Billy Morelock, Jr.

Died: Dec. 21, 2012

Willis "Billy" Morelock Jr., age 73, of Limestone, a loving husband, father, papaw, brother and friend to all who knew him, went to be with his personal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ on Friday at his home.

Billy was a retired maintenance repairman from Ball Zinc Products, now Jarden.

He was a retired farmer, raising beef, tobacco, and row crops.

Billy was a former teacher of the Greene County Adult Mechanics Program in the 1970s.

He attended Liberty Hill United Methodist Church.

Billy was a former Greene County 4-H'er and showed Guernsey cattle during his years in 4-H and was a proud supporter of the Greene County 4-H program.

He was a collector of J.I. Case tractors and equipment, owning many antique tractors, garden tractors, tools, farm and tractor memorabilia as well as a toy tractor collection. His collection of antique J.I. Case tractors has been featured in: Fastline Antique Farm Edition Trade Magazine, Old Abe News, the Old Iron Calendar, and in "Iron Memories" book.

Billy enjoyed exhibiting his antique tractors at annual shows as long as his health permitted.

Being a mechanic and machine repairman by trade, he and his brother, Myron, used Case tractors to participate in various tractor pulls with the East Tennessee Pullers Association. They won numerous awards within the Southeastern U.S. and the East Tennessee Pullers Points Championship.

Billy served as J.I. Case Collectors Host Committee co-chair for the Tri-State Antique Power Association, along with his daughter, Lisa, and secured the National J.I. Case Collectors Association to come to Northeast Tennessee, and the South, for the first time in 1998 and again in 2006.

Billy was a member of the Greene County Farm Bureau, Greene Farmers Cooperative, Tri-State Antique Power Association, Greene County Farm & Auto Club, J.I. Case Collectors Association, and the J.I. Case Heritage Foundation.

Billy and his family are members of the First Families of Tennessee by the East Tennessee Historical Society.

His farm was named a Tennessee Bicentennial Family Farm by the Tennessee Department of Agriculture and designated as a Tennessee Century Farm and Tennessee Pioneer Farm dating back prior to statehood (circa 1795).

He is survived by his wife of 50 years: Vonda Jeanette Luttrell Morelock; two daughters: Lisa Morelock Gosnell and husband, David, of Jonesborough, and Ginger Morelock Frembling and husband, Jeff, of Harker Heights, Texas; one granddaughter: Amanda Gosnell of Jonesborough; a stepgranddaughter: Hannah Frembling of Albuquerque, N.M.; two brothers: Rodger Morelock and Freda of Afton; and Myron Morelock and Tammy of Limestone; an aunt: Edith Mitchell of Chuckey; his sisters-in-law: Leona Hawk of Mosheim, Ruth Freeman of Greeneville, Mae Dean Lloyd of Greeneville, Joyce Ottinger of Greeneville, Phyllis Luttrell of Greeneville, Gona V Moyers and Luther of Morristown, Lois Ball and Richard of Morristown, and Brenda Iva Aiken and Randy of Greeneville; his brothers-in-law: Pete Luttrell and Mary Jo and Dale Luttrell and Katie, all of Greeneville, Gerry Luttrell and Patti of Bybee, and Benny Luttrell of Greeneville; and several cousins, nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents: Willis "Bill" Morelock and Adeline "Addie" McAmis Morelock; brothers-in-law: James Hawk, James Freeman, Lloyd Blazer, Robert Wise, Ed Ottinger, Glen Luttrell, Ben Luttrell, Ivas Luttrell, Scotty Luttrell, and Baby Luttrell.

The family will receive friends from 2-4 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. Wednesday at Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home with the funeral service following at 8 p.m. in the chapel. The Rev. Steve Armstrong and Donnie Owen Freeman will officiate.

Interment will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday in Liberty Hill United Methodist Cemetery in the Graysburg Hills community.

Pallbearers will be Bobby Combs, Kyle "Buster" Scott Jr., Johnny Shanks, LeRoy Jent, Henry Walker, Clarence "Jiggs" Chandley, Cecil Burgner, and Gene Johnson.

Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Tri-State Antique Power Association, Greene County Farm & Auto Club, J.I. Case Collectors Association, Dr. Charles Montgomery and staff, Dr. Fred Myers at Takoma Wound Care and staff, Dr. Leslie Leicht at Takoma Rehabilitation Department and staff, Advance Home Health staff, Smoky Mountain Home Health and Hospice staff and his classmates of the Chuckey High School, Class of 1958.