Billy Lee Lively

Billy Lee Lively, aged 78, was taken home to Glory in the early hours of Thursday, June 5th, just two months shy of his 79th birthday. He was surrounded by his loving and adoring family until his passing.

Always a man of few words, it was Billy’s wish that his obituary be limited to two sentences: He lived. He died.

The rest is a necessary embellishment.

Born to Rev. Guy Lively and Winfrey Carroll Lively on August 13th, 1946, Billy was the youngest of four. He moved to Oliver Springs at age 16, where he lived next door to his future wife, Alma Jean Lively (formerly Brown). He graduated from Oliver Springs High School. Billy and Alma were married for “56+ years and dated for 7.” Billy was a United States Army veteran and proudly served his country during the Vietnam War. He was a true patriot all his life.

Billy worked for most of his life. He started his career in corrections in 1969, when he worked as a guard in Nashville’s Tennessee State Prison. On weekends he would deliver groceries to country stars. He transferred to Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in 1976, where he guarded infamous inmates like James Earl Ray and worked his way up to Deputy Warden.

His life-long passions included ginsinging, coon hunting, westerns, swimming, and fishing. He was first and foremost a devout Christ-follower. He often said he was not a perfect man, but he was a saved man. The angels lead him Home, where he is spending a happy eternity with the Lord.

He is preceded in death by Rev. Guy and Winfrey Lively; his sister Emma Lively; father and mother-in-law Clifton and Ruby Brown; and close cousins Don and Jay Brown.

Billy is survived by his loving wife, Alma; sisters, Zola Sue Leech and Wilby Ledford (Don Ledford); daughter, Tonya Lively Collins; son, Matthew Lively; son-in-law, Todd Collins; daughter-in-law, Cathleen Keomaka; grandangels, Laura Snyder (24), Jordan Snyder (23), Lydia Snyder (18), and William Bear Lively (16); and a host of nieces, nephews, and close friends.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, June 8, 2025 from 5-7 PM in the chapel of Mott McKamey Funeral Home with the funeral service to follow at 7 PM.  The graveside service will be on Monday, June 9, 2025 at 11 AM at Anderson Memorial Gardens.  

He will be surely and desperately missed.