Orville Dean Lindsey Sr.

Orville Dean Lindsey, Sr., ran to the arms of Jesus in the early morning hours of Wednesday, November 27, 2019, following a long and courageous battle with cancer. He passed away at Maury Regional Medical Center in Columbia, Tennessee.

Orville was born on May 6, 1945, to Clyde Wesley and Nancy Adams Lindsey, and was the youngest of 10 children. His siblings and he had a close relationship and they all still affectionately referred to him as “Baby Brother” and “Wormy”, even after his retirement.

When Orville was in the 7th grade, he walked to the old Whitthorne Jr. High School each day. Along the way, he met a pretty girl, named Brenda Pryor. This began a love story that lasted until they were adults and then got married, on July 3, 1965, just a few days after Brenda’s high school graduation. They built a family, worked hard, played a little, and worked for the Lord together all the days of their married life. They were best friends, partners and loved nothing more than to be together. When they were with their children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren, they were even happier.

Integrity, trustworthy, honest, fair, humble and hard-working are terms that fit Orville perfectly. He worked as an auto parts man, and also at the former Hooker Chemical. But his favorite profession was as a heavy-duty truck parts salesman. Many of his customers that he considered friends, affectionately nicked named him “Otis”. He was known throughout the mid-south for his knowledge of big trucks. He had thousands of part numbers memorized, and could usually diagnose a problem for them with just a description of what the truck was doing. Truckers and business owners still called him after his retirement to get his expertise.

No household (or automotive) project was too large for him and Brenda or him and Dean to tackle together. Whether it was laying hardwood floors or installing a swimming pool and deck, he could figure out how to get the job done and done right. It had to be done right because he was also lovingly called “Safety Dad”. If it wasn’t safe for his family he would keep working on it until it was. No corners were ever cut, especially if it could be a safety issue. (It aggravated us sometimes because that meant it would take longer to finish, but it also made us love him even more because he was always looking out for us in every way he could.) Many times, he used these projects as teaching tools for his children. For example, when they begged for a pool, he handed them each picks and shovels and together as a family they prepared the site and then installed the pool. While it would have probably been much quicker and easier if he had just done the work himself, he took the time to be with his children and teach them.

He became a Christian at a young age, being brought up in a Christian home. He rededicated his life as a young family man and served the Lord from then on. He served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher for many years, touching the lives of many teenagers and elementary-aged children. Many of these students still have contact with and love him to this day.

Family was very important to Orville, and he spent as much time as possible with them. When his grandchildren came along, he adored each one of them, and showing his sense of humor, nick-named them PH1 through PH10 (they all know what the “PH” stands for).

Left behind to cherish his memory are his adoring wife: Brenda Pearl Pryor Lindsey; son: Orville Dean (Karen) Lindsey, Jr.; daughters: Paula G. Lindsey, Brenda Delana Lindsey, and Tonya Michelle (Greg) Ashby; grandchildren: Chassity Dawn Belsky, Chelsea Renee (Earl) Bailey, Brandon Dean Ashby, Briley Elizabeth Ashby, Marybel Pearl Lindsey, Orville Dean “Deacon” Lindsey, III, Leo David Lindsey, Jonathan Caden Lindsey, Delana Joy Lindsey, and Anna Michelle Lindsey; great-grandchildren: Abigail Renee Belsky and Carter Ray Bailey, and two more on the way; brother: Terry Lindsey; sisters: Helen Cabra, Earl Dickey, Era Sims, and Okalene Russell. He joins their infant daughter: Deanna Michele Lindsey in Heaven, along with his parents: Clyde and Nancy Lindsey, brothers: Caleb Eugene “Gene” Lindsey and Paul Davis; and sisters: Mary Mauch and Louise Mulvaney.

Funeral services to celebrate Orville’s life will be held on Sunday, December 1, 2019, at 2:00 p.m. in the chapel of Williams Funeral Home with Steve Smith, Steve Atherton and Curt Gross officiating. Interment will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will visit with friends on Saturday, November 30, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., also at the funeral home.

Grandsons: Brandon Ashby, Earl Bailey, Deacon Lindsey, Leo Lindsey, and Caden Lindsey, and nephews: Caleb Eugene “Kip” Lindsey, Jr., Ricky Sims and Steve Anderson will serve as pallbearers.

Honorary pallbearers are Pennie Smith, Rita Atherton, Debbie Gross, Pam Anderson, members of Crossed Timbers Church and Kris Seidqi, whom he loved like a son.

The family would like to express thanks to the nursing staff on the 2nd floor Step Down Unit at Maury Regional Medical Center, as well as Theresa from Diet and Nutrition and the IV Infusion Nurses at the Cancer Center. Words cannot express how well Orville was cared for, and how well they all cared for our family.

Special thanks also goes to Compassus staff, Maury Regional Cancer Center, Dr. Andrew Neilson, Dr. Gibran Naddy, and Dr. Romany Johnpulle.

Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family and condolences may be made
at www.williamsfh.com .