Eddie Bee Appleton, Sr.

 September 1, 1938 – March 9, 2018

Services

Friday, March 16, 2018
Public Viewing: 3:00 P.M. – 7:00 P.M.
Nelson & Sons Chapel Murfreesboro
448 East Burton St., Murfreesboro, TN

Saturday, March 17, 2018
Family Visitation 10:00 A.M.
Funeral Service: 11:00 A.M.

Living Truth Christian Center
102 Ridley Street
Smyrna, Tennessee

Interment
Greenwood Cemetery
Nashville, Tennessee

Eddie Bee Appleton was born on September 1, 1938, to the late and hard-working parents Lula Bell McDonald and Edgar Appleton in a very small town called Bethel.  He was preceded in death by his son, Eddie Junior, and siblings Corine Shook, Pearline Starks, Willie “Boot” Appleton, Joe Dee Appleton, and two of the triplets, Etha Mae Coffey and Otha Gaye Appleton. 

Eddie transitioned from this life early Friday morning, March 9, 2018, at 79 years of age.

He grew up in a large family, farming and ranching in the hollows of mid-south Tennessee, just on the Tennessee/Alabama state line.  In fact, it is still unclear in just which state he was actually born.  He was educated in the Giles County, Tennessee school system.

Upon moving to Nashville, he landed a job at Bridgestone.  Due to the strong work ethics instilled in him by his parents, he worked proudly and hard at Bridgestone, mostly on the night shift.  There, he made several good friends, including Cecil Parrish.  He retired from Bridgestone after 32 years of loyal service.

It was on September 14, 2002, that Eddie and Marion literally “jumped the broom” in marriage in Smyrna, Tennessee.  She immediately became a beloved part of his extended family, enjoying drives down I-65 to spend weekends down in the country visiting his kinfolks.  With that union also came all of Marion’s family – her children, her grandchildren and her siblings – and quickly a deep, mutual love grew between Eddie and Marion’s family.  It was his great-granddaughter Grace who simply stole Eddie Bee’s heart.  He listened to Grace when no one else could get him to listen.  As a toddler, she lovingly gave him the name “Bomber.” No one really knows why, but the name just stuck.

A fun-loving man, Eddie was always the life of the party.  He was always a pleasure to talk to.  He could cut a rug on the dance floor, crack a joke to make the whole room laugh, play a mean hand of spades and enjoyed an evening of dominoes with his son, Quinton.  He could get serious, too.  Never did he allow that old stutter of his to stop him from saying what needed to be said.  Though limited in education, he was a man full of wisdom.  Many people, young and old, opened their hearts to him, turning to him for advice.  Not only generous with wisdom, he was also generous in spirit.  If you are here today and reading this, he probably touched you in some way during your lifetime, too.

He could fix nearly anything around the house, had a vast knowledge of cars and an extensive collection of tools…and baseball caps.  He also had a riding mower which really excited him.  He professed a hope in Christ and as an active member at Word of Life Family Worship Center, he really enjoyed riding around on his mower to cut the grass at the Church.  He was also a trustee and attended many business meetings at the Church.

“Bomber” never did learn to cook, so he especially loved Marion’s down-home cooking.  However, he didn’t mind having a simple bowl of “flakes” (Corn Flakes) for dinner.

Eddie enjoyed traveling, especially in his younger years.  As he became more “seasoned,” he could often be found sitting in the garage listening to the radio, feeding the cats and birds that lived in the woods nearby and visiting with dear family and friends that often stopped by just to chat.

If you happen to tune in to Judge Judy, think of our dearly departed Eddie Bee Appleton.  That was his favorite show.

He leaves to cherish his memory an adoring, doting and devoted wife, Marion Althea Appleton; children, Quinton (Trina) Crawford Sr. and Earl Crawford, Antoinette (Kevin) Norfleet and Anthony Cannon; siblings: older brother, Clifford Appleton of Prospect, Tennessee; younger sister, Audrey, the last of the triplets who was faithfully by his side during all of his surgeries and sicknesses (George) Grigsby of Houston, Texas; and baby brother, William “Lump” (Barbara) Appleton of Pulaski, Tennessee. Grandchildren: Quinton Crawford Jr., Theron Cannon, Tyrone Stroble, Donovan and Dallas Norfleet.  Sisters-in-law Sophia Clark (whom he called nearly every day) and Polly Johnson (whom he jokingly said always brought him too much food), both of Murfreesboro, Tennessee and brothers-in-law Casey Clark (Joyce) of Murfreesboro, Tennessee and Jackie (Mary) Hailey of Prospect, Tennessee.  Mr. Appleton also leaves the apple of his eye, his 12-year-old great-granddaughter, Tierney Grace Cannon, her grandmother, Tina Stroble; his daughter-like niece from Houston, “Denise the niece;” the long-time friend who adopted him as a second father, Cindy Shanklin; his Friday night card buddies, Andrew Taylor, Dorothy Smith, his two girlfriends, Bernice Floyd and Kitty King; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and dear friends.