Maurice Neal Townsend
October 19, 1930 – October 8, 2019
Maurice Neal Townsend, age 88, known to friends and family as simply M.N., passed peacefully on Tuesday morning, October 8, 2019. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Johnnie Sue Eads Townsend. He always referred to her as Dude.
A native of Decatur County, M.N. graduated from Parsons High School in 1949. He enlisted in the US Navy in 1951, serving on the USS Fulton, a submarine tender, until his honorable discharge in 1955 with the rank of Yeoman Third Class. M.N. attended Union University and the University of Tennessee Knoxville. He married his sweetheart in February 1955. In June 1955, M.N. began working at Townsend Chevrolet, having a distinguished sales career. He was a partner/co-owner and dealer from 1970 to his retirement date in 1997, after 42 highly successful years. A true sales professional, M.N. loved serving customers in Decatur and surrounding counties. M.N. was a former member of the Parsons Lions Club.
M.N. enjoyed supporting the Riverside Panthers, the Tennessee Volunteers, and the Tennessee Titans. He loved the outdoors, his garden, and caring for his manicured yard with his John Deere tractor.
M.N.’s greatest love was the cherished tradition of spending weekends and holidays with Dude, his children, and grandchildren at the family cabin on the Tennessee River. Mr. Townsend’s seven grandchildren are blessed to have known him especially well, a man of unconditional love for his family, known as their beloved Pops.
He was preceded in death by his mother Emma Odle Townsend, father Mahlon Townsend, sister Evelyn Townsend Maxwell, and brothers Lynn Townsend, Wayne Townsend, Edwin Townsend, and Max Townsend.
He is also survived by his two children: Pam (Ronnie) Townsend Vise of Parsons and Neal (Cathy) Townsend of Franklin.
Seven grandchildren: Hayley (Lee) Vise Wyatt of Decaturville, Hannah (Ryan) Vise Burke of Union City, Jonna (Tim) Vise Pfountz of Lebanon, Blayne (Zach) Vise Rogers of Lexington, Chase (Katie) Vise of Darden, Anna Townsend & Josh Townsend of Franklin.
Eight great-grandchildren: Hayden and Landon Wyatt, Blakely and Hadley Burke, Adalyn and Gavin Pfountz, Zane and Lawson Rogers.
M.N. was a member of the First Baptist Church in Parsons.
Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, October 10 at 11:00 a.m. at First Baptist Church Parsons with Brother Kevin Bromley and Pastor Renee Martin officiating.
The family will receive friends on Wednesday, October 9 from 4:00-8:00pm at the church and Thursday, October 10 from
9:00am until the service at 11:00am.
Serving as Pallbearers: Josh Townsend, Chase Vise, Lee Wyatt, Ryan Burke, Tim Pfountz, and Zach Rogers.
Honorary Pallbearers are great-grandsons: Hayden & Landon Wyatt, Zane & Lawson Rogers, and Gavin Pfountz.
Burial to follow at Mt. Ararat Cemetery in Darden.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Parsons First Baptist Church Building Fund.
Parsons Mortuary in Parsons, Tennessee will be in charge of services.
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