As a tribute to a man who mowed yards for hundreds of Blount Countians over the years and loved people, a lawn mower led the procession of mourners from Smith Mortuary to Grandview Cemetery Tuesday morning.
The Rev. Frank Jack Clabough, 67, of Maryville died Friday at home after a battle with cancer.
Over 17 or 18 years, Clabough probably had 100 or more customers for his mowing service, said his wife, Wanda L. Clabough.
He mowed yards for Meadowood, Atchley Apartments and Edgewood, along with dozens of other Blount County residential and business customers.
Over his 42 years in the ministry and doing radio broadcasts, Clabough pastored and started several churches, including Bible Way Baptist and True Vine Baptist locally.
He was a member of Miracle Baptist Church in Knoxville.
“He was just a good man. Everybody loved him,” said Wanda Clabough.
Still an active minister, “he preached from his hospital bed two weeks ago and one got saved,” said daughter Jackie Delph of Maryville.
While Clabough used a Scagg lawn mower, the procession to the burial was led by the Rev. Gillis Jackson of Maryville, riding his own lawn mower, a Toro Z Master.
“He mowed Mom and Dad’s yard every other week since Dad couldn’t,” Delph said of Jackson.
Her husband, Dennis Delph, said of his late father-in-law, “He loved everybody.”
“When he talked to you, you knew he was sincere about anything he said. You could feel the love from him.”
