Carrol DePriest

Mr. Graydon Carrol DePriest, Jr., of Lobelville, a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather, passed away at the age of 92, passed away Saturday April 26, 2025 at his home surrounded by his loved ones. Carrol was born in Lobelville to the late Graydon Carrol DePriest, Sr. and Lillie Baars DePriest. He graduated from Lobelville High School, Class of 1950, where he loved to play basketball and received a scholarship to Austin Peay University. He completed three years of college before being drafted in 1953 to the United States Air Force, where he spent 17 months in Korea. After returning from Korea, completing his service, he married the love of his life, Willidean Burke DePriest in May of 1955. They had one daughter Jackie Carrol Depriest.

After Carrol's discharge from the USAF in 1957, he, Willidean and Jackie returned to Lobelville, where he worked pipeline for several years before starting his career as an Air Traffic Controller with the Federal Aviation Agency. He spent the next 35 years, working as a Controller and Manager throughout the Southeastern United States before retiring in 1988. After retirement, Carrol and Willidean returned home to Lobelville to enjoy their retirement and take care of his mother, Ms. Lillie. He worked at the Bank of Perry County in Lobelville for a few years and then he and Mrs. Willidean became avid lovers of auctions, antique collecting and yard sales.

Carrol will be remembered as a loving husband, father and friend to all who knew him. He never met a stranger and enjoyed talking, joking around and telling stories with all of his family and friends. He treated everyone he met like family and would go out of his way to help anyone. His kindness and honesty will be remembered by anyone who ever met him. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends who came by his house daily to just sit and talk and listen to all of his stories. His laughter was contagious and he brought smiles and joy to everyone around.

Auctioning and collecting remained his passion until his death. He especially loved all of the friendships he made buying, selling, trading and swapping stories with his friends.

In addition to his parents he is also preceded in death by his brother Frank DePriest, his sisters Helen Kee and Laverne Moore, his brother-in-law Jack Burke and a niece Barbara Weaver.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 70 years Willidean DePriest, his daughter Jackie (Steve) Reece of Crossville, Tn., grandson Stephen (Aelise) Reece of Knoxville, granddaughters Candace (David) Keith and Morgan Reece both of Dunlap, Tn., 12 great-grandchildren, nephews Jeff (Amy) Burke, Chris (Pam) Burke, and Richard (Eileen) Kee, nieces Carolyn (Stan) Smith, Linda (Rich) Vaughan, Betty (Sammy) Birdwell and Pat Pearse.

The family would like to thank everyone who has called, came by and sent prayers. Special thanks to Miriam Richardson and Anita Moran for their unwavering support to Willidean and Jackie during this difficult time. 

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