Jerry Adams Fussell

   Jerry Adams Fussell “Fuzz”, age 81 of Erin, TN, passed away Sunday, February 4, 2024 at his residence.     

   A Celebration of Life Service will be held 2:00 p.m. Thursday, February 8, 2024 at Griffin’s Chapel Church of the Nazarene with Rev. Justin Warren officiating. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery. 

   Family will receive friends on Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with Masonic Service services scheduled for 7:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Nave Funeral Home, and again from 12:00 p.m. until the hour of service Thursday afternoon at the church.  

   Jerry entered this life on May 11, 1942 in Clarksville, TN, son to the late J.T. Fussell and Mildred Pearl Adams Fussell. Jerry attended school in Erin, was an active member of the 4-H Club, Ag Program, Beta Club and played high school basketball. He graduated from Houston County High School in 1960 and went on to attend college in the ROTC program at Western Kentucky University where he studied agriculture. In 1961, Jerry joined the United States Army where his enlistment took him to Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Chaffee, Arkansas and Germany. During his military career, Jerry was activated during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and the Civil Rights March and Riot at Ole Miss University where he drove and operated a tank. While serving in the army, Jerry realized his love for Erin was much stronger than before and he returned to his hometown after his honorable discharge in 1963.  Shortly thereafter, he met his lifelong love of 60 years, Wanda McGowan, marrying in 1964 and making their home on the Fussell family farm on Highway 49. He joined his father at the Cross Roads Service Station and began a career in the family business spanning 44 years. He retired in 2007 from the Cross Roads, which had been in operation since 1935 and was the 3^rd oldest business in Houston County. 

Jerry was a 57-year member of the Wisdom Lodge 300. He enjoyed the outdoors and spent time in the fall, deer and duck hunting with his daughter, grandkids and many friends. However, his heart was always drawn to the beautiful waters of Kentucky Lake where he spent countless hours with lifelong friend, Gary Booker, bass fishing. He was a founding member of the Houston County Bass Club, serving as president many times over his lifelong membership. Over the years, he enjoyed helping others share in his love of fishing as he participated in youth fishing rodeos, the Irish Bass Tournament, and the Wounded Warrior Project which allowed veterans to spend a day fishing on the waters of Kentucky Lake. Jerry had a love for history, and spent countless hours searching for and collecting archeological artifacts and attending regional meetings with the Tennessee Archaeological Society of which he was a member. 

After retirement, he and Wanda spent time traveling on the upper East Coast, Nova Scotia and San Antonio, Texas.  Jerry became an active member of the Houston County Historical Society and enjoyed participating in various activities around the community. He spent lots of time piddling in his garage and trying to grow vegetables in his “senior citizen garden” with his grandsons. He passed his love of fishing on to Carson, spending countless hours at the pond with him on the farm. 

Fuzz, as known by most had a comical personality and enjoyed making others laugh and playing lots of practical jokes on others at the Cross Roads. He lived his life to the fullest, enjoying every moment. His family heritage was deeply rooted in honesty, hard work and a “treating others how you wanted to be treated” attitude. He was a friend to many and served the folks in this community throughout his life. He will be dearly missed by all those who knew him.

   Survivors include his loving wife of 60 years, Wanda McGowan Fussell; daughter, Kristi (Reggie) Spurgeon; and sister, Judith (Don) Jones. Jerry also leaves behind his grandchildren, Taylor Basey, Carson Spurgeon, Mckinzey (Kyle) Spurgeon Parker, Cole (Megan) Spurgeon; great-grandchildren, Holten Parker, and Baby Spurgeon (Cole and Megan) due in April. Jerry will also be deeply missed by his lifelong best friend, Gary D. Booker.   

 Serving as pallbearers will be Stacey Manners, Darrell Allison, Ronnie Bratschi, Eddie Rye, Cole Spurgeon, and Carson Spurgeon.   Honorary pallbearers are Gary Booker, Buddy Uselton and members of the former Houston Co. Bass Club. 

   Arrangements are in the care of Nave Funeral Home, (931) 289-4277, NaveFuneralHomes.com.