Frank Diehl Bryant, Sr., age 74, of Crossville, TN, passed peacefully following reception of the Sacrament of the Sick due to several years of struggle with Alzheimer’s on Wednesday, April 05, 2023, at Bailey Manor in Cookeville, TN. He was born on September 19, 1948, to Baker LaGrande Bryant, Sr. and Elizabeth Cole Beardsley Bryant in Angola, Indiana. He is preceded in death by both of his parents, his son Lt. Col. Frank D. Bryant, Jr., two sisters, Barbara Titer and Dale Poteat, and brother Baker “Skip” Bryant, as well as his mentors, Coach Ray and Ruth Bussard.
Frank is survived by his wife, Patricia Bathe Bryant, his one and only daughter Amie Bryant (Bill) Whitworth and granddaughter, Aubrey, daughter-in-law Janice Harriman Bryant and grandson Sean, his youngest son Raymond (Kim) Bryant and granddaughter Mira Skye, sister Teresa Wood, and Jackie Bussard (Chris) Bertucci and family, along with numerous nieces, nephews, extended family, and a lifetime of friends.
Frank was the retired founder, owner, inventor, entrepreneur, and Chief Operating Manager of Bryant Sales Company, the most recently known brand name of Chota Outdoor Gear, which has provided a plethora of quality water sports products since 1974. If Frank wasn’t found dreaming up and developing new fishing waders or outdoor shoes then one could most likely locate him, at his Melton Hill Lake home of 28 years, paddling his canoe on one of his many self-mapped and named portages.
A native of northern Indiana, who spent his teen years in Ohio, Bryant came to Knoxville in 1967 to major in biology and to swim for Coach Ray Bussard on the University of Tennessee’s first swim team. His love of all things water, landed him a summer job in 1969, managing the McMinnville Country Club pool where he met a beautiful lifeguard, Pat Bathe. He took her frog gigging on their first date, and both were smitten; hence they married the following summer. Development of his own business, three children, three grandchildren and many adventures later Frank and Pat settled in Fairfield Glade, TN for their retirement. Frank was a member of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church. He was passionate about helping others, especially those who are less fortunate. This was evident in the many decades that he spent helping to supply food banks with food and directly delivering food to those in need.
A Funeral Mass will take place at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in McMinnville, TN, where Frank and Pat married 52 years ago. Inurnment of cremains will follow at Salem Cemetery in Warren County, TN. Date, and times TBD.
In lieu of flowers, the family would like to extend the opportunity for others to honor Frank by donating toward his passion of helping others. Donations can be made to www.FoodForThePoor.org
Online condolences may be made at www.mcminnvillefuneralhome.com
