Darwin Doyle Gard, 85 of Smithville, Tennessee passed away on Sunday, December 17, 2017, at his residence.
Born Saturday, August 27, 1932 in Ottumwa, Iowa, he was the son of Cleo Samuel and Doris Pearl Bonney Gard. Mr. Gard is a retired veteran of the Air Force, serving from 1950-1971, he served in the Korean and Vietnam War. Shortly after retiring, he went to work for Sligo Boat Dock, where he retired in July 2015. Darwin was a professional fisherman for Hydra Sport and Winner Boats. He was a well known and respected fishing guide on Center Hill Lake lovingly known as “The King of Center Hill.”
Surviving are his wife of 62 years, Wanda Teachman Gard; children, Denise (Rick) Holcomb, Karla (Bo) Warrick, Bill (Susan) Gard, and Michele (Pete) Roller; grandchildren, Ashle (Michael) Wiley, Brooke (David) Nickens, Samantha (Michael) Rohling, Sarah Holcomb, Nathan (Brittney) Gard, Ben (Traci) Gard, Johnna Roller, Rachel Holcomb, Kaitlyn Roller, Bryce Gard, ten great grandchildren, and many neices and nephews. Also surviving are sister, Sherri Gard and sister-in-law, Barbara Gard.
A memorial service will be held at 2pm on December 30th, 2017 at Elizabeth Chapel Baptist Church in Smithville, Tennessee. Family will receive friends from 12pm until the time of service at the church. Brother Joel Wood, Bill Robertson, and Dwayne Cornelius will officiate.

Mr. Clarence Edward Nixon, Age 89 of Hickman, TN, passed away Thursday, December 14, 2017.
Born February 12, 1928, the youngest son of the late Finis and Eva Nixon of Hickman Tennessee. He was also preceded in death by his Brother; Robert Jim Nixon, Sister; Ocia Nixon Paschall, and Granddaughter; Etta Turner.
In his late teens with his brother in law, Ray Paschall, Clarence created a partnership to purchase what was known as Nixon & Paschall General Merchandise Store in the heart of Hickman. Close as brothers, Ray Paschall ran the store while Clarence chose to volunteer in the US Army in WWII and trained and worked as a medic assistant. As with all war veterans, he experienced many things no individual should have to.
Upon release from the military on June 30, 1950 Clarence married the love of his life, Mary Etta Turner and spent the next 67 years working, raising a family, and building community all around them.
He took over his role in the business and ran a peddling truck bringing food and goods to every holler around while Ray and Mary Etta held down the store. Clarence was beloved on his route and knew all his customers by name and merchandise preference. In the store, Clarence, Mary Etta, and Ray were known for helping families get over the hard times by giving credit and waiting until crops were sold to pay their food bills.
As a second job Clarence became a substitute rural mail carrier and later after closure of the store in 1987, he worked full time for the United States Postal Service. He was esteemed on his route where he would stop, joke and even rescue his patrons from snakes. He retired from the US Postal Service in 1995. He also was known to fix many pumps in the freezing cold and dead of night. In his retirement he took care of his neighbors.
Clarence and Mary Etta have 5 children who could have asked for no better parents; Mary Susan Johnson, Victor Keith Nixon, Candice Kay Medley, John Timothy Nixon, and Pennye Lyn Nixon.
They are also the proud grandparents of Ellen Roeber, Katie Nixon, Douglas Albritton, Sayer Nixon, Jessica Frye, Lauren Davis, Zachary Medley, Nicholas Nixon, Taylor Johnson, Catherine Nixon, Atticus Turner, Will Turner, Yamini West, and Miles Nixon. They too are blessed to have 11.5 great grandchildren.
Clarence loved many people in his life but of special importance was his son in law, Mark Medley, and others who he thought of as his children; Lisa Tuggle and Michael Joe Halliburton.
Clarence was a member & deacon of Hickman Baptist Church where he served the Lord and worshiped joyfully with his family and neighbors.
Clarence would say he was the luckiest man in the world to have had a life with such a wonderful wife, family, neighbors and friends.
Funeral Services for Mr. Clarence Nixon are scheduled to be conducted from the Hickman Baptist Church on Monday, December 18, 2017, at 11AM with family delivering the Eulogy and Mark Medley officiating. Interment will follow in the Baird Memorial Cemetery in Hickman, TN.
Visitation with the Nixon Family will be held at the Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Homes on Sunday from 1PM until 6PM and at the Hickman Baptist Church on Monday after 9AM until service time at 11AM.
In lieu of flowers, the Nixon family requests memorials in Mr. Clarence’s memory be made to the Hickman Baptist Church or to Etta Projects at ettaprojects.org.
“What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others.” ~ Pericles
Bass Funeral Home, Gordonsville Chapel, Directors

