John Rust Collier Jr.

John Rust Collier, Jr., age 78 of Maryville, TN, passed away peacefully on Saturday, September 14, 2019. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church of McMinnville, and an associate member of First United Methodist Church of Maryville. John was a graduate of Ohio State University, majoring in Ornamental Horticulture. He returned to Tennessee and spent the rest of his life operating and growing Pleasant Cove Nursery, a family business. He was a past president of the Tennessee Nurserymen’s Association. He was inducted into the Tennessee Nursery and Landscape Association Hall of Fame. John also served as a director of City Bank & Trust Company for many years. John was preceded in death by his parents, John Rust Collier, Sr. and Elma Brewer Collier of McMinnville, TN. He is survived by his loving wife, Patricia Beale Collier; daughter, Suzanne Stratton (Jondale); grandchildren, Zachary and Sydney Stratton of Seymour, TN; brothers, Robert Collier (Paula), Franklin Collier (Kathy) of McMinnville, TN, David Collier (Teresa) of Rock Island; one niece and several nephews. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, September 17, 2019 from 6:00 PM until 7:00 PM at First United Methodist Church Maryville, 804 Montvale Station Rd., Maryville, TN 37803, with a funeral service to follow with Pastor Catherine Nance officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to New Union Cemetery, 355 Mullican Lane, Rock Island, TN 38581. Arrangements provided by Smith Funeral & Cremation, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of John Rust Collier Jr. please visit our Sympathy Store.