Thomas W. Southerland

Died: Jan. 23, 2013

Thomas W. "Tom" Southerland, age 88, of Greeneville, passed away Wednesday.

Tom was a native of Greene County and loved to hunt, fish, and farm.

He was a member of Fairview Cumberland Presbyterian Church.

He was a salesman for HT Hackney for 25 years and retired from TRW Ross Gear of Greeneville.

Tom was known throughout the area as "the knifeman" due to his favorite hobby of selling and trading pocketknives.

He was the son of the late Jacob and Ellen (Maltsberger) Southerland. His father was a veteran of the Spanish American War, and his mother was known throughout the area for her various sewing, quilting, and leather crafts. Tom was the last of 14 brothers and sisters.

Tom was most proud of his service in the U.S. Navy during World War II. He served aboard the USS Stockham, both in the European Theater and the Asian Pacific Theater.

He was in the first wave of the D-Day Operation at Omaha Beach. His ship escorted the USS Missouri to sign the peace treaty ending the war.

Tom was a life member of Veterans of Foreign Wars, Andrew Johnson Post No. 1990.

Survivors include his wife: Lucille (Hunt) Southerland; son: Thomas W. Southerland Jr. and his wife, Sheri; two daughters: Mary Ellen Southerland and Phyllis Southerland and husband, Mark Neumann; grandchildren: Tobie and Matt Puckett, Jenny Fulwiler, Rebecca and Richard Mullins and Jeremy Neumann; great-grandchildren: Hanna, Taylor and Sara Puckett, and Tabitha Fulwiler; and special friends: Billie and Stanley Byerley and Mack Key.

He was preceded in death by his brothers and sisters: Freeman, Aldo, James, Author, Robert, Marlin, Howard, and Lawrence Southerland, W.F. "Bill" Maltsberger, Mabel Blankenship, Eda Taylor, and two infants.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Saturday at Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home with the funeral service following at 7 p.m. the funeral home chapel. The Rev. Mike Hensley and the Rev. Chris Castle will officiate.

The Greene County Honor Guard and the U.S. Navy Military Honors Team will conduct a military graveside service at 2 p.m. Sunday in GreeneLawn Memory Gardens.

Family and friends that wish to travel in procession to the cemetery are asked to meet at the funeral home at 9:45 Saturday morning.

Pallbearers will be Jay Lynn Southerland, Richard Southerland, Fred Maltsberger, Charles Southerland, Mike Taylor, Jason Ricker, Jon Cobble, Blaine Scott, and Stanley Byerley.