Roy L. Campbell Sr.

CAMPBELL, Roy L., Sr., age 72 of Mt. Juliet, passed away Thursday, July 22, 2010. Preceded in death by his parents, Vernon and Reba Campbell; brother and sister-in-law, Lonnie and Judy Campbell; sister-in-law, Louise Campbell; granddaughter, Trisha Penuel. Survived by his wife of 49 years, Janie Campbell; children, Nancy (Jeff) Fortner, Roy L. (Betty) Campbell, Jr., Marsha Campbell; brothers, Willie (Wilma), James (Mildred), Billy (Eunice) and Buster Campbell; 7 grandchildren and 5 great grandchildren; extended family members and a host of friends. Funeral services will be conducted 10:00 a.m. Monday, July 26, 2010 in Hermitage Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. John Kurtz officiating. Interment will follow in Hermitage Memorial Gardens. Family members will serve as Pallbearers. Visitation with the family 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. Saturday, 2:00 – 6:00 p.m. Sunday and one hour prior to the service on Monday. Arrangements under the direction of Hermitage Funeral Home, Old Hickory, TN.

Roy's Biography:

If anyone ever cared, really cared for someone else it would have to be Roy L. Campbell Sr. he was a warm hearted and well liked individual, and these wonderful traits came easily to him because he was such a sociable and amiable person, someone who was always making certain that those around him had whatever they needed. Roy was a talkative person who was tactful at all times but typically said what he meant.

Roy was born on September 24, 1937 at Riverside Hospital in Paducah, KY. He was the son of Vernon and Reba Campbell. Roy was raised in Lovelaceville, KY and other small towns around Paducah. During his childhood he learned to be reliable and respectful. Roy was an obedient child who wanted to win the favor of others. He found it easy to show sympathy and to perform kind acts for others. These admirable qualities would become a part of Roy's personality throughout his life.

Roy was raised with five siblings. He had one older brother, Lonnie; and four younger brothers, Willie, James, Billy, and Buster. Roy and his siblings had the typical rivalries while growing up, but they cared deeply for one another.

Roy was very observant and was generally quick at picking up new things. He left school in grade school to help his family.

There was one thing that all of Roy's friends knew and will still remember, and that is that he was a talker. He could pretty much talk to anybody about anything. This quality is one of the primary reasons that Roy was such a likable person throughout his life. Roy was also dependable, loyal and trustworthy. Roy was the kind of person who simply radiated good fellowship. While he maintained personal standards and his own personal values, Roy was very accepting of others. With a distinct skill for working things out. When Roy made friends, he made true and lasting friendships. While growing up, some of his best friends were his cousins and brothers. Later in life, he stayed close to his brothers, sister-in-laws and brother-in-laws.

Roy was a faithful and loving person. Some would even call him sentimental and a romantic at heart. His kindness and consideration radiated an aura of warmth to those around him. Roy cared for what others thought and carried that into his marriage. On August 5, 1961 Roy married Sara Jane Cruse at the Court House in Benton, KY. Compassionate and devoted, Roy worked hard to make his new life partner happy. He took Janie's family in as his own.

Harmony was important to Roy and he made every effort to maintain it with his family. Roy was blessed with three children, Two daughters, Nancy and Marsha; and one son, Lee. They were also blessed with eight grandchildren, Mark, Heather, Bobby, Scotty, Jeffery, Trisha, Justin, and Haleigh and five great-grandchildren Sarabeth, Brayden, Jade, Gracie, and Chloe. Roy was always conscious of the feelings others had. He was reasonable and understanding. As a result, Roy was quick to solve disputes and did so without much fuss. His secret of success in this area was simple: Roy would listen before he would act.

Taking his work seriously came naturally to Roy, and he expected the same from those around him. Roy was a good team player, someone who was born to cooperate with others. He was what some would call a “people person” and it was demonstrated in his good communication skills. Roy was a steady worker, one who was realistic about schedules. He believed that if you wanted something you worked to get it. He could understand the details without getting lost in the broad “big picture.” His primary occupation was a butcher. He worked primarily in grocery stores. He brought harmony to his work environment, doing what was necessary in order to get the job done, while always maintaining respect for his colleagues.

Roy enjoyed spending time working on his various hobbies. He had no problem following all of the steps and instructions on a given project and was proud of the fact that he could have something to show for his efforts. He enjoyed fishing, watching old westerns and cooking shows, model cars, comic books, baseball cards, and collecting knives. He also enjoyed talking about antique cars and going to car shows.

Roy was one of those people who took pride in constantly putting forth his best effort. Roy was always enthusiastic and a great team player. Recreational sports included fishing and golfing. Roy also liked being a sports fan and enjoyed following his favorite teams whenever he got the opportunity. Tops on his list were fishing, football, and baseball.

His high moral standards and traditional values served Roy well with his faith. Religion and faith were important to him. He was a member of Tulip Grove Baptist Church. During that time, he was an usher and served on various committees. He was well respected because he was such an outgoing individual who sought to help in any manner he could.

Not only did Roy enjoy traveling, but he also seemed to enjoy planning all of those trips and vacations. He rarely tired of going back and revisiting his favorite places. Favorite vacations included Panama City, Florida: Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: and Flight to Honolulu, Hawaii.

Roy was a lover of animals and cherished his pets. One of his favorites was Blackie, a labrador, who was a best friend for 10 years.

Since it was easy for Roy to meet and get to know new people, he quickly made friends, even in retirement. Once he met those new friends, he loved sharing stories and talking about the good old days. Since he was practical and cost effective, Roy was ready when that day to retire finally came in 2001. He retired in Mt. Juliet, TN and stayed there to stay close to his family. In retirement, he found pleasure in fishing while his health permitted. Even in retirement, Roy stayed in touch with his old friends and made plenty of new acquaintances.

Roy passed away on July 22, 2010 at his home in Mt. Juliet, TN. Battle with congestive heart failure for 12 years. He is survived by his wife Janie, his children Nancy, Lee and Marsha; his grandchildren Mark, Heather, Bobby, Scotty, Jeffery, Justin, and Haleigh and his great grandchildren Sarabeth, Gracie, Brayden, Chloe,and Jade. Services were held at Hermitage Funeral Home Chapel. Roy was laid to rest in Hermitage Memorial Gardens in Hermitage, TN.

Roy was a down to earth person, outgoing, compassionate and caring man. He was without question the type of person who enjoyed experiencing things first hand. He was practical and sensible, but what friends and family will remember him for most is the fact that he was so understanding and kind. Everyone whose life he touched will miss Roy L. Campbell Sr.