Elmer Mize , Maryville historian and tireless volunteer for the library and genealogical community, was found dead in bed at his home Thursday morning. He was 77.
A Blount County native, he lived in the only personal residence still standing on Washington Street in Maryville, the home where he was born and lived his entire life. He died in the same room in which he was born.
Community leaders expressed sorrow at the loss of Mize .
"Elmer was one of the city's natural resources," said Maryville Mayor Joe Swann. "His understanding and depth of history within the community was unparalleled among anyone alive today.
"His unselfish efforts in helping countless people research matters of history and genealogy has helped make our community a better place. We really will miss Elmer.
Maryville City Manager Gary Hensley added, "He has been the long-time city historian and he worked hard in that capacity on strictly a volunteer basis. We have not only lost a great resource as city historian, but also a good friend. We're all mourning his loss."
Mize was also a long-time volunteer at the Blount County Public Library.
Kathy Pagles, director of the library, said, "Elmer Mize was a treasure to the historical and genealogical community of Blount County, providing a legacy of understanding how important local history is and how important it is to preserve that history for the community.
"Since 1983, he maintained a continuity through all the changes, growth and development of the Blount County Public Library, helping young people with research papers for classes, helping raise funds for the library foundation, helping to physically move all the books from the McGhee Street location to the new building on Cusick Street, willing to be on 24-hour-per-day call at any time to people from all over the community, serving as a resource person for the library and for the community."
Lorene Smith, a member of the Blount County Genealogical and Historical Society and former employee of Blount County Public Library, said: "Elmer was a living encyclopedia of knowledge about Maryville and this area. He will be greatly missed."
Mize graduated from Maryville City Schools and received a B.A. in history and political science at Maryville College.
His 32-year teaching career included a year at Lanier in Blount County and the remainder in Knox County. He taught in grades six through 12, covering classes in English, history and math.
In 1995, he was appointed city of Maryville historian by the mayor and city council.
Hundreds of business and community leaders followed his walking tour of Maryville's history in their Leadership Blount class. He was also an engaging speaker on the local civic club circuit, and usually brought an early property deed or other artifact to illustrate a story.
He was a founding member and life member of the Blount County Genealogical and Historical Society and served as editor of The Blount Journal, a publication of that group, for 17 years.
He was the man who unveiled the portrait of Gov. William Blount when the U.S. recruiting office was renamed the William Blount Recruiting Office in 1987.
He dedicated the John Craig Spring Monument and presented it to then Maryville mayor the late Stanley B. Shields on July 4, 1987.
Mize was a member of the Maryville Bicentennial Commission in 1995, which built the Bicentennial Monument in the Greenbelt Park.
In 1996 he served as chairman of the 125th Anniversary Committee of the Maryville First Baptist Church and received the Maryville Rotary International Service Above Self Award in 1996.
In August 1998, Mize was appointed to the Blount County Library Foundation which built the new library.
The first person to receive an Honorary Life Membership in the Blount County Friends of the Library, Mize was a life member of the Historic Sam Houston School House Association and served as a director.
He was honored by proclamations of the governor, county executive and former Maryville Mayor Steve West as Senior Citizen of the Year in 2001 with May 14, 2001, as Elmer Mize Appreciation Day.
He was appointed to the Preserving Our Culture Task Force of Nine Counties One Vision in 2001.
For four years Mize served as president of the Blount County Retired Teachers Association, seven years as treasurer of Retired Teachers and two years as president of the American Association of Retired Persons.
He has 11 ancestral lines of ancestry in Tennessee for over 200 years.
Publications of Mize include the "1830 Census, Blount County, Tennessee" and "Blount County, Tennessee, Marriages 1911 to 1930."
Mize was the son of the late Beecher Elmer and Vola Farmer Mize . His father and grandfather operated in G.N. Mize and Son Lumber Co. They built the family home in 1917 and 1918.
He was also preceded in death by sisters, Barbara Mize , Martha Mize Boruff and Joyce Mize Walls.
Mize is survived by one brother and sister-in-law, Bobby and Elizabeth Mize of Maryville; several nieces and nephews; and several great-nieces and nephews.
