Cecil Ray Crum

Cecil Ray Crum, 73, of the Asheville Highway in the South Greene community, died Sunday afternoon at the Johnson City Medical Center. Mr. Crum graduated from St. James High School in 1956 and later from Knoxville Barber College. He retired from Phillips Consumer Electronics Co. after 34 years of service and was currently employed by Food City No. 608 on the Asheville Highway. He was a special agent for Modern Woodmen Life Insurance Co. Mr. Crum was public address announcer of the basketball and football teams at South Greene High School for a number of years. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran, serving our country from 1956-1958. He was a charter member and first fire chief of the South Greene Volunteer Fire Department; a former member of the South Greene Ruritan Club; a former, longtime Little League baseball coach for Ricker's Ruritan Club; and a former member of the Greeneville Volunteer Coin Club. Mr. Crum was the junior steward of Beersheba Lodge No. 449, F&AM, having been a member since November 1958. He had been the president of Beersheba Cemetery Association since 1978. Mr. Crum was currently a member of the American Legion Post No. 64 Honor Guard, and was the current first commander of the Elbert Kinser Detachment of the Marine Corps League. He volunteered with the Scottish Rite shoe fund drive and Shriners Paper Sale. Mr. Crum provided in-home haircuts for shut ins; served in many capacities at his church, most recently as administrator of the church marquee. His family noted, "In order to share his pride for, and love of, his country with others, he organized a history and patriotic program on flags, the National Anthem and' Taps'." Mr. Crum recently received the store level, then advanced to receive the district level, for the Claude P. Varney Humanitarian Award, established to reward outstanding volunteerism among associates of K-VA-T Food Stores. He was a charter member of Victory Church of God. Survivors include his wife: Mary Katherine Crum; his daughter: Susan Crum Vance of Greeneville; his grandson: Austin Dale Vance of Greeneville; a brother and sister in law: Charles and Frances Crum of Greeneville; a sister: Mrs. Herbert (Madeline "Tillie") Kelley of Greeneville; his special nephews: Mike Kelley and wife, Melissa, of Greeneville, and Alan Crum of Gray; two special aunts: Arlene Stills and Lucille Devoti, both of Greeneville; and his special friends: Ray and Charlotte Jones of Greeneville He was a son of the late Clyde Crum. The family will receive friends from 2-4 and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday and from 1-3 and 5-6:30 p.m. Thursday at Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home. The Greene County Honor Guard will conduct an Honor Service at 6:30 Thursday in the chapel followed by a Masonic Service at 6:45, to be conducted by Beersheba Lodge. The funeral service will be held at 7 o'clock Thursday evening in the funeral home chapel. The Rev. Jim Fillers will officiate. A committal service will be held at 11 o'clock Friday morning in GreeneLawn Memory Gardens. Family and friends will meet at 10 o'clock Friday morning at the funeral home to travel in procession to the cemetery. The Greene County Honor Guard will conduct a military graveside service. Pallbearers will be Bill Moncier, Eric Cobble, Bill Cobble, Glen Waddell, Charles Kinser, Robert Crum, Ronald H. Crum, and David Crum. Honorary pallbearers will be Sheriff Steve Burns, David Thompson, Rance Pless, Randy Pless, Gary Gass, Ivan Collins, the members of Victory Church of God, Mr. Crum's friends and neighbors, Dr. Charles Montgomery and staff; Dr. Dharmen Patel and staff; Dr. Susan Abernathy, and Tom Carrino and staff. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cecil Ray Crum Memorial Scholarship (that will support South Greene High School graduates), Tusculum College, P.O. Box 5040, Greeneville, TN 37743.