Lowell "Buddy" Tarver

Lowell Eugene (Buddy) Tarver, Jr., age 51, passed away at Tennova Physician’s Regional on Sunday morning, July 14, 2013, surrounded by his loving family. Buddy had Lou Gehrig’s (ALS) disease for 11 years, and regardless of the circumstances always had an exceptional attitude. He was loved by countless friends, and the family wishes to express their appreciation for all they did to show their love for him. Buddy had great love for his family, and the arrival of his baby grandson, Owen, brought much joy to his life. Buddy took pride in his work as Office Manager/Sales Associate at State Farm Insurance, where he worked for 24 ½ years before retiring in 2012. Buddy is an alumnus of the Halls High School Class of 1979. He played football on scholarship at the University of Tennessee – Martin from 1979 to 1983, and was the team captain in 1983. He is a graduate of the University of Tennessee – Knoxville. He is preceded in death by his father, Lowell Eugene Tarver, Sr., and uncle, William (Bill) Spangler. Buddy is survived by his wife, Susan Loy Tarver; daughter and son-in-law, Tessa Tarver Clift and Donald Clift of Strawberry Plains; grandson, Owen Turner Clift; mother, Edith Spangler Tarver of Knoxville; brother and sister-in-law, Dr. James K. Tarver and Christa K. Tarver; nephews, Lowell Neil, Hayden and Liam Tarver of Montana and North Carolina; uncles, Paul M. Tarver of Knoxville and Edmund C. Tarver of Gainesville, Georgia; father-in-law and mother-in-law, H.A. and Alice Loy; brother-in-law, Andy Loy; and niece, Alexandra Loy, all of Knoxville. Funeral service honoring his memory will be 8:00 pm Tuesday at Mynatt Funeral Home Halls Chapel with Pastor Phil Murphy officiating. Family and friends will meet 12:15 pm Wednesday at Greenwood Cemetery for 12:30 pm interment. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Foundation (ALS), National Headquarters, 1275 K Street NW, Suite 250, Washington, DC 20005. The family will receive friends 6:00 – 8:00 pm Tuesday at Mynatt Funeral Home Halls Chapel.