________
Elmer Ellis Mize , age 77 of Maryville, passed away Thursday, November 6, 2003, at his home. He was a member of Maryville First Baptist Church and was a retired Knoxville City school teacher. He was preceded in death by his parents, Beecher and Vola Farmer Mize ; sisters, Martha Sue Mize Boruff, Joyce Mize Walls and Barbara Ann Mize ; nieces, Susie Goff and Nettie Heald.
Survivors include: brother and sister-in-law, Bobby L. and Elizabeth Mize ; nephews, Brad, Bart, Bret and Blake Mize , Kevin, Craig and Tim Binkley and Paul Walls; nieces, Sherry Braden, Peggy Sheeley and Edna Lee; several great nieces and nephews; special aunt, Thelma Farmer.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday at Maryville First Baptist Church with Rev. Charles Ballard and Dr. Bob Chambers officiating. The interment will follow in Grandview Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 12:30-2:00 p.m. Monday at Maryville First Baptist Church.
Pall Bearers will be the City of Maryville and Blount County Officers, active and honorary. Memorials may be made to the Blount County Library Foundation, 508 N. Cusick Street, Maryville, TN 37804 or to Maryville First Baptist Church, 202 W. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37801.
McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home in charge 982-6812 www.mccammonammonsclick.com.
A Blount County native, he lived in the only personal residence still standing on Washington Street in Maryville, the home where he was born and lived his entire life. He died in the same room in which he was born.
Community leaders expressed sorrow at the loss of Mize .
"Elmer was one of the city's natural resources," said Maryville Mayor Joe Swann. "His understanding and depth of history within the community was unparalleled among anyone alive today.
"His unselfish efforts in helping countless people research matters of history and genealogy has helped make our community a better place. We really will miss Elmer.
Maryville City Manager Gary Hensley added, "He has been the long-time city historian and he worked hard in that capacity on strictly a volunteer basis. We have not only lost a great resource as city historian, but also a good friend. We're all mourning his loss."
Mize was also a long-time volunteer at the Blount County Public Library.
Kathy Pagles, director of the library, said, "Elmer Mize was a treasure to the historical and genealogical community of Blount County, providing a legacy of understanding how important local history is and how important it is to preserve that history for the community.
"Since 1983, he maintained a continuity through all the changes, growth and development of the Blount County Public Library, helping young people with research papers for classes, helping raise funds for the library foundation, helping to physically move all the books from the McGhee Street location to the new building on Cusick Street, willing to be on 24-hour-per-day call at any time to people from all over the community, serving as a resource person for the library and for the community."
Lorene Smith, a member of the Blount County Genealogical and Historical Society and former employee of Blount County Public Library, said: "Elmer was a living encyclopedia of knowledge about Maryville and this area. He will be greatly missed."
Mize graduated from Maryville City Schools and received a B.A. in history and political science at Maryville College.
His 32-year teaching career included a year at Lanier in Blount County and the remainder in Knox County. He taught in grades six through 12, covering classes in English, history and math.
In 1995, he was appointed city of Maryville historian by the mayor and city council.
Hundreds of business and community leaders followed his walking tour of Maryville's history in their Leadership Blount class. He was also an engaging speaker on the local civic club circuit, and usually brought an early property deed or other artifact to illustrate a story.
He was a founding member and life member of the Blount County Genealogical and Historical Society and served as editor of The Blount Journal, a publication of that group, for 17 years.
He was the man who unveiled the portrait of Gov. William Blount when the U.S. recruiting office was renamed the William Blount Recruiting Office in 1987.
He dedicated the John Craig Spring Monument and presented it to then Maryville mayor the late Stanley B. Shields on July 4, 1987.
Mize was a member of the Maryville Bicentennial Commission in 1995, which built the Bicentennial Monument in the Greenbelt Park.
In 1996 he served as chairman of the 125th Anniversary Committee of the Maryville First Baptist Church and received the Maryville Rotary International Service Above Self Award in 1996.
In August 1998, Mize was appointed to the Blount County Library Foundation which built the new library.
The first person to receive an Honorary Life Membership in the Blount County Friends of the Library, Mize was a life member of the Historic Sam Houston School House Association and served as a director.
He was honored by proclamations of the governor, county executive and former Maryville Mayor Steve West as Senior Citizen of the Year in 2001 with May 14, 2001, as Elmer Mize Appreciation Day.
He was appointed to the Preserving Our Culture Task Force of Nine Counties One Vision in 2001.
