Tony Clay Coward Sr.

July 29, 1956 - January 6, 2019

Tony Clay Coward, Sr. passed away at his home in Oliver Springs, Tennessee on January 6, 2019 surrounded by his family. He was born July 29, 1956 in Oliver Springs, Tennessee to Alfred and Hildreth Coward. He graduated from Karns High School in 1976. Tony's greatest love and proudest accomplishment was his family. He was preceded in death by his parents: Alfred and Hildreth Coward; parents-in-law: Cecil and Susie Miller Sands; grandparents: Fred and Edith Coward, Mahoney and Edna Shelton. He is survived by his wife of 42 years: Debra (Sands) Coward; children: Hope Coward Dickens (Pedro Caba), Heather Coward Long (Carson), Tony "Clay" Coward Jr. (Amanda Smalley); grandchildren: MaKayla, Andrew, and Braden Long, Krystina Coward Thompson (Scott), Abigail and Elijah Coward; sister: Linda Coward Gentry (Larry); brother: Mark Coward; special niece and great nephew: Stephanie and Michael Reeder; special brother and sister-in-law: Jim and Beulah Sands; aunt: Myrtle Shelton Pelfrey. Visitation with the family will be Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 2 pm at Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home in Oak Ridge, Tennessee with a celebration of life at 3 pm. Cremation arrangements entrusted to Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home, 865-483-4341.