William “Harold” Elmore, age 83, a grocer in the Kingston community for fifty years, passed away September 24, 2020. He was born in Crossville on June 5, 1937 to Burris and Effie Draper Elmore. He spent his young life in New Castle, Indiana and Madisonville, Kentucky and returned to Crossville in the late 1940’s, attending Woody School and Cumberland County High School.

He graduated from Cumberland County High School class in 1955 and was a U.S. Air Force Veteran. He was of the Christian faith and was a member of a Baptist church, where he actively attended until a fall in the spring of 2017 left him immobile.

Harold was preceded in death by his wife of 43 years: Katherine Teffeteller Elmore; daughter: Joyce “Joy” Elmore; father: Burris Elmore; mother: Effie Draper Elmore Ramey; stepfather: Theodore “Ted” Roosevelt Ramey; mother and father-in-law: Addie “Juanita” Lee and Charles “Ray” Teffeteller; sister: Opal Turner; brother: Robert Elmore; half-sister: Joann Ramey; and many stepsiblings.

After losing his father to cancer at eight years old, Harold become an advocate for cancer awareness education and adoption. In the mid-1960’s, Harold and his wife searched several adoption agencies throughout East Tennessee looking for the child that they felt most needed a loving family resulting in the adoption of their oldest daughter, Joyce, whom Harold lovingly cared for forty-one years.

Three children survive Harold: oldest son, Michael, and twins, Charles and Cheryl. A special nephew, James (Tijuana) Burnette of Harriman and special nieces, Diep (Sam) Bell of Tucson, AZ and Carolyn (Mike) Renfro of Cookeville, TN, as well as many honorary children.

The funeral service will be conducted at Kyker Funeral Home in Kingston Sunday, September 27, 2020 at 6 p.m. eastern. A receiving of friends will take place prior to the service from 3 until 6 p.m. eastern.

A graveside service will be held at the Cedar Grove Baptist Church cemetery on Monday, September 28th at 2 p.m. eastern.

Kenny Barding, Kent Calfee, Nathan Crowe, Brian Mullins, Michael Earl Russell, and Jim Washam will serve as pallbearers.

The family would like to thank those who visited him regularly and the nurses and staff who oversaw his long-term care. Harold’s family would like to extend a special thank you to Jessica, Amanda, and Don at Life Care Center of Morgan County, to Connie Sheldon and Heather Miller at Harriman Care and Rehab, and to Dr. Tim Bell and his Amedisys Hospice team for Harold’s final care.

Harold was a man that liked everyone, found the good in every situation, and always put God and others first.

In lieu of flowers or memorial donations, please do something with your loved ones, perform an act of kindness, or try to bring a smile to another person. “Love one another.” – John 13:34-35.

Kyker Funeral Home of Kingston is serving the Elmore family.