| Sources |
- [S104] Cocke County, Tennessee, and its People, Cocke County Heritage Book Committee, (Walsworth Publishing, 1992), 77.
- [S78] Atchley Funeral Home Records, Volume I, 1930-1954, Larry D. Fox, (Smoky Mountain Historical Society), 19 Sep 1943.
Essie Mae Douglass obituary
- [S106] The Mountain Press, 6 Dec 2007.
More than 70 years ago on Nov. 28, Dayton Douglas walked from his home in Boyd's Creek to the Sevier County Courthouse with one goal in mind - to make Lucile Atchley his bride.
On Wednesday, Dayton, Lucile and one of their two children celebrated the couple's 71st wedding anniversary with cake, ice cream and well wishes from the residents and staff at the Sevier County Health Care Center. The center has been Lucile's home for the past three years after medical issues made it impossible for Dayton to care for her at home.
Dayton and Lucile were introduced to each other by their cousins - Ira Hodge and Josie Reed - while attending a field day at Sevier County High School.
"It was love at first sight," said Dayton, 94, adding his bride thought the same thing for him. "She knows a bargain when she sees one."
Lucile agreed that she was struck by the young man she met.
"Back then I thought he was cute," she said.
It wasn't long before the pair decided they wanted to tie the knot, no matter what.
"We slipped off and got married," Lucile said. Her parents, she said, didn't know a thing about it until she came home later that day. His parents were already deceased.
"My brother was with us and he went running in front of us and said, Lucile's coming with a man and she's married to him," she recalled.
The news wasn't taken too well by her parents, she admits.
"My mother said she didn't love him and wasn't ever going to love him," she said. "Daddy, he didn't say nothing."
But Dayton and Lucile had enough love between them to make up for any animosity they might have faced from her family.
They lived with Lucile's family for a time until Dayton stopped working for the Civilian Conservation Corps. Just days after their wedding, Dayton went to back to Mars Hill, N.C., where he was working as a night watchman with the CCC and Lucile went back to school.
But it wasn't very long until they were back together for good.
"I go out and went to work in farming," Dayton said. "I wanted to get me a home."
Dayton and Lucile became sharecroppers and started raising their family. Two years after they married, they
welcomed their first child, a girl they named Patsy. Next came a son named Jack.
Times were tough for the small family. When they were married, the country was just coming out of the depression.
"I remember the depression," Dayton said. "FDR was elected in 1932 and he put people to work."
"It was very difficult, money-wise and everything for them" their daughter, Patsy Randles of Knoxville. "But they were determined."
When they settled together after Dayton's stint with the CCC was over, they worked the farm and raised their family. Over the years, Dayton also worked for the state and county road departments and the county school system. Lucile worked for 30 years at Carr's department store.
"They were very active in their church, Boyds Creek Baptist Church," Randles said.
Along with their two children - Jack lives in Nashville - they've been blessed with two granddaughters, three great-grandchildren (one is deceased) and one great-great granddaughter.
"Five generations," Dayton proudly proclaims when listing how his family has grown in the 71 years since he and Lucile married.
Lucile said the secret to a good marriage is give and take, she said. "A 100 percent give and take," she added.
Dayton is still thankful Lucile met him there at the courthouse so long ago.
He visits her two to three times a week at the center and refuses any suggestions about moving away.
"She's been a good mother, a good wife and sweetheart and a dear friend," he said.
- [S23] Atchley Funeral Home, (http://www.atchleyfuneralhome.com/), 12 Sep 2010.
Willard Dayton Douglas
March 18, 1913 - September 12, 2010
Birthplace: Cocke County, Tennessee
Resided In: Sevierville, Tennessee
Visitation: September 14, 2010
Service: September 14, 2010
Cemetery: Highland - South Cemetery
Willard Dayton Douglas, age 97 of Sevierville, passed away Sunday, September 12, 2010. He was the oldest living member of Boyd’s Creek Baptist Church where he also served as a deacon and trustee. He was a Sevier County school bus driver for 35 years and was on the Board of Directors of Farmers Mutual Insurance for many years.
He was preceded in death by his parents Samuel Jake and Minnie (Marshall) Douglas, wife Ada Lucile Douglas, great-granddaughter Ashley Wisdom, son-in-law Ronald Randles, four brothers, and seven sisters.
Survivors include his:
Daughter: Patsy Randles
Son and daughter-in-law: Jack and Charlotte Douglas
Grandchildren: Tammy Wisdom and husband Eddie, Melissa Douglas
Great-grandchildren: Amanda Gayle Buquet and husband Andy, Douglas Wisdom
Great-great grandchild: Rylee Elizabeth Litrell
The family will receive friends 5-7 PM Tuesday with a funeral service beginning at 7 PM in the West Chapel of Atchley Funeral Home. Rev. Curtis Wells and Rev. Bill Stephens will officiate and a eulogy will be provided by Melissa Douglas. Family and friends will meet 1 PM Wednesday in Highland South Cemetery for graveside service and interment with Rev. W. A. Galyon officiating. Arrangements by Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville. (www.atchleyfuneralhome.com)
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