Mr. Coy R. “Bud” Ervin of Toone, Tennessee passed away from this Earth to his Heavenly home on Wednesday, January 4, 2017. He was born in Covington, Tennessee on April 16, 1938 to the late Andrew Ervin and Gladys Ozella (Vandiver) Ervin. He grew up in Millington, Tennessee, then lived in Jackson, Tennessee and the remainder of his life was spent in Toone, Tennessee.
He was employed for six years at Ashby Veneer and Lumber Company of Jackson, Tennessee. He then worked and retired from Packaging Corporation of America in Jackson, Tennessee after 25 years of working in the Maintenance Department. He earned several service awards while employed there.
In his earlier years, Mr. Ervin enjoyed coon hunting with his family members and friends and growing and working with his vegetable garden and his roses. He also loved playing his guitar and singing.
Later in life, he enjoyed feeding and watching the birds in his backyard and imitating the sounds of all the birds he heard. He also loved telling stories about his youth.
Mr. Ervin was a man of great faith. He was a member of the Church of God where he served as Sunday School Superintendent in his early adulthood. He most recently was affiliated with Forest Hills Pentecostal Church of Bolivar. He eagerly shared his faith with anyone he met and told them of his experience with the stairway to Heaven. He loved the Lord and looked forward to spending eternity with Him in Heaven.
He supported the disabled veterans among other charities. He most proudly supported and was a member of the Tennessee Sheriff’s Association. He would always say, “Gotta help the boys” when referring to members of the military and law enforcement.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his grandparents, John and Mary Evelyn “Molly” (Tozier) Ervin and James Herschel and Ora Priscilla (Sanders) Vandiver; two sisters, Faye Womack and Ora Lowery; three brother in laws, Don Bearden, Emmit Timbs, and J.R. Polk.
He is survived by the love of his life of 58 years, Shirley (Wiggins) Ervin; two daughters, Susan (Greg) Vance of Hornsby, Tennessee and Sharon (David) Fletcher of Oak Grove, Kentucky; three brothers, Johnny (Jean) Ervin of Brighton, Tennessee, Percy Ervin and Hoby Ervin of Millington, Tennessee; four sisters, Ceriese Bearden and Angelo Timbs of Millington, Tennessee, Cleo Polk of Somerville, Tennessee, and Evelyn (Gary) Luce of Albany, Georgia and many nieces and nephews whom he loved dearly.
Visitation will be held Friday, January 6 from 5-8pm and continue on Saturday, January 7 from 9 am until the funeral service and his funeral service will be held on Saturday, January 7 at 3pm at Shackelford Funeral Directors in Bolivar, Tennessee with Brother Lee Merrick officiating. Burial will follow at Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to Forest Hill Pentecostal Church, 20205 Highway 64, Bolivar, TN or the U.S.O. (http://www.uso.org/donate)
