Odis Odell Loyd

Odis Odell Loyd, resident of the Moscow Community, United States Army Veteran and husband of Varion Loyd, departed this life Friday morning, February 28, 2014 at the Covington Manor Nursing Home where he had been a patient for two weeks. He was 89 years of age and died following an extended illness.

Services of Remembrance with Military Honors for Mr. Loyd were conducted at 2 P.M. Wednesday, March 5th at the Peebles West Funeral Chapel at Oakland with Dr. Ken Story, pastor of the Somerville First Baptist Church, officiating. Interment followed in the Fayette County Memorial Park Cemetery on Highway 64. Arrangements were provided by Peebles Fayette County Funeral Homes & Cremation Center — West Chapel at Oakland.

Mr. Loyd was born October 4, 1924 in Gadsden, Tennessee. He was preceded in death by his parents, Crawford Loyd and Leila Scott Loyd. He received his education in the Gadsden, Tennessee Public School System and was married October 6, 1962 to the former Varion Brasfield, who survives. He served in the United States Army and received an honorable discharge for health reasons.

Mr. Loyd retired from the Smith & Nephew Corporation in 1988 after 23 years of service. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Somerville. His pleasures in life included Nascar, raising horses, cattle, chickens, fishing and gardening on his property in the Moscow Community. Mr. and Mrs. Loyd were known for their love of square dancing and ballroom dancing in earlier years and were avid supporters of the country music career of their son, T.G. Sheppard.

Mr. Loyd enjoyed giving rides to family and friends in his horsedrawn surrey before retiring and selling it to the Downtown Memphis Tourist Organization. He was a member of the First Baptist Church in Somerville and was active in his church as long as health permitted.

In addition to his wife of 50 years, Mr. Loyd is survived by two daughters, Norma Thweatt (Leonard) of Morrison, IL, Rita Warner of Knoxville, TN; three sons, Rick Loyd (Margaret) of Piperton, Charles Browder of Tallahassee, FL, T.G. Sheppard (Kelly) of Hendersonville, TN; nine grandchildren, Jeremy, Jennifer, Jessie, Mark, Kellie, Jason, Nicole, Shannon, Angie; fourteen great grandchildren and three great great grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Gertrude Scott, Martha Flowers, Opal Willey; and two sons, Tom Frank Loyd and Morris Edmund Loyd.

Pallbearers were family members and friends and the family requests that memorials be directed to Somerville First Baptist Church, 12685 S. Main Street, Somerville, TN 38068.