Raymond “ Buddy” Stanton, 81, of Riceville, TN, passed away Tuesday, March 11, 2014, at a local health care facility.
The son of the late Raymond Solomon and Leona Belle Basinger Stanton, he was a native and lifelong resident of McMinn County and served his country in the United States Air Force. He was a member of Hiwassee Baptist Church and an avid collector of guns and knives. He enjoyed the outdoors, was an excellent fisherman, and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his brother, James Stanton; sisters, Linda Long and Barbara Stanton; daughter, Judy Ann Hughes; and son, Timothy Stanton.
He is survived by two sons and their wives, Ricky and Cyrethea Stanton of Cleveland and Raymond and Brenda Stanton of Calhoun, GA; six daughters and their husbands, Debbie and Ronnie Shelton of Pikeville, TN, Wanda and James Martin of Madisonville, TN, Dean Pina of Winston Salem, NC, Tammy Stanton of Rome, GA, Barbara and Jeff Taylor of Athens, TN and Paula and Bobby Cate of Athens, TN; brother and sister-in-law, Ronnie and Patsy Stanton of Athens, TN ;sister and brother-in-law, Norma Jean and Sonny Carroll of Athens, TN; a special friend, Wanda Jane Cruz; and several grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and other extended family members and friends.