For four years Mize served as president of the Blount County Retired Teachers Association, seven years as treasurer of Retired Teachers and two years as president of the American Association of Retired Persons.
He has 11 ancestral lines of ancestry in Tennessee for over 200 years.
Publications of Mize include the "1830 Census, Blount County, Tennessee" and "Blount County, Tennessee, Marriages 1911 to 1930."
Mize was the son of the late Beecher Elmer and Vola Farmer Mize . His father and grandfather operated in G.N. Mize and Son Lumber Co. They built the family home in 1917 and 1918.
He was also preceded in death by sisters, Barbara Mize , Martha Mize Boruff and Joyce Mize Walls.
Mize is survived by one brother and sister-in-law, Bobby and Elizabeth Mize of Maryville; several nieces and nephews; and several great-nieces and nephews.
________
Elmer Ellis Mize , age 77 of Maryville, passed away Thursday, November 6, 2003, at his home. He was a member of Maryville First Baptist Church and was a retired Knoxville City school teacher. He was preceded in death by his parents, Beecher and Vola Farmer Mize ; sisters, Martha Sue Mize Boruff, Joyce Mize Walls and Barbara Ann Mize ; nieces, Susie Goff and Nettie Heald.
Survivors include: brother and sister-in-law, Bobby L. and Elizabeth Mize ; nephews, Brad, Bart, Bret and Blake Mize , Kevin, Craig and Tim Binkley and Paul Walls; nieces, Sherry Braden, Peggy Sheeley and Edna Lee; several great nieces and nephews; special aunt, Thelma Farmer.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday at Maryville First Baptist Church with Rev. Charles Ballard and Dr. Bob Chambers officiating. The interment will follow in Grandview Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 12:30-2:00 p.m. Monday at Maryville First Baptist Church.
Pall Bearers will be the City of Maryville and Blount County Officers, active and honorary. Memorials may be made to the Blount County Library Foundation, 508 N. Cusick Street, Maryville, TN 37804 or to Maryville First Baptist Church, 202 W. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37801.
McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home in charge 982-6812 www.mccammonammonsclick.com.
Elmer Mize , Maryville historian and tireless volunteer for the library and genealogical community, was found dead in bed at his home Thursday morning. He was 77.
A Blount County native, he lived in the only personal residence still standing on Washington Street in Maryville, the home where he was born and lived his entire life. He died in the same room in which he was born.
Community leaders expressed sorrow at the loss of Mize .
"Elmer was one of the city's natural resources," said Maryville Mayor Joe Swann. "His understanding and depth of history within the community was unparalleled among anyone alive today.
"His unselfish efforts in helping countless people research matters of history and genealogy has helped make our community a better place. We really will miss Elmer.
Maryville City Manager Gary Hensley added, "He has been the long-time city historian and he worked hard in that capacity on strictly a volunteer basis. We have not only lost a great resource as city historian, but also a good friend. We're all mourning his loss."
Mize was also a long-time volunteer at the Blount County Public Library.
Kathy Pagles, director of the library, said, "Elmer Mize was a treasure to the historical and genealogical community of Blount County, providing a legacy of understanding how important local history is and how important it is to preserve that history for the community.
"Since 1983, he maintained a continuity through all the changes, growth and development of the Blount County Public Library, helping young people with research papers for classes, helping raise funds for the library foundation, helping to physically move all the books from the McGhee Street location to the new building on Cusick Street, willing to be on 24-hour-per-day call at any time to people from all over the community, serving as a resource person for the library and for the community."
Lorene Smith, a member of the Blount County Genealogical and Historical Society and former employee of Blount County Public Library, said: "Elmer was a living encyclopedia of knowledge about Maryville and this area. He will be greatly missed."
Mize graduated from Maryville City Schools and received a B.A. in history and political science at Maryville College.
His 32-year teaching career included a year at Lanier in Blount County and the remainder in Knox County. He taught in grades six through 12, covering classes in English, history and math.
In 1995, he was appointed city of Maryville historian by the mayor and city council.
Hundreds of business and community leaders followed his walking tour of Maryville's history in their Leadership Blount class. He was also an engaging speaker on the local civic club circuit, and usually brought an early property deed or other artifact to illustrate a story.
