Earl Stallings, age 63, of 184 Cypress Swamp Road, Aurora, passed away on Oct. 12, 2011, at home. Earl was born in New Bern, son of the late Durham and Edna Croom Stallings on Oct. 1, 1948.

Earl earned the rank of Eagle Scout as a teenager with the most merit badges for anyone his age. He attended UNC-Chapel Hill and graduated with honors from ECU. He was the most faithful of Carolina basketball fans and rarely missed a game. Earl loved the outdoors and spent countless hours fishing, hunting and raising and trading hunting dogs. He was a member of Campbell’s Creek Hunting Club where he had many dear friends. Earl was a kind and generous man who impressed all he encountered with his quick, but never sharp, wit and smiles and jokes for everyone. He loved to entertain, dance and enjoy the company of friends, old and new alike. Earl’s friends and family will remember him fondly for his compassionate, forgiving, good-natured and big-hearted spirit and he will be truly missed by the many people who had the good fortune to know him.

Earl is survived by one daughter, Paige Stallings Peed and husband Michael of Aurora; a grandson, Spencer Peed; his companion of many years, Judy Sutton DeCamp and her children and grandchildren; a sister, Margaret Stallings Collins (Joe) of Greensboro, and several nieces and nephews.

A celebration of his life will be held at his home at 184 Cypress Swamp Road, Aurora, on Sunday, Nov. 6, from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m. Carolina blue balloons will be released in his memory at 3 p.m.

Memorials may be sent to American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718, requesting donations be earmarked for skin cancer.