Mr. Lonnie Finley, age 91 of Sparta, passed away unexepectedly on Wednesday, February 26, 2025 in the Emergency Room of St. Thomas Highlands Hospital in Sparta.

Lonnie Finley was born May 30, 1933 to William Carson Finley and Edna Randolph Finley.

It was love at first sight when he met Mary Elizabeth Heady. They married on January 28, 1956 and the story began.
On March 21, 1957, they welcomed their first child, Jerry Lynn and soon after on May 19, 1959 their first daughter, Beverly Faye. They added another daughter, Lisa Renee on March 25, 1964 and their last child, Angela Kaye on April 27, 1970.

Lonnie worked hard to provide a good life for his family. Some of the positions he held were at the Sparta Shirt Factory and Douglas Aircraft. He was a school bus driver and logger, but one of his favorite things was working outdoors doing yard work and plowing gardens. Later in life, he started his own business engraving dates on monuments which he continued until the day he went to be with his Lord.

One of his passions was sharing the hope of Christ through singing gospel music. This started by singing with his brother, Loyd, and then with The Highlanders and later with Heartland Gospel Singers. He passed his love of music to his children and grandchildren.

Some of the greatest joys of his life were his grandchildren, Ashley, Amber, Audrey, Gage, Blake, Jared and Amy. And his great grandchildren Laklyn and Mia. He spent countless hours teaching them how to build and fix things and how to live a godly life. Lonnie loved God and took every opportunity to share that love with whoever he came in contact with. He leaves behind a legacy of Faith, Love and Kindness.

He always had a joke or a story to tell and could bring a smile to your face. He never met a stranger and could strike up a conversation with anyone!

To know him was to love him. He has touched the lives of countless people. He will be greatly missed by everyone who had the pleasure to know him. Dad always said that he wanted to be remembered as a kind person and a Godly man. Mission accomplished Dad!  We love you!

He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Haskel Finley, son Jerry Finley, and son-in-law Ronnie Jolley.

Left to cherish his memory are his loving wife of 69 years, Mary Finley

Daughters: Beverly Jolley, Lisa Carter (Mike), Angela King (J.T.).

Grandchildren: Ashley Umberger (Teague), Amber Franklin (Levi), Audrey King, Gage King, Blake Carter (Sidney), Jared Carter (Ashlynn), Amy Jones (Jason)

Great-grandchildren: Laklyn(Miles) and Mia.

Funeral services will be conducted 1:00pm Saturday, March 1, 2025 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Copeland's Chapel Cemetery with military honors by the United States Army Honor Guard. The family will receive friends after 10:00am Saturday at Hunter Funeral Home. Danny Lane will officiate.

J.T. King, Gage King, Mike Carter, Blake Carter, Jared Carter, Levi Franklin, Teague Umberger and Todd Officer will serve as pallbearers.

Memorials may be made to Clouse Cemetery, where the Finley's also have family members in care of Hunter Funeral Home, PO Box 90, Sparta, TN 38583