Mr. Fredrick Alexander “Jake” Safriet, 97, of Statesville, N.C., died Thursday, November 23, 2023, at Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory, N.C. He was born on May 30, 1926, in Rowan County, N.C., to the late Arthur Eugene and Effie Mae McDaniel Safriet.

Mr. Safriet was a faithful member of Yadkin Baptist Church in Statesville, N.C., where he served as a Deacon, Sunday school teacher, Music Director, and on numerous committees. He was a faithful husband, a wonderful father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and neighbor.

Mr. Safriet graduated from Woodleaf High School in Rowan County in 1945 and from Catawba College with a Business Degree in 1947. He was employed by J.C. Penney Distribution Center in Statesville, where he worked for 41 years before retiring in 1988.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife of 68 years, Shirley Stikeleather Safriet; five sisters, Thelma Gentle, Ethel “Tom” Mayhew, Lorene West, Gladys Safriet, and Dorothy Hensley; and two brothers, Bill Safriet and Aaron Safriet, who was killed in action during World War II.

Survivors include two children, Dianne Pollock (Ralph) of Columbia, S.C., and Rev. Rick Safriet (Kim) of Lenoir, N.C.; five grandchildren, Chad (Christy) Pollock, Christie (Jodi) Davis, Jonathan (Michelle) Safriet, Jana (Brady) Soop, and Jason (Kaylin) Safriet; 14 great-grandchildren; brother, Dink Safriet (Tammy) of Salisbury, N.C.; and a number of nieces and nephews.

A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, November, 28, 2023, at Yadkin Baptist Church in Statesville with Rev. Jamie Fox and Rev. Philip Crider officiating. Interment will follow in the church cemetery. The family will receive friends prior to the funeral service from 1 until 2 p.m. at Yadkin Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made in Jake’s name to Yadkin Baptist Church, 2980 Wilkesboro Highway, Statesville, NC 28625, or to Carolina Caring Hospice Care of Catawba County, 3975 Robinson Road, Newton, NC 28658.

The family would like to express a special thanks to Carolina Caring Hospice Care of Catawba County; Catawba Valley Assisted Living at Rock Barn in Catawba County; and to the nurses and staff of the Orthopedic Department of Catawba Valley Medical Center in Hickory, N.C.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy for the Safriet family may be shared at www.bunchjohnsonfuneralhome.com.

Bunch-Johnson Funeral Home is honored to be serving Mr. Safriet’s family.