93
Graveside services for Mr. Howard Dunnagan, age 86, will be held at 2 pm Saturday, June 4, 2022 at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 am until 1:30 pm Saturday, June 4, 2022 at the Shelton Funeral Home Chapel.
Mr. Dunnagan passed away on May 30, 2022 at NHC Healthcare in Milan, TN.
Mr. Dunnagan was preceded in death by his wife of over 50 years, Frances Bradley Dunnagan; and his parents, Thomas Hensley Dunnagan and Mattie Stavely Dunnagan.
Mr. Dunnagan is survived by his son, Danny Dunnagan and wife Janice; brother, Ray Dunnagan and wife Peggy; a sister, Wilma Dunnagan Smothers; granddaughter, Holly Dunnagan; and nieces and nephews.
Howard was born in 1935 on the Stavely family farm in the Concord Community in Gibson County, TN. At the age of 5, his family moved to Colesburg, TN and then 2 years later moved to Detroit, MI for 3 years. They moved back to Burns in Dickson County, TN in 1945. They owned and worked a farm near Montgomery Bell State Park until selling it in 1948 to move back to Gibson County, TN.
As a boy, he attended Concord School and Davidson Chapel School and graduated from Bradford High School in 1954. In December of that year, he married his high school sweetheart, Frances Bradley. He drove a delivery truck for Chrystal Laundry Cleaning in Milan, TN and that fall worked at Cades Gin Company. They saved enough money for a down payment on a farm in the Concord Community.
In January 1956, Howard joined the US Air Force with basic training in San Antonio, TX then on to Biloxi, MS. He was trained as a ground radio operator, air traffic controller, and in Morse Code. The next 2 years his position took him to places that included England, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Turkey, and many other places during that time. Most of 1958 and 1959 were spent in Sumter, SC with Frances and Danny, who was born at Shaw Air Force Base in 1959.
After his military service was complete, Howard and his family returned to their Concord Community farm and began raising cattle and hogs for the next several years. He continued to live at that same location through the next 63 years. He went to work at Anderson’s Furniture Company in mid 1959 through 1984 as a salesman and buyer for the business. He attended McKenzie’s Bethel College night classes for 5 years majoring in accounting and business. In January 1985, he opened Dunnagan Furniture Store in Trenton, TN. He owned and operated it until it’s closing in 2012. Mr. Dunnagan conducted his business as a true professional. He was very experienced and knowledgeable about furniture and decorating and believed in quality products. During his years in the retail business, he met many people, made many friends, and had many loyal customers.
Upon his retirement, he enjoyed relaxing, spending time with family and family and dining out as often as he liked. He was a good story teller and loved to talk and had a witty sense of humor. He enjoyed watching a variety of sports on tv and liked a good western any day.
Above all, Mr. Dunnagan was a Christian and exemplified hid faith through his life everyday. He trusted, obeyed, and served the Lord. He cared for his ailing wife at home for many years until her passing in 2005. He was a long time and faithful member of the Pleasant Hill Church of Christ. Howard loved the church and his church family. He reflected often about his many family and friends no longer with him. He will definitely be missed by many.
