I just wanna say thank u sir for your service and sacrifice. May you rest in peace.

He was one of my favorite teachers, from way long ago now it seems. He helped foster a love of history as well as an ability to be able to still recite the Preamble of the Constitution due to a umm little extra incentive I seemed to have brought up on myself.  

Prayers for the family knowing he was a positive influence on SO many of us students. 

I learned so much from Mr. Cantrell. He made you feel like someone was really listening to you and actually cared. My favorite memory of him I was late for school 1 day and in his Mr Cantrell way he asked. "What happened Wells? They forget to ship the sunlight down to Bowmantown?" He always found a way to make you smile. RIP Mr Cantrell. I hope you and Coach Britton are having a wonderful reunion. ❤❤

Mr Cantrell (coach)was my son's favorite he taught him so much God bless RIP COACH


I just found out about Art's passing. He was a friend for many years. I taught with him at David Crockett. I wish to extend my heart felt regrets about his death and extend my deepest sympathy to all of you.
Jack West

I was Mr. Cantrell’s student... for a long time we had this one pen that we would steal from each other, every day. I still have it. He inspired me to love history (while he was teaching geography) and to question the world. I wouldn’t be where I am without him. I can honestly say I loved that man. In a time when my life was unstable he was far more than a teacher or mentor. He was like a dad to me. He will be missed all over the world.. I went on to live in New Zealand and I don’t doubt he contributed to where I ended up, so I’ll make sure of it. Goodbye, Mr. C. I’ll give that pen back when I see you again on the other side.

Sorry for your loss Brooke and Noel.I went to school with you both and your dad was my teacher.He was a great teacher.
Sheila Hashbarger

Mr. Cantrell was one of the most influential teachers in my life, potentially the most influential.  Because of his intense history syllabus, and the way he taught history, I was able to excel in all my history courses, even through my college lessons.  He was a role model to me on how to be a firm, yet fair person, for that is what Mr. Cantrell was:  firm, but fair.  Thank you for all the wonderful memories in the classroom, your impact will reach far beyond East Tennessee, and your legacy of teaching will forever be remembered by all the lives your shaped and improved.

I was a student of Mr. Cantrell's at Sulphur Springs. He was an amazing teacher not only of History but of life...and football. I will never forget the lessons he taught me.  Prayers for each of you with the loss of such an amazing man who changed so many lives. 

Dear Family, 
I was deeply saddened to learn of Art’s passing. Art and I taught together at Jonesborough Middle School for several years. He was an educator I truly admired! Yes, he was a tough taskmaster, but he loved his students, gave them his best each day, and expected their best each day. Simply put, Art had a special gift of making history interesting and was an outstanding teacher of the highest caliber.  He will be missed, and I am fortunate to have called him “my friend.”   Prayers are with all of you.        

Rose Mary, Steph, and other kiddos, So sorry to hear of the loss of Art. May you be comforted.  Connie

I am sorry to learn of Art's passing. My condolences to the family.

I was sad to learn that Art has died.  I taught with him for many years and he was one of my favorites. I learned about his passing last night when my children learned first and told me in a group text. They then shared memories about him that I thought you might like to hear. He was loved by them to. Maybe even better than that, he was respected by them. 
My daughter Laura wrote this: "He was really good at teaching and making it interesting. One of my favorite memories is when Genna and I did  a presentation on the 60's (we had to pick a decade and present it) and we filled the room with incense and had everyone in a circle chanting. Genna wore some of Deanna's authentic hippy clothes. We made buttons that said things like "ban the bra". Mr. Cantrell had to leave the room because of the incense."
They remembered that he called his classroom Cantrelleyville and Kingdom of Cantrelleyville.
Andrew wrote: "He was the hardest teacher I had in grade school. I wanted to do my best because I knew if I could make good grades in his class, I would be ready for high school. Also, because it was a way of thanking him for doing his best to get the best out of us.
Laura replied, "I remember wanting to do really well for him too. I remember him walking us through the lead up to the Civil War and we were hanging on his every word waiting for him to say that the war had started...it was like a weeks long storytelling session."
I too had a lot of respect for him as a person and as a teacher. One year I was supervising some night classes that our system provided and Art taught a class there on the Vietnam War. I sat in on his lectures when I could and it was so interesting. He knew a lot about it that the average person did not. I am sorry that I didn't get to be around him any more after we retired. I hope he knew that he was special to me. He was such a fine man and an excellent teacher. Be proud of him and thankful that you got to be a part of his life. 

Sorry to hear about Art's passing.His family was always close  to the 
Rambo famiy. Art's daddy was my grandmas brother.  This make my grandma Rambo his aunt.  Art always recogonized this fact.  He help me with plays when he was coaching football at Jonesborough.  Rita  and Lewis you have our sympathy.

Bill and Gail Rambo

Mr Cantrell taught my 8th grade history class at Sulphur Springs in 1983, I still remember so clearly the first thing he said “Welcome to the kingdom of Cantrelliville, population 1”.  He was an amazing teacher and for the first time history was an interesting subject.  I still consider him to be the best teacher I have ever had....and this includes college professors.  This evening 3 of my best friends (who went to SSMS) and I are reminiscing about his class and how fortunate we were to have  been taught by Mr. Cantrell. I’m sorry to hear of his passing. May God bless his family with peace and comfort. 

Art my friend. You were always there to brighten my spirt on a  rainy day. We enjoyed so many  memories of our youth.  A friend and gentle soul.  I will miss you dear friend. 

My thoughts are with all the family at this time. May God show you mercy and love through this awful time. I don't know why we aren't speaking but God does. I pray Step can get through this for she was a great daughter who loved her dad. May he rest in peace. He was a great teacher loved my classes with him. He served his country well and fought for our freedom,. Art thank you for doing everything you did for the kids. rest in peace. 

I have many memories of my papaw. but most importantly he was a really great man. He would give you the shirt off his back even if it was the only shirt he had. he taught me so much and he was my hero ❤️.

My Dad being who he is at all times is my favorite memory of him!! My Dad in general was simply the best of the best!! From sharing our "funnies" to his "King's English Alex" moments!! He has always been the Dad who chose his kids and he did right by us with our Mom!! I'm proud to be a Daddy's girl!! I will always miss him!! My life simply wouldn't be the same as it was without all of the moments we shared!! 

OBITUARY

Arthur A. Cantrell

April 17, 1943 – November 26, 2020

Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home

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