Soeedy's article

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'Speedy' dies; services set Monday

October 05, 2002

CHARLES D. MORRIS

" Speedy " , long-time Tullahoma businessman,

civic leader and sports enthusiast, died Friday at Vanderbilt

University Medical Center in Nashville. He was 70 years old.

Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Monday at First Christian

Church with the Rev. Don McLaughlin officiating Burial will be in

Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.

Visitation at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home will be from 6 to 9 p.m.

today.

Family members said Mr. died of Multiple System Atrophy, a

rare neurological disorder, and that he had donated his brain to

Vanderbilt for research.

In his youth as a student at Tullahoma High School, he lettered in

football, baseball and basketball. He represented Tullahoma High

School at Boys State where he served as mayor of his group's county.

The 1951 THS graduating class chose him as the " Best All Around Boy "

superlative. He attended Tennessee Technological University in

Cookeville and Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro.

While still in high school, he worked in the tannery of Lannom

Manufacturing Co.

He was a veteran of the U.S. Navy and served on ships in the Pacific

during the Korean War.

He was later employed as the credit manager of Sherwin Co.,

sales representative for Measuregraph Co., route supervisor for L &

H Distributing Co. and later for Appalachian Leather Co.

In addition, he owned and managed Fabrics, a popular

Tullahoma fabric store, for 10 years. He retired in 1997.

He was a former member of Wesley Heights United Methodist Church and

had been a long-time member of First Christian Church, serving on

the boards of both churches.

He was also active in a number of civic activities. He was a member

of the Tullahoma Jaycees for many years, serving as its secretary,

vice president and president.

Later, he became a member of the Downtown Lions Club, where he was

broom sales chairman, Tail Twister, member of the board of

directors, vice president, and president.

He continued his sports participation long after his own playing

days by umpiring for Slow Pitch USSSA Softball.

He was also chairman of the Lions slow pitch softball tournaments

during the heyday of softball for all ages. During more than one

softball tournament preparation, he traveled to Chattanooga,

Huntsville and Nashville to recruit hotel rooms for tournament

participants.

He was honored by the Downtown Lions Club as its Lion of the

Quarter, Knight of Sight, Lion of the Decade and as a Melvin

Fellow.

He was preceded in death by his father, Roy , in 1958

and by his mother, Lula Vesta , in 1997.

He is survived by his wife, Marilyn Griffith , retired

principal of E. Lee Elementary School; sons and daughters-in-

laws, Roy and Dana Duke , Manchester; Dr.

and Kim Purnell , Cordova, Tenn., and and

Tina Loftis , Shelbyville; a brother, ,

Tullahoma, and six grandchildren,

and , Manchester; and

Thurman, Shelbyville, and Jr. and

iel , Cordova.

Memorial contributions may be made to Dr. on, Director

of Clinical Research Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center,

AA-3228 MCN, Nashville, 37232, or First Christian Church, Tullahoma.

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had to cut and paste

cheers

sheila