Obituaries

Hardin Montgomery Egerton, Founder of Earth-Reader’s surveying firm, died Tuesday, June 27. At his Rugby, Tennessee home with his wife, Patty, and daughter Micki by his side.
Hardin was born May 19, 1950, in Louisville, Ky.
The son of George Anne Massey Egerton and William Graham Egerton and the oldest of five children, he grew up in Elizabethtown, Ky. Where he competed on the Dolphin city swim team and ran cross-country and track.
As a teenager, the fiercely independent Hardin created a lawn-cutting business and worked multiple jobs, including morning and afternoon paper route, and still had time for legendary escapades with friends.
He graduated Elizabethtown High School in 1968 and earned an industrial technology degree in 1973 at Eastern Kentucky University.
After EKU graduation, he was commissioned 2nd lieutenant in the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Following branch school at Fort Belvoir, VA. Hardin served as a Platoon leader and company executive officer with the 101st Airborne Division in Clarksville, Tenn. And later as a company commander in the National Guard.
In 1976, He moved to Rugby, Tenn. where he bought property and began building a house he designed. He pulled creek rocks from Clear Fork River for the foundation. He bought a barn in Allardt for $400 and hauled the lumber to his place. Over the years, he built every square foot of his home with help from brothers and friends.
During that time, He apprenticed as a land surveyor under Allen Sexton. He was certified in 1979 as a licensed land surveyor in Tennessee and in Kentucky a year later.
That year in Rugby, Hardin met his future wife, Patty Henson, and her daughters Chrissy and Micki. It was the beginning of a 42-year love affair.
They married on the first day of spring in 1981 and began their life as a family in his rustic home above White Oak Creek. Now with a woman and two daughters sharing the house, Hardin finally turned his attention to the construction of a full bathroom, which he finished a year later to the happy relief of all.
Working together over the years, Hardin and Patty created a homeplace surrounded by gardens – a place of refuge for birds, dogs, and people.
Hardin formed Earth-Readers, a land surveying business, which he and Patty operated until 2017. Known for his ethics and conscientiousness, Hardin developed a broad clientele. He surveyed for many Habit for Humanity projects, historic Rugby, private clients and the state and federal governments, including land reclamation projects.
Hardin was the longtime president of the Upper Cumberland chapter of the Tennessee Association of Professional Surveyors.
He an Patty helped develop and field-test a surveying module that resulted in turning am HP 41 calculator into a digital surveying and mapping instrument that revolutionized civil engineering. With that tool, surveying leaped from the hand-plotting and drawing of maps into the digital word.
After retirement, the two traveled and camped throughout the country. In his life, the only two states Hardin didn’t visit were Alaska and Hawaii. He was an avid reader and devoted library patron. He will be remembered for his protective nature, sensible advice and family loyalty. You could count on Hardin.
His gruff, sometimes cantankerous persona belied a great sense of humor and a truly kind heart. His daughter Mickie described her father best, “He was a True North.”
He is predeceased by his daughter, Christine Marie Cash, Mother George Anne Massey Egerton and brother Doug Egerton.
Hardin is survived by wife Patricia Ann Egerton, daughter Michelle Murley, and granddaughter Annalee Murley of Rugby; father Graham Egerton (Ann Redfern) of Cazenovia, NY; sister Judith Egerton (Mike Overstreet) of Louisville, Ky; Brothers Rowland Egerton (Ellen Parrrish) of Elizabethtown, Ky. And John Egerton (Bonnie Egerton) of Indianapolis, Ind; sister-in-law Rhonda Egerton of Hideout, Utah; aunt Ann Egerton of Nashville; nieces and nephews Andrea Ferrill, Casey Overstreet, Cory Egerton and Jessica Egerton; cousins Father Issac McDaniel, John McDaniel, Brooks and March Egerton and the Higgs siblings Janet, David, Graham and Mary.
Family and friends are invited to a celebration of Hardin’s life at 4p.m. (ET) July 15 at the residence, 300 White Oak Creek Road, Robbins, Tenn. All are encouraged to bring their favorite Hardin story to share. A meal will follow the memorial service.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests contributions to Second Harvest Food Bank, 136 Harvest Lane, Maryville, Tenn. 37801 or South Scott County Volunteer Fire Dept, 6478 Scott Highway, Robbins, Tenn. 37852
You may light a candle tribute in his honor by visiting www.fouroaksfuneralhomes.com.
Four Oaks Funeral Homes of Huntsville is honored to be serving the family of Hardin Egerton.

