Shay Birchfield, 15

Shay Birchfield, 15, of Ellenboro, entered Heaven's gates Thursday, October 15, 2015.
He was the son of Hiromi Birchfield of Ellenboro and Verlin Lee Birchfield, Jr. Shay's life was soccer, he was a member of the Rutherford County Recreational Soccer beginning in 2008; the '98 Rumble Team in 2014 and 2015 which won the 2nd division and was promoted to the 1st division; a member of the 2012 undefeated Thomas Jefferson Middle School team; was currently on the Thomas Jefferson High School Men's Varsity Soccer team and an honorary player for the Gardner-Webb University Soccer team. Shay's recent care was from the Carolina's Health Care System Levine  Children's Hospital.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his sister Ashley Birchfield; maternal grandmother, Sachiko Nomura; aunt and uncle, Yoshio Kobayashi and Tomoko Kobayashi; aunt and uncle, Yoshimi Muto and Hiroe Muto; and a cousin, Futaba Muto, all of Hiroshima/Tokyo, Japan;  and many special friends, Toby and Canille Alexander, Joe and Karen Wantuch, Rodrigo and Betsy Hernandez, Rosco and Betinna Conn, Richard and Anita Behrns, Brian Espinoza, Rumble '98, and Thomas Jefferson Men's Varsity Soccer.
The Funeral Service will be conducted at 4:00 pm Sunday, October 18, 2015 at Salem United Methodist Church. The Rev. Melinda Penry will officiate. Pallbearers will be Addison Conn, Hayden Alexander, Grant Hernandez, Colby Behrns, Garret Wantuch, Nick Longerbeam, Cole Higgins, and Zander Bell; the Honorary Pallbearers will be the '98 Rumble Team and Coaches Bullet, Toby, Joe, Nick and Aaron.
The Visitation will be from 2:00 pm until 3:45 pm Sunday at Salem United Methodist Church.
Washburn & Dorsey Funeral and Cremation Service is in charge of arrangements.
Online condolences @www.washburndorsey.com.











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