Classmate Anthony Franklin 'Tony' Deason

Funeral services for Pastor Anthony Franklin (Tony) Deason, age 64, of Cookeville, will be at 2 p.m. on Wednesday, January 10 at Calvary Baptist Church in Cookeville with Rev. Kent Prain officiating. Interment will follow at Smyrna Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the church Tuesday from 4 - 8 p.m. and Wednesday from 12 noon until service time.

Pastor Tony passed away Friday evening January 5, 2018 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center after a brief illness.  He was born October 15, 1953 in Shelbyville, TN to Alma Jean Parker Deason and the late Donald Franklin Deason of Shelbyville, TN.  Pastor Tony moved to Cookeville in 1976 to work in student ministry on the Tennessee Tech University campus. He was a charter member of Calvary Baptist Church, where he has served as pastor since 1997.  He founded his family’s business, D and D Enterprises in 1978.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Nell Latson Deason, whom he married June 19, 1976 in Rome, GA; eight sons, Joel (Alina) Deason of Cookeville, Andrew (Khrystii) Deason of Selfridge, ND, Daniel (Ashonda) Deason, Phillip (Meghan) Deason, Nathan (Jacqi) Deason, Josiah Deason, Mark Deason, and John Deason, all of Cookeville; three daughters, Lois (Rory) Harris of Cookeville, Lydia (David) Bane of Lawton, OK, and Rhoda Deason of Cookeville; mother, Alma Jean Deason, of Shelbyville; brother, David (Pat) Deason of Shelbyville; three sisters, Angela (Bobby) Reed of Rossville, GA, Cathy (Thomas) Leverette of Unionville, TN, and Pat (Ricky) Donovan of Shelbyville; and 23 grandchildren.

In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by a daughter, Anna Lucette Deason, grandson, Andrew Franklin Deason Jr, and granddaughter, Gloria Hope Bane.

Pastor Tony’s sons will serve as pallbearers.

Memorial contributions may be made to Calvary Baptist Church, 950 Old Kentucky Road, Cookeville, TN 38501.

Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.