Black, David John
David John Black (1899-1993) served in the Southern States Mission from 1921 to 1923. He was born in Chihuaha, Mexico. In 1918, he fought in France in World War I. He returned home and served 30 months in the Southern States Mission, where he met his wife, Ellie Billingsly, in Alabama. They married in the Salt Lake Temple, in 1923. He was called as Mission President and together they served a second mission in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. He worked as Post Master for 20 years. He and Ellie had four children together. His time in Blount County is documented in the transcribed mission journal of his companion, Elder Thomas Gibby. Elder Black baptized Rachel Emeline Tucker and confirmed Ether Lloyd Harmon a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cades Cove, in 1922.
Gibby, Thomas Gilbert
Thomas Gilbert Gibby (1901-1983) served in the Southern States Mission from 1922 to 1924. He left Morgan, Utah, at the age of 20, to serve in the East Tennessee Conference. He married his wife in the Salt Lake Temple in 1930. They had at least one child together. Elder Gibby’s son recently found his mission journal in an old box and shared it with us. Though he only labored in Blount County for one month, his transcribed mission journal offers great information about the first members, including his two baptisms. Elder Gibby baptized Ether Lloyd Harmon and confirmed Rachel Emeline Tucker a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Cades Cove, in 1922.
Garfield, Floyd Oliver
Floyd Oliver Garfield (1902-1976) served in the Southern States Mission from 1924 to 1926. He married in the Logan Temple in 1928. They raised four children together. He worked as a shipping clerk at Edwards Air Force Base and later at Hill Air Force Base. He and his wife served senior missions in Australia, from 1951 to 1954, and in England, from 1961 to 1963. Elder Garfield baptized Bessie Marie Harris in Walland, Minnie Proctor and John Francis Cooper, in Cades Cove, and the last two named – as well as Doris Blanche Russell – he confirmed as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Doris Blanche Russell was confirmed at her home on Crooked Creek.
Douglas, Frank Edgar
Frank Edgar Douglas (1901-1976) was born in Ogden, Utah and served in the Southern States Mission for 26 months from 1924 to 1926. He married Drue Eliason in 1932. They had two children together. Frank became a dentist and remained in Utah the remainder of his life. He gave baby blessings to James Alma Garland and Nole Toliver Harmon. He confirmed Minnie Proctor a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
Wanlass, Ruel Lee
Ruel Lee Wanlass (1906-1978) served in the Southern States Mission from 1925 to 1927. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1929. They had at least one child together. Elder Wanlass baptized Doris Blanche Russell in the cold of winter in Crooked Creek, in 1927.
Street, Albert Grant
Albert Grant Street (1903-1988) served in the Southern States Mission from 1927 to an unknown date. He worked in the office in Chattanooga. On November 1, 1927, he traveled to Millers Cove with the mission president, Charles A. Callis, to baptize JC Garland’s youngest son, Paul Ezekiel Garland, who referred to President Callis and JC Garland as “dear friends.”
Rothe, Joseph Max
Joseph Max Rothe (1912-1997) served in the East Central States Mission from 1931 to 1933. He married Norene Jones in the Salt Lake Temple in 1938. They raised two children in Utah and later served a mission together to Dublin, Ireland. Elder Rothe baptized Nedja Tipton in Cades Cove, in 1933.
Horrocks, Ralph William
Ralph William Horrocks (1908-1979) served in the East Central States Mission from 1934 to 1937. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1939. They raised one daughter together in Utah while he spent his career working for the US Smelting Mining and Refining Company. Elder Horrocks served as mission companion to Elder Leroy Palmer who mentioned him in his transcribed mission journal as well as their baptism in Cades Cove. Elder Horrocks confirmed Josephine Ruth Tipton and William Bonham as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Townsend and Maryville, respectively, in 1935.
Hughes, Marion
Marion Hughes (1912-1997) served in the Southern States Mission from 1935 to 1937. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1938. They raised one daughter together. He served two stake missions and became Stake Patriarch. He was remembered for being “close to the Lord, willing to do or go wherever he was needed,” and loving “the Church and bearing strong testimony of its truthfulness, of the Prophet Joseph Smith and his Savior.” Elder Hughes confirmed Alberta Harmon and Nole Toliver Harmon members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in 1937, and wrote vividly about their baptisms, at the age of 66, in his “life story” available on Family Search.
Lillywhite, Mitchell Vernon
Vernon Mitchell Lillywhite (1912-1988) served in the Southern States Mission from 1935 to 1937. He married – in the Mesa Temple – Iris Mae Swain, who served in the Eastern States Mission from 1937 to 1938. He wrote about each day of his mission in his journal available on Family Search. Later in life, he wrote regarding his mission: “It was the most enjoyable time of my life. My life was completely changed. I knew I could accomplish any assignment with God’s help.” They raised five children together while he spent his career working for Douglas Aircraft as an engineer. Elder Lillywhite baptized Alberta Harmon and Nole Toliver Harmon in 1937.
Palmer, LeRoy Arthur
LeRoy Arthur Palmer (1911-2003) served in the East Central States Mission from 1935 to 1937. He married Lucille Thomas – who served in the East Central States Mission from 1934 to 1936 – in the Salt Lake Temple, in 1939. They raised four children together in Arizona. LeRoy worked many years as a dairyman before he was seriously injured. He returned to work as a custodian at Snowlfake High School and a dealer for Case Farm Equipment. Elder Palmer baptized Josephine Ruth Tipton in Townsend, in 1935. He documented each day in his journal, including the baptism of Ruth Tipton and meeting many members in Blount County as well as the Harris family who had moved to Erwin, Tennessee.
Weaver, Clifford Olene
Clifford Olene Weaver (1914-1971) served in the East Central States Mission from 1935 to 1937. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1937. They raised four sons in Utah. He is briefly mentioned in the transcribed mission journal of Elder Leroy Palmer. Elder Weaver baptized Robert Madison in Maryville, in 1935.
Forsyth, Marion George
Marion George Forsyth (1917-1999) served in the East Central States Mission from 1937 to 1939. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1941. They raised eight children together. He received a bachelors degree from the University of Idaho in Moscow in agriculture education and agronomy. He taught school for 37 years at Salem High School and Ricks College. Some of his Church callings include Bishop, Stake President and Patriarch. Elder Forsyth confirmed Wonedith Harmon a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in 1938.
Michaelson, Willis Joseph
Willis Joseph Michaelson (1916-2009) served in the East Central States Mission from 1938 to 1940. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1941. They raised two sons together before she passed away. He later remarried. He served three stake missions following his service in Tennessee. He graduated from the University of Wyoming. A family member wrote of him: “He loved a good story and a good joke.” Elder Michaelson baptized Wonedith Harmon in 1938.
Terry, Jesse Devoe
Jesse Devoe Terry (1916-2008) served in the East Central States Mission from 1938 to 1940. He married in the Salt Lake Temple in 1945. They raised four children in Idaho. Elder Terry confirmed William Levi Harmon a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, in 1939.
Hunter, Gilbert Reed
Gilbert Reed Hunter (1919-1981) served in the East Central States Mission from 1939 to 1941. He married in the Idaho Falls Temple in 1962. They raised at least two children together in Idaho. He was well-known for playing the piano and singing in a quartet, and his son remembers him always kneeling down to say his prayers each night. He was quoted for often saying, “You’ll never know if you’ve been a successful parent until you see how your grandchildren turn out.” Elder Hunter baptized William Levi Harmon in 1939.
Smoky Mountain Ward 