James Earl Nunley

James Earl Nunley, 81, passed away Thursday, July 28, 2016. Mr. Nunley was a local businessman. He spent 37 years in the coal industry as a coal operator (3N Coal Company, J.E.N. Coal Co, Nunley & Thompson Coal Co. and Tennessee Classic Coal). Nunley Farms was also a business he enjoyed for 37 years with his son Dennis Nunley. He was active within the community and was one of the originators to the Whitwell Park along with Dibber Henry and Marvin Fletcher in the middle 1970s. Mr. Nunley has numerous historical contributions on exhibit at the Whitwell Miners Museum. He married Ollie Mae Campbell in 1954 and they have spent the past 62 years building a lifetime of memories. They had two children, son, the Late Dennis Nunley and daughter, Rhonda (Jeff ONeal) Nunley; grandchildren, Dennis Jr. (Glenna) Nunley, Hollie Marie Nunley, Ryan (Nicholas) Campbell, Robin Simpson and Jamie Simpson; four great grandchildren, Sam, Ethan, Annabelle, and Eli (our little angel), sisters, Elsie Campbell, Pam Eggert, and Darlene (Ronald) Bryant; brother, Gary (Barbara) Nunley. Mr. Nunley was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Oma Nunley; son, Dennis Earl Nunley; Great Grandson, Nicholas James Elijah "Eli" Campbell; three brothers, Ray Dean Nunley, Ronald Jean Nunley, Bradley Nunley; two sisters, Juanita Nunley Campbell and Sandra Nunley Family will receive friends 1 to 8 p.m., Saturday, July 30, 2016. Funeral services will be 3 p.m., Sunday, July 31, 2016, in the funeral home chapel, with Rev. Ronnie Bryant, Rev. Jim Troyer and Stephen Greer officiating. Interment at Whitwell Memorial Cemetery. Share photos and memories at www.whitwellmemorialfuneralhome.com Arrangements by Whitwell Memorial Funeral Home, Inc. 423-658-7777.