Clyde Vernon Raper

Clyde Vernon Raper, age 64 of Pittman Center, Sevierville, TN passed from this life into life eternal March 10, 2009 at Fort Sanders Sevier Hospital. He was a member of Pleasant Hill United Methodist Church in Maryville and attended the churches of the Pittman Center Circuit in Sevierville, TN where his wife was the pastor. One of the area's best known tenor voices in southern gospel music, Clyde sang with numerous singers and quartets including the Highland Quartet, and The Kinsmen of Maryville, TN, The Melody Boys and The Happy Travelers. Most recently, he toured six western states with Heavens Avenue Quartet out of Irvine, California. He was privileged to sing with James Blackwood of the original Blackwood Brothers Quartet during one of their concerts and enjoyed many happy hours with Cecil Blackwood. Clyde was an accomplished self-taught pianist and guitarist. He loved his churches and loved singing and playing the piano every Sunday until the recent years when ill health prevented it. Clyde owned and operated Clyde Raper's Paint and Body Shop in Louisville, TN for many years. Preceded in death by: Parents, Fred & Edna Reynolds Raper; Grandparents, Jim & Myrtle Atkins Raper; Step-Grandmother, Geneva Raper Queen all of Louisville; Bill & Susie Harp Reynolds of Williamsburg, KY. Survived by his loving wife of 17 years, Rev. Alta Chase Raper; Step-daughter and husband, Rev. Mia Parham-Newman and Curt Newman of Rutledge, TN; Step-sons, Victor Loveday, Jr., John Parham & wife Becky Eckert both of Maryville, Chase Blair & wife Angela of Cleveland, TN; Step-Grandchildren, Isaac & Ivan Loveday, Zach & BJ Newman, Andrew & Ethan Blair; Step-Great-Grandson, Jayden Blair; Sister & Brother-in-law, Helen & Arthur (Bud) Hodge of Louisville, TN; Two nieces, Debbie & husband Rev. Mike Thompson of Clinton, TN and Mitzi Garner & husband Tom of Louisville, TN; Grand nieces, Laura Thompson and Megan Garner; Grand Nephews, Josh Thompson, and Matthew Garner; Special Uncle, Jimmy Raper & wife Hope of Alcoa, TN. A Celebration of Life service will be held at 7:00 PM, Friday, March 13, 2009 at Smith Trinity Chapel with Rev. Carol Wilson and Rev. Alta Raper officiating. Family & friends will assemble at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, March 14, 2009 at Louisville Cemetery for the interment. Pallbearers will be Glen Smith, John Parham, Roy Smith, Curt Newman, Vic Loveday, Jimmy Raper. Honorary Pallbearers will be David Raper, Bob Bean, Josh Thompson, Matthew Garner, Zach Newman, BJ Newman, Chris Gray, G. Webb, George Minnigh, John Eakin, and Odis Chambers. Memorial donations may be made to: Any of the three Pittman Center Churches, Burnett Memorial, Webbs Creek, Shults Grove United Methodist Church 340 Tunis Road, Sevierville, TN 37876. Family will receive friends from 4:00 until 7:00 p.m., Friday, March 13, 2009 at Smith Trinity Chapel. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Clyde Vernon Raper please visit our Sympathy Store.