuneralhome.com.