REMEMBERING TOMMY DODSON (From the Grundy County Herald)
During the past few years Grundy County has lost prominent business leaders such as Jim Oliver and Howard Land and unfortunately last week Grundy County again mourns the loss of another businessman with the passing of Tommy Dodson. Tommy Dodson, born in Palmer in 1935, owned and operated Mountain Real Estate and, since 1979, the well-known Monteagle Flea Market, which he dearly loved along with the designing of his own oak furniture.
It was known that Dodson was good at buying real estate that held financial potential for the future, such as the Bennett Farm in Monteagle, which is now the sand plant on exit 135.
He loved jewelry and antiques of all kinds, always knowing their value, as well as Buick’s from the 1950’s that could outrun most anything on the road.
One of the happiest times in his life he said was when the Palmer Big Mines were operating, he visited the company store getting the ice cream Mr. Henegar dipped for him. Then he would make his way to the garage where he listened to the men discuss the events of the day and then over to the restaurant for a hamburger and a Coke.
He attended the Palmer Theater where you could buy a Coke and popcorn and see the show for a quarter.
Dodson attended school in Palmer, Collins, Tatesville, and at Grundy County High School. He also attended mine foreman school in Knoxville and real estate school in Chattanooga.
Selling grits at the age of eight to buy a bicycle, he also loved assisting Bob and Effie Overturf in the Palmer Post Office, which he operated when they went on vacation.
Dodson , who retired after many years of driving a truck, loved to travel the back roads to see the natural beauty of the land. Every state he entered, he bought a charm for his wife Stella’s charm bracelet.
He never met a stranger, treated everyone the same, and never gossiped. If anyone did anything for him, he always tried to pay it back ten times over.
"Money didn’t mean anything to him because he always thought he could get more the next day," said his wife Stella. "He loved his dog, Sweet Pea, and his cats, Pearl, Tennessee Cat (named for the winning 1999 Tennessee team), Cain, Blue-Eyed Baby, and He-She."
"In August of this year, while having a stroke, he asked me to brush his hair, and said, "If you won’t cry, you can call the ambulance," said Stella. "I appreciate Monteagle Police Officer Tim Prater and Charlie Campbell assisting the ambulance staff that day."

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TOMMY HOWELL DODSON, age 72, died Sunday, September 23, 2007 at his home in Monteagle. He was named in honor of Dr. Oscar Howell Clements who delivered him at Palmer, Tennessee on June 11, 1935 to Edgar Lee and Beatrice Givens Dodson . Tommy said that he was fortunate to have all these people to have loved him like a son, Delbert and Carlene Givens Hargis, Ruby Long, and the late Bob and Effie Overturf.
As a teenager Tommy helped Bob and Effie Overturf at the Palmer Post Office and he attended Palmer Church of Christ. He also had worked as a mine foreman and had retired from owning and driving a truck across the country. According to his wife, Stella, Tommy always said his favorite teacher was Ms. Nellie Geary.
He often was heard telling all who would listen that the Cumberland Mountains have the greatest natural beauty of all places in our country. Tommy was ready to leave this earth and go to Heaven. He enjoyed watching Charles Stanley and Joel Olson while reading his Bible. A loving and devoted husband, his heart went out and touched many in this world.
He was preceded in death by a sister, Margarette Dodson; granddaughter, Daysia Lee Neal; grandson, Brandon Crabtree; niece, Tammy Dodson ; and son-in-law, Stanley Herrod.
Survivors include his wife, Stella Dodson, children Regena Dodson, Herrod, Barton (Jan) Dodson, Leland (Alicia) Dodson, all of Murfreesboro, Brian (Shirley) Dodson, Gruetli-Laager, Dale Cutcher, Cullman, AL, Rita (Eddie) Crabtree, Palmer, Teresa Meeks, Monteagle, brother, Stanley (Gail) Dodson, 14 grandchildren, 12 great grandchildren, and numerous other relatives.
Funeral services were held Wednesday, September 26 in the funeral home chapel with Kevin Baldwin, Steve Baldwin, and Dale Cutcher officiating.
Burial was in Palmer City Cemetery.
Arrangements were made by Cumberland Funeral Home, Monteagle, TN.