Debbie Jean Rowe age 43 of Smithville, passed away Thursday afternoon, December 14, 2017. She was born May 10, 1974 to her parents, Robert Rowe and the late Patricia Puckett Rowe. In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by her grandparents, Wilburn and Lois Puckett and Christmas and Frances Rowe; uncle, Steve Puckett. Debbie was a member of the Buckner’s Chapel United Methodist Church and attended the Mt. Herman Baptist Church, worked at Amazon Warehouse and was the owner/operator of Animal House Enterprises. Survivors include 2 sons, Lance Ball and Harlli Silcox and Lane and wife, Haley Ball both of Smithville; father, Robert Rowe and Pat Ford of Smithville; brother, Dwain and wife, Teri Rowe of Smithville; special friend, Shawn Sisk of Smithville; several aunts, uncles and cousins also survive. Funeral services will be 2 PM Sunday, December 17, 2017 at DeKalb Funeral Chapel with Bros. Trent Colwell and Jonathan Willoughby officiating and burial will follow in Puckett Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be Saturday 2 PM until 8 PM and Sunday 10 AM until the time of the service at 2 PM. In addition to flowers, due to Debbie’s love and passion for animals, the family asks that donations be made to any Animal charity of your choice, in memory of Debbie. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

Bill Shaw, Sr. age 76 of Smithville, went home to be with the Lord on Friday evening, December 15, 2017 at his residence. He was born June 13, 1941 to his parents, the late Kyle Lee and Mary Irene Robinson Shaw. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by 1 son, Michael Shaw and 1 brother, Bob Shaw. Bro. Bill was a longtime Pastor, Police officer, Fireman, worked at Tenneco and was a member of the Dillon Street Baptist Church and the Alexandria Masonic Lodge #175 and a former member of the Alexandria Lions Club. He had such a passion for preaching the gospel and leading people to the Lord. He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Linda Shaw of Smithville; son, Billy, Jr. and wife, Ann Shaw of Murfreesboro; 4 grandchildren, Brandon (Sarah) Shaw, Ethan Shaw and Fiance, Rachel Batchelor and Dylan Shaw all of Cookeville and Macie Shaw of Bethpage; 5 step-grandchildren, Ryan, Riley, Ellie, Erin and Millie O’Boyle all of Murfreesboro; 1 great-grandson, Carson Shaw; 2 brothers, Don (Margie) Shaw of Dandridge, TN and Stanley (Tina) Shaw of Jefferson City; sister-in-law, Judy Shaw of Jefferson City; several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. Funeral services will be conducted 1 PM Monday, December 18, 2017 with Bro. Michael Hale officiating and burial will follow in New Hope Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be on Sunday 11 AM until 6 PM and Monday 11 AM until the time of the service at 1 PM. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Outreach Baptist Church Building Fund, in memory of Bro. Bill. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements

Greta Lynn Grantham Higgins age 49 of Sparta, passed away Wednesday night at her residence. She was born January 20, 1968 to her parents, Lynn Grantham and Peggy Waggoner Gillespie. She was a barber and a Baptist. Greta is survived by 1 daughter, Nicole (Chris) White of Sparta; mother, Peggy Waggoner Gillespie of Smithville; father, Lynn Grantham of Donelson; 1 sister, Tracy Cantrell of Dallas, TX and 1 nephew, Eric Cantrell of McMinnville. There will be a private service held for Greta. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.