Miller McLeroy Pettey

Miller's Obituary Mr. Miller McLeroy Pettey, 87, passed away at his residence, Saturday, July 18, 2009. He was born in Philadelphia, MS, son of the late Miller Sr. and Corin Pettey on March 31, 1922. Miller graduated from Philadelphia High School in 1930, and from Decatur Junior College in Decatur, MS, in 1941. Following graduation, he served as an aviation cadet in the Army Air Force for 3 years and was discharged in 1946. In June, 1946, he was married to Elsie Spellings from Bells, TN. They lived in Mississippi for two years until they moved to Bells where Miller was associated with Elsie's father, Robert Spellings, at Bells Lumber Company. After Mr. Spelling's death in 1965, Miller became sole owner of the family business and was actively involved in running it until he semi-retired in 2003. He also sanded floors and operated a frozen food locker on Main Street in Bells, as well. Throughout his lifetime, he was active in numerous business, civic and church activities. He was Commander of the local American Legion, State Correspondent of the 40 and 8 organization, as well as a member of the local Lion's Club. He was Director of Bells Banking Company in 1976, and later became President and Chairman of the Board until the Bank was sold in 2000. He was a member of the Tennessee Building Material Association. He was a charter member of Grace Chapel Church which he helped start in 2000. His favorite place was his and Elsie's home on the Tennessee River where they entertained untold number of family and friends. Miller was a true gentleman with a gracious personality and faced all adversity with faith and dignity. He will be missed by his wife of 63 years, Elsie and his many friends and family. Funeral Services will be conducted at 2:00 PM, Monday, July 20, 2009 at Grace Chapel Church with Blake White and Rev. Daniel Hooper officiating. Burial will follow in Bellview Cemetery. He is survived by his wife: Elsie Spellings Pettey, Bells, TN; two daughters: Linda Davis, and Sylvia Stephenson(Barry), all of Bells,TN; five grandchildren: Tina McCage (Robert), Bells, TN, Kimberly Briscoe (Jeff), Jackson, TN, Jennifer Penalo (Adrian), Tampa, FL, Heather Crook (Tripp), Brownsville, TN and Lindsay Stephenson, Brownsville, TN(her fiancé, Alan Griffin, Gadsden, TN); four great grandchildren: Ashton McCage, Nathan Briscoe, Julian Penalo and Winn Crook; one sister: Mary Reese, Cleveland, MS. Visitation will be Sunday, July 19, 2009 from 5:00 - 8:00 PM in the Bells Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Grace Chapel Church, PO Box 145, Bells, TN 38006 or to the Charity of the Donor's Choice. Read More Read Less