Carl Edward Tallant
Carl Edward Tallant, 89, passed away on August 22, 2025, family at his side.
Carl Ed was born to Carl Hinkle Tallant and Cena Marie Robinson, a proud fourth generation Tennessean. The Tallants settled at the foot of Grindstone Mountain, including the land around present-day Tallant Road in Collegedale. The Robinson’s farmland stretched from the Ooltewah Four Corners to beyond Cambridge Square.
Carl Ed spent his childhood in Ooltewah, attending Ooltewah Elementary through High School. Carl became known for playing hooky from those schools though, sneaking a ride on the milk truck back home or to Tallant Drugs on Main Street in Ooltewah, where his father served as the druggist for the entire area. When not working on the farm or helping at the store, Carl and his cousin Eddie Robinson played and hunted in the woods all over the Ooltewah area.
Carl Ed graduated Ooltewah High School in 1955. He followed in his Daddy’s footsteps, attending Oglethorpe University in Atlanta. Every Sunday, though, Carl Ed would catch the train back to the Ooltewah Depot and visit his high school sweetheart, Mary Catherine Bates. Carl would return home not long after to be closer to Mary Catherine, enrolling and graduating from UC. The two were married June 8, 1958, at Apison Baptist Church. Carl Ed and Mary Catherine built their dream house in 1962; A red brick ranch on 15 acres of the original Robinson farm. After several years, they welcomed first daughter Mary Jane Tallant-Fitzgerald in 1967 and Carla Jean Tallant-McCrary in 1972.
Carl Ed ran the Tallant Drug Company on Main Street while Mary Catherine worked as a medical technologist at Erlanger Hospital in Downtown Chattanooga for 30 years. Carl Ed spent many years bringing joy to children and adults with the ice cold Mayfield ice cream cones he personally dipped for the customers. The cones were only 15 cents and are said to have been a mile high each dip. When Tallant Drug closed, Carl Edward worked for many other pharmacies including Protocare, a state of the art infusion therapy company from which he eventually retired.
Carl Ed and family were very involved in their churches, Ooltewah Baptist and later in life, Ridgedale Baptist. Carl Ed held many positions: Sunday School director, treasurer, and his absolute favorite, Door Greeter. Carl Ed never met a stranger and always enjoyed hearing other people’s stories and perspectives on life. Carl Ed and Mary Catherine traveled extensively throughout the 50 states and Canada. They took many Spring and Fall break trips with family to Orlando and Winter Haven, where they would spend time with their high school friends, Betty and Jack Stone. Carl Ed was always his happiest when he was simply on his tractors mowing grass, bush hogging or planting his magnificent vegetable gardens. Their gardens were known community-wide and he shared graciously with anyone every season.
Carl Ed’s grandchildren were his heart. Walker, Cole and Kailey were so treasured by their “GDaddy”. He was always their biggest fan and attended every school function, play, musical, graduation, soccer, baseball, band and football game there was to attend. Carl taught them to love the land; How to take care of it, how to grow their own food, and how to provide for their family. He always had one word or funny zingers for all he met. He lovingly called his daughters Sugar, Pumpkin, Peanut, or tough nuts. Carl Ed was known for saying “there’s no count sitting over there” or “Here comes trouble“. He didn’t get upset very often, but when he did, you would likely hear “You better straighten up and fly right”.
After a long hospital stay earlier in 2025, Carl maintained his cut up personality, humor and love. He moved to Morning Pointe of Greenbriar Cove and would tell everyone, “If you can’t be at home, this is the place to be!” He always had great stories of Ooltewah, it’s history and his thoughts on all of the growth in the area over his life. He treated all visitors to his room with an abundance of mini-Hershey bars or peppermints.
Carl Edward was preceded in death by his father, Carl Hinkle Tallant, and mother, Cena Marie Robinson; wife, Mary Catherine Bates-Tallant; son-in-Law, Dale Coe Fitzgerald; and most recently, sister, Rose Marie Tallant-Gilreath.
Survivors include his two loving daughters, Mary Jane Tallant Fitzgerald, of Ooltewah, Carla Tallant McCrary (Kent), of Ringgold, three grandchildren, Walker Fitzgerald, Cole McCrary, Kailey McCrary, a special cousin, Eddie Robinson, and many family members who have been so attentive while he has been sick.
The family is grateful for all the love and prayers received and further would like thank all who helped care for our loving Daddy and GDaddy, including but not limited to Hearth Hospice and his nurse Sherry, all the staff at Morning Pointe of Greenbriar Cove, and friends and family, especially Dr. Rob Elliot.
A celebration of life service will be held at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Aug. 28, in the Valley View Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home with Dr. Doug Plumlee, Ken Mathews and Rev. Larry Williams officiating.
The family will receive friends from 4–8 p.m. on Wednesday. Aug. 27, at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to Ridgedale Baptist Church/The Haven at https://ridgedalebaptist.org/give/ or Tennessee Baptist Children’s Home at https://tennesseechildren.org or the Morning Pointe Foundation at https://morningpointe.com or to Bible in the Schools at https://bibleintheschools.com
Please share your thoughts and memories online at www.ChattanoogaValleyViewChapel.com
Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, Valley View Chapel, 7414 Old Lee Highway, Chattanooga, Tn. 37421.