Joe Hart, 87, of Elizabethton, passed away Friday, March 11, 2011, at his residence. A native of Carter County, he was a son of the late Frank Hart Sr. and Ida Jones Hart. Mr. Hart was a retired supervisor at North American Rayon Corporation after 50 years of service. Mr. Hart served in the United States Army Air Corps during World War II. He was a member and deacon of Biltmore Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a grandson, Ricky Nave, and by two sisters and six brothers.
Survivors include his wife of 68 years, Kathleen Fair Hart; a daughter and son-in-law, JoAnna and Benny Fair, Elizabethton; two sons and a daughter-in-law, Michael Hart, of the home, and Tony and Jacqueline Hart, Swansea, Ill.; 11 grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; and five sisters, Beulah Garrison, Louise Sheffield and Anna Bell Webb, all of Elizabethton, Violet Mottern, Kingsport, and Helen Allen of North Carolina. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
Funeral services for Mr. Hart will be conducted at 8 p.m. Monday, March 14, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Bill Davis and the Rev. Allen Campbell officiating. Music will be provided by Michelle Foust, Clarence Sheffield and Ramona Potter. Graveside services and interment will be conducted at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 15, at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers, who are requested to assemble at the funeral home at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday, will be Chad Sims, Robbie Hart, Don Shepherd, Jason McKinney, Jasper Williams, James Lyons and James Whaley. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Monday at the funeral home. Friends may also call at the residence. Military Honors will be provided by the American Legion and the Tennessee National Guard. To those who prefer, memorials may be made in memory of Mr. Hart to the Biltmore Baptist Church Building Fund, 1181 Bristol Highway, Elizabethton, TN 37643. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 10:20 a.m. Tuesday to go to the cemetery. Condolences to the Hart family may be e-mailed to mfc@chartertn.net. Memorial Funeral Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
