James Earl Nunley, 81 of Whitwell, Tennessee, passed away Thursday, July 28, 2016.
Mr. Nunley was a local businessman. He spent 37 years in the coal industry as a coal operator (3N Coal Company, J.E.N. Coal Co, Nunley & Thompson Coal Co. and Tennessee Classic Coal). Nunley Farms was also a business he enjoyed for 37 years with his son Dennis Nunley. He was active within the community and was one of the originators to the Whitwell Park along with Dibber Henry and Marvin Fletcher in the middle 1970’s. Mr. Nunley has numerous historical contributions on exhibit at the Whitwell Miners Museum.
He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ollie Mae Campbell; daughter, Rhonda (Jeff O’Neal) Nunley; grandchildren, Dennis Jr. (Glenna) Nunley, Hollie Marie Nunley, Ryan (Nicholas) Campbell, Robin Simpson and Jamie Simpson; great-grandchildren, Sam, Ethan and Annabelle; sisters, Elsie Campbell, Pam Eggert, and Darlene (Ronald) Bryant; and brother, Gary (Barbara) Nunley.
Mr. Nunley was preceded in death by his parents, Earl & Oma Nunley; son, Dennis Earl Nunley; great-grandson, Nicholas James Elijah “Eli” Campbell; three brothers, Ray Dean Nunley, Ronald Jean Nunley and Bradley Nunley; and two sisters, Juanita Nunley Campbell and Sandra Nunley
Funeral services will be 3 p.m. on Sunday, July 31, in the funeral home chapel with Rev. Ronnie Bryant, Rev. Jim Troyer & Stephen Greer officiating. Interment will follow at Whitwell Memorial Cemetery.
Family will receive friends 1-8 p.m. Saturday, July 30, at the Whitwell Memorial Funeral Home, who has charge of the arrangements.