He was a founding member and life member of the Blount County Genealogical and Historical Society and served as editor of The Blount Journal, a publication of that group, for 17 years.
He was the man who unveiled the portrait of Gov. William Blount when the U.S. recruiting office was renamed the William Blount Recruiting Office in 1987.
He dedicated the John Craig Spring Monument and presented it to then Maryville mayor the late Stanley B. Shields on July 4, 1987.
Mize was a member of the Maryville Bicentennial Commission in 1995, which built the Bicentennial Monument in the Greenbelt Park.
In 1996 he served as chairman of the 125th Anniversary Committee of the Maryville First Baptist Church and received the Maryville Rotary International Service Above Self Award in 1996.
In August 1998, Mize was appointed to the Blount County Library Foundation which built the new library.
The first person to receive an Honorary Life Membership in the Blount County Friends of the Library, Mize was a life member of the Historic Sam Houston School House Association and served as a director.
He was honored by proclamations of the governor, county executive and former Maryville Mayor Steve West as Senior Citizen of the Year in 2001 with May 14, 2001, as Elmer Mize Appreciation Day.
He was appointed to the Preserving Our Culture Task Force of Nine Counties One Vision in 2001.
For four years Mize served as president of the Blount County Retired Teachers Association, seven years as treasurer of Retired Teachers and two years as president of the American Association of Retired Persons.
He has 11 ancestral lines of ancestry in Tennessee for over 200 years.
Publications of Mize include the "1830 Census, Blount County, Tennessee" and "Blount County, Tennessee, Marriages 1911 to 1930."
Mize was the son of the late Beecher Elmer and Vola Farmer Mize . His father and grandfather operated in G.N. Mize and Son Lumber Co. They built the family home in 1917 and 1918.
He was also preceded in death by sisters, Barbara Mize , Martha Mize Boruff and Joyce Mize Walls.
Mize is survived by one brother and sister-in-law, Bobby and Elizabeth Mize of Maryville; several nieces and nephews; and several great-nieces and nephews.
________
Elmer Ellis Mize , age 77 of Maryville, passed away Thursday, November 6, 2003, at his home. He was a member of Maryville First Baptist Church and was a retired Knoxville City school teacher. He was preceded in death by his parents, Beecher and Vola Farmer Mize ; sisters, Martha Sue Mize Boruff, Joyce Mize Walls and Barbara Ann Mize ; nieces, Susie Goff and Nettie Heald.
Survivors include: brother and sister-in-law, Bobby L. and Elizabeth Mize ; nephews, Brad, Bart, Bret and Blake Mize , Kevin, Craig and Tim Binkley and Paul Walls; nieces, Sherry Braden, Peggy Sheeley and Edna Lee; several great nieces and nephews; special aunt, Thelma Farmer.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday at Maryville First Baptist Church with Rev. Charles Ballard and Dr. Bob Chambers officiating. The interment will follow in Grandview Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 12:30-2:00 p.m. Monday at Maryville First Baptist Church.
Pall Bearers will be the City of Maryville and Blount County Officers, active and honorary. Memorials may be made to the Blount County Library Foundation, 508 N. Cusick Street, Maryville, TN 37804 or to Maryville First Baptist Church, 202 W. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37801.
McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home in charge 982-6812 www.mccammonammonsclick.com.
A Blount County native, he lived in the only personal residence still standing on Washington Street in Maryville, the home where he was born and lived his entire life. He died in the same room in which he was born.
Community leaders expressed sorrow at the loss of Mize .
"Elmer was one of the city's natural resources," said Maryville Mayor Joe Swann. "His understanding and depth of history within the community was unparalleled among anyone alive today.
"His unselfish efforts in helping countless people research matters of history and genealogy has helped make our community a better place. We really will miss Elmer.
Maryville City Manager Gary Hensley added, "He has been the long-time city historian and he worked hard in that capacity on strictly a volunteer basis. We have not only lost a great resource as city historian, but also a good friend. We're all mourning his loss."
Mize was also a long-time volunteer at the Blount County Public Library.
Kathy Pagles, director of the library, said, "Elmer Mize was a treasure to the historical and genealogical community of Blount County, providing a legacy of understanding how important local history is and how important it is to preserve that history for the community.
