Earl Pettus

View Funeral Webcast  Beloved husband and father Earl Pettus passed away at his home on Sunday, April 21, 2019 after an extended illness. Funeral services will be conducted Wednesday at 1:00 P.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Reverend Wilson Henderson officiating. Private family entombment will follow in Polk Memorial Gardens with military honors provided by Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 11:00 A.M until service time at the funeral home. The family suggest memorials to Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19, 812 Nashville Highway, Columbia, TN 38401 or Highland Park Baptist Church, 1800 Highland Avenue, Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnicholos.com. Born July 11, 1939 in Decatur, Alabama, he was the son of the late Elmer Pettus and the late Zora Dee Slaton Arnold. Mr. Pettus attended Hay Long High School, where he lettered in all sports and then joined the United States Air Force for 4 years. After returning back to Mt. Pleasant, he worked various jobs before joining the Mt. Pleasant Police Department. During this time, he received the Judge Jimmy Matthews Officer of the year award, Fraternal Order of Police Officer of the year, Resolution for saving a young girl’s life by performing CPR, aided by partner and good friend, George Bullock. Being a police officer in Mt. Pleasant was never dull, at one time he and George also brought a new life into the world in front of City Hall. After serving 20 years, he retired as Assistant Chief of Police. He then returned to Military Service in the United States Army. During the years, he received many awards including, Army Achievement Medal, Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation twice, Army Good Conduct 6 times, Army Reserve Components Achievement Medal 3 times, National Defense Service Medal twice, Armed Forces Reserve Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Army Reserve Component Overseas Medal. During his time in the Army, he furthered his education at Cumberland University. Over the years, he has been involved in several community organizations including, past President of Mt. Pleasant Lions Club, Past Master and 50-year member of the Ed T. Workman Masonic Lodge 610, member of Al Menah Shrine Temple, past President, Treasurer, and Chaplain of Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 26. His Veteran organizations include Past Commander of Post 10 and Post 19, Commander Disabled Veterans and Grand Chef de Gar of 40 & 8 locally and also of State of Tennessee 7th District Commander of the American Legion and member of Highland Park Baptist Church. He was a man who always put others before himself. His grandchildren were a joy and blessing to him. He loved watching them play sports or whatever they were involved in. His love of sports found him refereeing High School Football for 20 years with the TSSAA organization, something that was hard to give up. He was an avid Alabama Fan. With all his activities, he still had time to go back into law enforcement and serve 10 years as General Sessions Court II bailiff for Judge Lee Bailey.  He received the first Judge Ed T. Workman Community Service Award from Mt. Pleasant Benefit Ball Committee. His survivors are his wife Julia Lovett Pettus, son, Richard (Judy) Pettus; daughter, Elizabeth (Sammy) McCanless; brother, Allen (Sylvia) Arnold; step-daughter, Merri Rundle; sister, Faye Epke; brother-in-law, Eddy (Donna) Lovett; grandchildren, Gunnar Pettus, Karsyn McCanless, Brady McCanless, Greg (Cassie) Carte, Casey Carte (Lonnie Martin), 2nd Class Petty Officer, Bre (Payton) Bean, USN; several great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his step-father, Everett Arnold. Active pallbearers will be Gunnar Pettus, Brady McCanless, Judge Lee Bailey, 2nd Class Petty Officer Bre Bean, Karsyn McCanless, and Polly Fly, Ret. Warrant Officer. Honorary pallbearers include Lt. George Bullock, Dave Dennis, Bill Alexander, C.F. Alexander, John Lynn, Georgia McCaleb, Eddy Lovett, W.L. Culberson, Dwayne Carte, Herbert Griffin American Legion Post 19 flag folders, Adult Men’s Sunday School Class at Highland Park Baptist Church, and Hay Long High School Class of 1959. The family would like to express a special thanks to Melody Abbott, Tracey Roberts, and all the other Hospice Compassus nurses.