SR., Herman Ray SPIVEY

McMinnville resident and Davidson County, TN native Herman Ray Spivey, Sr., age 89, was born May 2, 1923 and died May 16, 2012 at River Park Hospital following an extended illness. Mr. Spivey's family moved to McMinnville in 1925 where his father was employed for several years by McMinnville Manufacturing Company. Mr. Spivey attended the local public schools, and later attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. He received a B.S. degree in electrical engineering from the University of South Carolina while enrolled with a Navy unite during WWII. After duty in the Pacific with the Navy, he was employed for a short time by TVA in Chattanooga. In 1949 he returned to McMinnville to join his father at Cumberland Lumber and Manufacturing Company, where he subsequently served for many years as president and chairman of the board. In this capacity he also served as president of the National Oak Flooring Manufacturers Association in 1975-1976. His other business interests included radio broadcasting in which he and his father constructed Radio Station WKKH in Rockwood, TN. After the sale of that station, they purchased Radio Station WMSR AM & FM in Manchester, TN. He served as president of that organization for some twenty years, prior to the sale of the stations in the late eighties and early nineties. He was for twenty years a director in City Bank and Trust Company of McMinnville, was a member of the American Legion, the VFW, and the Rotary Club of McMinnville, of which he was a past president. He was also a Paul Harris Fellow of the Rotary Foundation. A member of the First Baptist Church of McMinnville, he served for many years as a deacon and was engaged in other activities of the church. He is survived by his wife of fifty-eight years, Mary Sumner Spivey of McMinnville; three children, Dr. Elizabeth Spivey of Yankton, SD, Sandra Kilgore of Greenback, TN and Ray Spivey, Jr. of McMinnville; six grandchildren and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in in death by his parents, Herman Roscoe and Minnie Barnes Spivey and sister, Rozelle Spivey Wilson. Funeral service was held at 3:00 p.m. Sunday, May 20, 2012 at First Baptist Church with Rev. John May officiating. Burial followed in the Mt. View Cemetery with full military honors administered by the American Legion Post 173 and VFW Post 5064. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to First Baptist Church, Rotary Foundation or Magness Library all c/o High's.