John T Crosser
Funeral services for John Tillman Crosser, age 78 of Milan, will take place at 1:00 PM Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at the Bodkin Funeral Home with burial to follow in the Gibson County Memory Gardens near Milan.
Visitation with the family will be Monday evening from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM and Tuesday from 12:00 PM until 1:00 PM at the funeral home.
John was born December 3, 1944, to the late Raymond and Ollie Crosser of Paris, TN. He passed away January 13, 2023, at Jackson General Hospital. John was the owner of Tatum Auto Parts in Milan for over 50 years. He served in the United States Army National Guard and he was a reservist for the Milan Police Department for several years.
John is survived by his wife of 50 years, Joyce Fuchs Fuller Crosser; son, John Thomas Crosser and wife Ashley of Medina, TN; two step-sons, Stephen Fuller and wife Lori of Milan, TN, and Bradley Fuller of Milan, TN. He also leaves behind a sister, June Bedwell of Clarksville, TN; and two brothers, Jimmy Crosser and wife Linda of Paris, TN, and Jerry Crosser of Martin, TN; and grandchildren, Brittlee Crosser, Tatum Crosser, Lynlee Crosser, Cody Fuller, Ashley Fuller, Adam Fuller, and Jacob Fuller.
John had registered 330,600 ATA targets.
Memorials may be directed to LeBonheur Children's Hospital.
It is with heartfelt love and sorrow, we announce the death of John Edward Cain, III, at the age of 92 on St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, 2023. John was lovingly known by his grandchildren as “Big Daddy” and by his friends as “John Eddie”. He was preceded in death by his wife of 33 years, Mary Rogers Cain; his parents, John Edward Cain, Jr. and Kate Barksdale Cain; and his sisters, Emma Cain Roy and Julia Cain Thomas. John is survived by his daughters, Mary Cain Helfrich (Loring, Jr.), Kate Barksdale Cain, and Lisa Emily Voutes (George); his grandchildren, Reid, Hannah, and Loring Helfrich, III; John, Mason, and Tully McKee; and Emily and Kamryn Voutes. He is also survived by many beloved nieces, nephews, and cousins. A native Nashvillian, John was born on March 28, 1930. He attended grade school at Parmer School, high school at Saint Thomas Military Academy in St. Paul, Minnesota, and college at Vanderbilt University. In 1951, shortly before graduating, he entered the US Air Force Reserve as a radar observer in the F-89 fighter jet battalion. After four years of service, he completed his Vanderbilt degree in 1955. In his early years, John was a competitive skeet and trap shooter. He participated in his first Grand American as a 17 year old in 1947. After holding countless state, regional and national titles, John retired from competitive shooting in 1970. John’s love of shooting included a passion for duck hunting. John often told his family that he worried the ducks so much they would all “clap their wings when I check out to greener pastures”. John chose homebuilding as his career. During a poker game, a friend of his father’s advised him that with his bold personality, he could sell anything, but to choose something “big”. After working for a local builder and learning the trade, he started his own company, C&S Builders. His first employee was a bookkeeper from Kentucky named Mary Eleanor Rogers, who became his loving wife. C&S Builders grew and was eventually renamed Fox Ridge Homes. John sold Fox Ridge in 1988, and then helped the employees and some investors buy it back in 1993. Fox Ridge was sold a second time in 1997 to NVR. In his retirement, John became a founder, active investor, and board member in Turnberry Homes, Saussy-Burbank Homes, and the development of the Providence community in Mt. Juliet. During his career, John was appointed Chair of the Tennessee Housing Development Agency (1988-1994) by his good friend, Governor Ned Ray McWherter. John considered this one of his most difficult, yet rewarding, jobs. John was a skilled negotiator and visionary. He treated everyone with respect and was a champion of mentoring individuals to better themselves and expand their careers. John’s greatest joys were his family and friends. He loved his dogs, nature, traveling, spending time on his farm in Logan County, Kentucky, and winters in Naples, Florida. Quietly philanthropic, John supported many community organizations without ever wanting any recognition. John was a parishioner at St. Henry’s Catholic Church, member of Belle Meade Country Club, member of The Society of Amateur Chefs, and a honorary lifetime board member at Cumberland Heights Foundation. The family would like to express their love and gratitude to his extended family, friends, and former business associates. Specifically, we wish to recognize Janet Cothron, his devoted CPA and confidant of 33 years; Izella Carter, his dedicated housekeeper and best friend of 54 years; Mark Burchett, his faithful farm manager; Bolin Stumb, who prayed and visited with him weekly; his caregivers Laverne Alexcee, Jenelle Campbell, Grant Cothron, and Beverly Ferby, who provided him loving care over the past three years; and Alive Hospice, who helped make the end of his life peaceful and comfortable. On Thursday, March 23, John’s life will be celebrated at a Mass of Christian Burial at the Cathedral of the Incarnation at 10:00 am followed by a burial at Calvary Cemetery. The family invites family and friends to a reception at Belle Meade Country Club from 4:30-7:00 pm. Pallbearers are Robert Cain, John Carter, Grant Cothron, Reed Cothron, Loring Helfrich, Jr., Loring Helfrich, III, John McKee, Mason McKee, and Tully McKee. Honorary Pallbearers are Rick Bell, Bill Coble, Randall Cothron, Al Davis, Governor Winfield Dunn, Hugh Entrekin, John Coleman Hayes, Richard Jones, Drew Maddux, Ed Morrow, Richard Philpot, John Rochford, Dudley Smith, Charles Teal and David Wiley. In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Cumberland Heights John E. Cain III Patient Assistance Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 90727, Nashville, TN 37209 or Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203.