Charles Eugene “Gene” Elliott

Charles Eugene “Gene” Elliott, 96, passed away at home on July 27, 2025 on the same farm in Big Soddy where he was born on Aug. 11, 1928. He was the descendant of pioneer citizens George and Rhoda Varner, who acquired the farm approximately 180 years ago. A 1946 graduate of Soddy-Daisy High School, he was honored to be in the first class of the school’s Hall of Fame.

Gene received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Chattanooga in 1950, the same year he entered the Air Force and ultimately reached the rank of sergeant. He went to mechanic and radar school, serving in Texas, Mississippi, New Jersey and Germany, before being assigned to Samsun, Turkey. There he served in a unit that monitored Soviet radar and electronic communications.

Upon returning home after four years of military service, Gene married Ruth Davis in November 1954. They celebrated their 60th wedding anniversary before Ruth passed away in December 2014.

Gene began his teaching career in 1957 at Soddy-Daisy High School, where he taught physical science, chemistry, physics and algebra II. One of his students remembered him as “very student-oriented” and said that he “individualized learning to each student’s needs, long before that became a popular movement in education.” Gene continued his education, earning his master’s degree from George Peabody College, before further matriculating to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville for postgraduate work.

In 1964, Gene left the classroom to become the owner and operator of Soddy Feed and True Value Hardware, maintaining a successful business on Depot Street until his retirement in 1989.

Gene generously shared his time and talents in service to his community. He was a Soddy-Daisy city commissioner from 1971 to 1983 and served as the city’s second mayor from 1973 to 1979. Gene was a mainstay of the Soddy Lions Club since 1963, and he was named “Lion of the Decade” for the 1980s before continuing his work with the Tennessee Valley Lions Sight Service. Additionally, Gene served on the United States Department of Agriculture Stabilization committee for Southeast Tennessee and was a Mason and a Shriner.

As a young man, Gene worked in his parents’ grocery store and also as a carpenter, following the example of his grandfather, Joseph B. Elliott. Both his grocery experience and carpentry skills were utilized to further serve communities near and far in his post-retirement years.

Gene applied his food retail and operations experience as a volunteer at the Chattanooga Food Bank, a role that compelled him to pioneer the Soddy-Daisy Food Bank as a ministry of Soddy United Methodist Church. His dedication to the Chattanooga and Soddy-Daisy Food Banks earned him national recognition, and in 2002, he was presented with the prestigious Jefferson Award from the American Institute of Public Service in Washington, D.C. The Jefferson Awards are regarded as the highest and most prestigious honor celebrating public service in the United States.

A faithful member of Soddy United Methodist Church since the 1950s, Gene loyally served in numerous roles throughout the years. As a churchman, he applied his carpentry skills on several short-term mission trips in the Caribbean and Central and South America, where he built churches and schools. In addition to his travel for his country and his church, Gene also visited several areas of the American West, as well as Australia and New Zealand. An avid sportsman, Gene was known for taking every Thursday off from his business to go hunting. After his retirement, he made several fishing trips to Alaska and Canada.

Gene was preceded in death by his wife, Ruth Davis Elliott, his parents, Clarence H. Elliott and Grace Varner Elliott, and his sister, Mary Jo West. He is survived by his sons, Sam (Karen) and Jeff Elliott, four granddaughters, Lindsey Gooden, Mary Claire Doster, Julie Hawks and Sarah Anne Elliott; four great-grandchildren, Erin Hawks, Savannah Hawks, Leah Gooden and Elliott Doster; his good friend and third “son” Alan Gram; and several nieces, nephews and cousins.

Visitation will be Saturday, Aug. 2, from 10:30 a.m.-noon at Soddy United Methodist Church, 255 Depot St. in Soddy-Daisy, followed by a memorial service.

Memorial contributions may be made to Soddy United Methodist Church or the Soddy-Daisy Food Bank, PO Box 1468, Soddy-Daisy, Tn. 37384.

Condolences and memories may be shared at www.williamsonandsons.com.

Arrangements are by Williamson & Sons Funeral Home, 8852 Dayton Pike Soddy-Daisy, Tn. 37379.