Mr. John Miller Dement

John Miller Dement, age 89, of Normandy, TN, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 30. He was born on December 14, 1928 in Normandy, the last son of Ephriam Miller Dement and Anna Ruble McSpadden Dement. He and his wife, Maurine Bennett Dement, celebrated their 63rd wedding anniversary on October 1st. John was the 1947 Salutatorian at Shelbyville Central High School. He attended the University of Tennessee where he was selected as a Torchbearer and was a founding member of the Alpha Gamma Rho fraternity. Other honors included membership in Who’s Who, Omicron Delta Kappa, Alpha Zeta and Scarabbean Senior Society. He graduated with a B.S. in Animal Husbandry in 1951. After graduation he served 2 years in the Army before returning to his love of farming. He and Maurine lived and worked on the family farm until he began a long career with the USDA, Farmers Home Administration, where he was honored for his work serving rural Tennessee. John served as Deacon, Elder and Adult Sunday School teacher for many years at Brookhaven Cumberland Presbyterian Church while living in Nashville. After retirement, he and Maurine enjoyed cleaning up the old family farm in Normandy where they returned to live. John was an excellent gardener and loved farming. He was still making hay on his John Deere tractor a month before his death. He also loved taking care of his donkey, Eeyore, as well as several llamas and alpacas. Every Christmas, each of his grandchildren were blessed with a personal, hand written letter with memories of his life. John is survived by his wife, Maurine; his children, Amy Barrett, Polly (David) Ricks, Emily (Steve) Smith, and Jonathan (Amy) Dement; his grandchildren, Savanna Barrett, Ashley Barrett, Evan (Loren) Barrett, Mia Barrett, Levi (Jennifer) Barrett, Emily (Steven Hummel) Ricks, Ivy (Matt) Patrick, Will (Christina) Ricks, Marie Smith, Rose Smith, Ellen (Sam) Hurd, and Drew Dement; and great-grandchildren, Anna Cleveland Ricks, and William Ricks, Jr. He was preceded in death by his father, Ephriam Miller Dement; his mother, Anna Ruble McSpadden Dement; stepmother, Ruby Wallace Dement; his brothers, Albert Mac Dement, Ralph Ruble Dement, and Joe Jack Dement. Services will be held at Feldhaus Memorial Chapel, Shelbyville, TN. Visitation Friday, November 2, 4:00-7:00 pm and Saturday, November 3, 12:30-1:30 pm. Funeral Service Saturday, November 3, 1:30 pm. Graveside service following at Hollywood Cemetery, Wartrace, TN.

Mr. John Miller Dement

December 14, 1928 - October 30, 2018