Loyd Dean Fitzgerald

Loyd Dean Fitzgerald, 84, a lifetime resident of the Theta Community, died Tuesday, October 23, 2018 at his residence. Funeral services will be conducted Friday at 10:00 A.M. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Reverend Tommy Fox officiating. Burial will follow in Sunset Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Thursday from 4:00 – 8:00 P.M. at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials be made to Sunset Hill Cemetery, c/o Calvin Cheek, 2332 Les Robinson Road, Columbia, TN 38401. Condolences may be extended online at www.oakesandnichols.com. Born August 20, 1934 in Maury County, he was the son of the late John Robert Fitzgerald and the late Birdie McKee Fitzgerald. A logger for most of his life he loved to tell stories of his adventures in the woods. To his family “Papa” will be remembered as the toughest man ever known. He taught his children and grandchildren to work hard and be tough. “Papa” was tough and fought to the very end and now is at rest. Survived by his wife of 62 years, Patricia Sewell Fitzgerald of the Theta Community; children, Debora Dean (Ricky Lovell) Fitzgerald of Columbia; Art (Teresa) Fitzgerald of Columbia; Mark (Shannon) Fitzgerald of Columbia; Crystal (Jeff) Sweeney of Franklin; five grandchildren; two great grandchildren; sisters, DeLois Hardison; Evelyn (Buck) Barnett; and brother-in-law, Joe (Vicki) Sewell. He was preceded in death by his sister, Bobbie Fitzgerald Johnson. Active pallbearers will be Jordan Fitzgerald, Cody Fitzgerald, Austin Stanfill, Scotty West, Shayne West, and John Allen Neal. Honorary pallbearers include Dean Campbell, O.N. King, and Ed Smith.