Arthur Garland Delozier

Arthur Garland DeLozier, 88, of Maryville, died Saturday at home on the family farm. He was born in Sevierville on March 1, 1922, and his family moved to Blount County to a farm on Sevierville Road in l924. He graduated from Porter High School and attended Carson-Newman College for one year, when he volunteered for WWII. He served three years with the Air Force, and spent most of his time in England. He married Tommie Joyce Hitch after returning from the war, and earlier this year they celebrated their 64th wedding anniversary. Garland became very involved in the community with many of his activities involving farm work. He served on the board for the Blount County Farm Bureau and the Soil Conservation Committee, as well as the Tennessee State Soil Conservation Committee during Gov. Lamar Alexander’s administration. He was a charter member of the Foothills Land Conservancy and served as President of the Knoxville Milk Producers Association, President of the Knoxville Dairy Council, and a member of the Blount County Livestock Association. Garland’s other community involvements were numerous. Over the years he served on the Blount County Court (now Commission) and the Blount County School Board. Other board memberships have been Blount Memorial Hospital and First Tennessee Bank. He was also a member of Alcoa Kiwanis Club and Gideons International. He was a past Chairman of the Blount Chamber of Commerce, and served as Blount County Chairman of Lamar Alexander’s campaign when he ran for governor. In 1996 Garland received the Pride of Tennessee Award, and in 1998 he was honored with the Distinguished Service Award given by Tennessee Farm Bureau Federation for his years of service to his family, his community, and the Farm Bureau. He loved his career as a dairy farmer and later a beef farmer for more than 50 years. A whole generation of young men grew up working on his farm where they developed character and learned the value of hard work. He never met a stranger. He was like King David, a man after God’s own heart. He was a faithful member of Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, where he served as a deacon for 50 years, Superintendent of Sunday School, Sunday School teacher, treasurer, and volunteered in the jail ministry. He was preceded in death by his parents, Andrew Marshall DeLozier and Mae Frazier DeLozier; sister, Helen DeLozier McCall; and brother, George Wendell DeLozier. Survivors include his wife, Tommie Joyce Hitch DeLozier, daughter Carolyn and husband Fred Forster of Maryville; son Arthur Michael DeLozier and wife Ann Wolfe DeLozier of Maryville; and daughter Debora DeLozier Franklin and husband David Franklin of Mt. Juliet, TN; brothers Robert L. DeLozier and wife Betty of Maryville and Lynn DeLozier and wife Mary Lynn of Maryville. Grandchildren include Joy Carver, Andy DeLozier, Melissa DeLozier all of Maryville; Rebecca Forster, Washington, DC; Marshall Franklin, Knoxville; and Sarah Kremer, Mt. Juliet, TN. He has eight great-grandchildren. The family wishes to express their gratitude to devoted caregivers Vickie Bryant and Joey Collins. Funeral Service will be held on Monday, October 25 at 2:00 in the afternoon at Smith Mortuary with Raymond Burnette officiating. Receiving of friends will follow the service in the Family Life Center at Smith’s. Interment will be Tuesday at 11:00 a.m., Mt. Lebanon Baptist Church, Maryville. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Arthur Garland Delozier please visit our Sympathy Store.