"Since 1983, he maintained a continuity through all the changes, growth and development of the Blount County Public Library, helping young people with research papers for classes, helping raise funds for the library foundation, helping to physically move all the books from the McGhee Street location to the new building on Cusick Street, willing to be on 24-hour-per-day call at any time to people from all over the community, serving as a resource person for the library and for the community."
Lorene Smith, a member of the Blount County Genealogical and Historical Society and former employee of Blount County Public Library, said: "Elmer was a living encyclopedia of knowledge about Maryville and this area. He will be greatly missed."
Mize graduated from Maryville City Schools and received a B.A. in history and political science at Maryville College.
His 32-year teaching career included a year at Lanier in Blount County and the remainder in Knox County. He taught in grades six through 12, covering classes in English, history and math.
In 1995, he was appointed city of Maryville historian by the mayor and city council.
Hundreds of business and community leaders followed his walking tour of Maryville's history in their Leadership Blount class. He was also an engaging speaker on the local civic club circuit, and usually brought an early property deed or other artifact to illustrate a story.
He was a founding member and life member of the Blount County Genealogical and Historical Society and served as editor of The Blount Journal, a publication of that group, for 17 years.
He was the man who unveiled the portrait of Gov. William Blount when the U.S. recruiting office was renamed the William Blount Recruiting Office in 1987.
He dedicated the John Craig Spring Monument and presented it to then Maryville mayor the late Stanley B. Shields on July 4, 1987.
Mize was a member of the Maryville Bicentennial Commission in 1995, which built the Bicentennial Monument in the Greenbelt Park.
In 1996 he served as chairman of the 125th Anniversary Committee of the Maryville First Baptist Church and received the Maryville Rotary International Service Above Self Award in 1996.
In August 1998, Mize was appointed to the Blount County Library Foundation which built the new library.
The first person to receive an Honorary Life Membership in the Blount County Friends of the Library, Mize was a life member of the Historic Sam Houston School House Association and served as a director.
He was honored by proclamations of the governor, county executive and former Maryville Mayor Steve West as Senior Citizen of the Year in 2001 with May 14, 2001, as Elmer Mize Appreciation Day.
He was appointed to the Preserving Our Culture Task Force of Nine Counties One Vision in 2001.
For four years Mize served as president of the Blount County Retired Teachers Association, seven years as treasurer of Retired Teachers and two years as president of the American Association of Retired Persons.
He has 11 ancestral lines of ancestry in Tennessee for over 200 years.
Publications of Mize include the "1830 Census, Blount County, Tennessee" and "Blount County, Tennessee, Marriages 1911 to 1930."
Mize was the son of the late Beecher Elmer and Vola Farmer Mize . His father and grandfather operated in G.N. Mize and Son Lumber Co. They built the family home in 1917 and 1918.
He was also preceded in death by sisters, Barbara Mize , Martha Mize Boruff and Joyce Mize Walls.
Mize is survived by one brother and sister-in-law, Bobby and Elizabeth Mize of Maryville; several nieces and nephews; and several great-nieces and nephews.
________
Elmer Ellis Mize , age 77 of Maryville, passed away Thursday, November 6, 2003, at his home. He was a member of Maryville First Baptist Church and was a retired Knoxville City school teacher. He was preceded in death by his parents, Beecher and Vola Farmer Mize ; sisters, Martha Sue Mize Boruff, Joyce Mize Walls and Barbara Ann Mize ; nieces, Susie Goff and Nettie Heald.
Survivors include: brother and sister-in-law, Bobby L. and Elizabeth Mize ; nephews, Brad, Bart, Bret and Blake Mize , Kevin, Craig and Tim Binkley and Paul Walls; nieces, Sherry Braden, Peggy Sheeley and Edna Lee; several great nieces and nephews; special aunt, Thelma Farmer.
Funeral services will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday at Maryville First Baptist Church with Rev. Charles Ballard and Dr. Bob Chambers officiating. The interment will follow in Grandview Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 12:30-2:00 p.m. Monday at Maryville First Baptist Church.
Pall Bearers will be the City of Maryville and Blount County Officers, active and honorary. Memorials may be made to the Blount County Library Foundation, 508 N. Cusick Street, Maryville, TN 37804 or to Maryville First Baptist Church, 202 W. Lamar Alexander Parkway, Maryville, TN 37801.
McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home in charge 982-6812 www.mccammonammonsclick.com.
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