Jerry Dewayne Lay passed away peacefully June 29, 2023, in Southaven, MS surrounded by his family. Jerry was born September 6,1948 in Pineville, KY. He was preceded in death by his mother Nancy Meredith Lay, Father Willian Clayton Lay and his wife Sandra Lay.
Survivors include wife Marlene Lay, sons: Shane Lay, Brad Lay (Tara) grandchildren: Health Lay (Maddie), Courtney Stout (Steve) Courtney Rorie (Dalton), great grandson Bowie.
Jerry worked in the coal mining industry and retired from Ballenger Construction in 2015. He was a member of Straight Fork Baptist Church, Huntsville, TN and was a resident of Coldwater, MS. Jerry was an avid fisherman and enjoyed watching NASCAR and UT sports.
The family will receive friends on Saturday July 8,2023 at Straight Fork Baptist Church, 335 Straight Fork Rd, Huntsville, TN from 4-6 PM. In lieu of flowers, donations in memory of Jerry may be made to Straight Fork Baptist Church or Collard Valley Baptist Church, 65 Collard Valley Church Loop, Cedartown, GA 30125.
You may light a candle tribute in his honor by visiting www.fouroaksfuneralhomes.com.
This obituary is being posted as a courtesy to the family by Four Oaks Funeral Home of Huntsville and Oneida. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this difficult time.

Preston Scott Phillips, age 36 of Jacksboro passed away Tuesday July 4th, 2023. He was a member of White Rock Baptist Church of Huntsville, TN. He is preceded in death by grandparents: Hoyle (Bud) Phillips & Rochelle Phillips, Bill Blankenship, Jerry Peavyhouse, Stepfather: Larry Watters.
Survivors:
Son: Tyson Kase Phillips
Mother: Donna Gaye Blankenship Watters
Father: Alton Scott and wife Derita Phillips
Brothers: Cody Gray (Brittney) Austen, Nash (Korey) Lowe, Devin, Lucas, & Andy Phillips.
Sisters: Ciera (Josh) Stooksbury, Lauryn, Kendra, Kailey, Bobbi Phillips.
Step-Sisters: Jaylyn Watters, Andi (Jonathan) King
Step-Brothers: Jen Watters, Doug (Tracy) Watters
Grandmothers: Peggy Blankenship, Kay Peavyhouse.
Family will receive friends 5 – 7 PM Saturday July 8th, at Cross-Smith Funeral Home. Family will also receive friends from 2 – 4 PM Sunday, July 9th at White Rock Baptist Church of Huntsville, TN, with funeral to follow at 4 PM with Rev. Jim West officiating. Interment to follow in the Bud Phillips Cemetery in the Anadell community in Scott County.
You may light a candle tribute in his honor by visiting www.fouroaksfuneralhomes.com.
This obituary is being posted as a courtesy to the family by Four Oaks Funeral Home of Huntsville and Oneida. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this difficult time.

fe on July 4, 2023. He was born on January 12, 1940. He was the son of the late Lee and Margaret Crabtree.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his father-in-law and mother-in-law Teddy and Sally Terry, brother Dillard Crabtree and wife Janice, sister Irene Strunk and husband David, sister Glenna Collins, sister Della Young, brother-in-law Edward Terry and wife Nelly, brother-in-law Oza Terry and wife Thelma, special nephew Jerry Bell, and nephew John Russell Bell.”
“Shirl” is survived by his wife of 58 years, Wanda Terry Crabtree, son Denny Crabtree with wife Brenda and grandson Adam Paul Crabtree, son Scotty Crabtree, and son Steve Crabtree, daughter Tonja Bond and husband Greg all of Oneida, brother Ernest Crabtree with wife Dottie of Oneida, sister Norma Jean Potter of Huntsville, brother-in-law Daryl Terry with wife Mary of Oneida, sister-in-law Velma Adams of West Monroe, Louisiana, and numerous nieces, nephews, family, and friends.
Friends may visit with the family on Friday July 7, 2023, from 4:00 p.m. until time of funeral service to begin at 6:00 p.m. in the Chapel of the Four Oaks Funeral Home in Oneida, with Bro. Payton Slaven & Bro. Norman Burke officiating. Burial will follow in the Crabtree Family Cemetery on Pistol Lane.
You may light a candle tribute in his honor by visiting www.fouroaksfuneralhomes.com.
Four Oaks Funeral Home of Oneida is honored to be serving the family of Shirley “Shirl” Adam Crabtree.

ay on Thursday, June 29, 2023. He was born in Orangeburg, SC on March 3, 1940.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Wayne and Azalie (Wise) Smalldridge Sr.; and brother, Charles Smalldridge.
He is survived by a brother, Wayne Smalldridge Jr. of Orangeburg, SC; his children, Marie Smalldridge of Irmo, SC, Barbara (Murray) Clepper of Irmo, SC, Peanut Wyatt of Columbia, SC, Jaymee Smalldridge of Irmo, SC, and Jason (Melissa) Smalldridge of Tennessee; 12 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; 2 great great-grandchildren; as well as his faithful feline, Maxine.
He retired from Winchester Farms Dairy, where he held several lead positions. He was an avid Gamecock and Nascar racing fan. His hobbies included playing the drums, dancing, and being together with his family. He loved boiled peanuts and being around a body of water.
A graveside service will be held in Orangeburg, SC at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Dementia Alzheimer’s Association in his honor.
A special thank you to the staff and caregivers of TerraBella Windsor Lake; Ranada and staff with Ranada Care, LLC.
This obituary is being posted as a courtesy to the family by Four Oaks Funeral Home of Huntsville and Oneida. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family during this difficult time.