Bill Ray Abbott, long time resident of Seymour, TN, went Home to be with Jesus, Thursday morning Oct. 4, 2018. He was 83 years old. Bill was born in Holdenville, OK. He later moved to Ponca City, OK where he graduated High School. He attended the University of Oklahoma. He married his wife Donna and moved to Muskogee, OK. He worked for the JC Penny company and later was a manager for the CR Anthony stores for over 17 years before opening his own hardware store. They lived in several locations in OK and MT before moving to Seymour, TN in 1979. He operated his hardware store in Sevierville before going to work for Dillards in Knoxville. He loved camping and hiking in the beautiful Smoky Mountains. Upon moving to Seymour, he became an active member at Valley Grove Baptist Church where he taught Sunday School and later served as a Deacon. He was active in the Seymour Gideon Camp and also in the Gideon Jail Ministry in Sevierville, TN. Some of his hobbies included making wooden bowls and cedar strip canoes. While living in Montana, he loved hunting and fishing. He visited many countries around the world.
He is survived by his loving wife of 63 years, Donna Allen Abbott; daughter, Sherrie Abbott Corgan and husband, John Corgan; son, David Abbott and wife, Beth Allison Abbott; son Rev. Jack Abbott and Darlene Allred Abbott; 7 grandchildren, Amy Foster Abbott, Emily Corgan Palmer, Anna Katherine Abbott, Alex Ross Corgan, Cade Thomas Abbott, Evan Spence Abbott, and Vivian Reese Abbott; 1 great grandchild, William Logan Foster. Bill was preceded in death by his father, Aaron Jack Abbott and mother, Floy Coe Abbott; sister, Cleta Yeatts and brother, Ambassador S.L. Abbott. A graveside service will be held at Meridian Cemetery, 6600 Sevierville Pike at 11am Saturday, October 6, 2018. Pastor Keith Vaughan officiating with eulogy by Dan Scott, Esq. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the Mission Home at Valley Grove Baptist Church 9000 Sevierville Pike Knoxville, TN 37920 or Gideon International P.O. Box 429 Seymour, TN 37865.
