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- [S4] Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee), 11 Nov 2008.
SMITH, HARMON GAY - 80, of Knoxville, died peacefully at St. Mary's Hospice on Sunday November 9, 2008, while surrounded by loved ones. He succumbed to Mesothelioma after a courageous battle against the disease. Gay, a lifelong, ardent Baptist and member of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, was born and raised near Ludowici, Georgia. After being Honorably Discharged from the United States Navy, he earned an electrical engineering degree from the Georgia Institute of Technology and began a distinguished 38-year professional career with the Union Carbide Corporation in Oak Ridge. While he was a college student in Atlanta, Gay met Phyllis Naomi Matthews. The couple recently celebrated the 56th anniversary of their remarkable marriage. Gay was preceded in death by his father, Harmon James Smith; his stepfather, Thomas Henry Parker; his mother, Willie Tallulah Parker; and two sisters, Ethelwyn "Pet" Howard and Lily Ruth Parker. Surviving family members in addition to Phyllis are a son, Kimberly Gay Smith (Janice); two daughters, Tamara Leigh Morgan and Shawna Paige Smith (Mitch); five granddaughters; one grandson; and one great-grandson; two brothers, Thomas Henry Parker, Jr. and Jerry M. Parker; two sisters, Lenore Sharp and Mary Lou Hodges; plus numerous nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life Service will be 2:00 P.M. Thursday at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel with Dr. James McCluskey, Pastor Emeritus of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, and Jack Easterday officiating. Honorary Pallbearers will be Gay's Sunday School Class members. A private (family only) interment will be Friday at Tennessee State Veteran's Cemetery with Full Military Honors presented by Volunteer State Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive friends Thursday following the service at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. www.rosemortuary.com
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