F. Miles Ezell, Jr. was born on March 12, 1927 and died on September 15, 2016 at the age of 89.
Preceded in death by parents; Miles and Estelle Ezell; wife Gerry Rader Ezell; brother, Bill Ezell; sister, Bettye Ezell Thomas; granddaughter, Misty Ezell George and great-grandson, Jackson Ezell.
Survived by his wife of 20 years, Linda McConville Ezell; daughter, Mila Ezell (Mike) McDonald; sons: Stan (LeEllen) Ezell, Gil (April) Ezell; Mark (Martha) Ezell; thirteen grandchildren; Amy McDonald (Josh) Young; Lance (Paige) McDonald; Ryan (Melissa) Ezell; Justin (Beth) Ezell; Houston (Sarah) Ezell; Bethany Ezell (Ryan) Cernoch; Laura Ezell; Anna Ezell; Heather Ezell (Luke) Flener; Mary Katherine Ezell (Will) Smith; Taylor (Kim) Ezell; and Virginia Ezell (Larkin) Briley; grand-son-in-law, Jeremy George and 25 great-grandchildren; brother, Roy (Marian) Ezell; sister-in-law, Marilyn Ezell; and aunt, Sara Ezell Young.
Ezell was born in Davidson County on his father’s dairy farm on Edmondson Pike and lived on dairy farms until he was 18. He attended Robertson Academy, Cane Ridge and Tusculum elementary schools and graduated from Donelson High School in 1945 where he was on the football and basketball teams. After serving in the U.S. Navy during WWII he attended David Lipscomb College for two years where he was a member of the Bison basketball team. After marrying the former Gerry Rader in 1948, they moved to Columbus, Ohio where Ezell received a degree in Dairy Technology in 1950 from The Ohio State University.
He joined his father’s company, Purity Dairies, and during the next sixty-six years served as controller, treasurer, president, and chairman of the board. At the time of his death, he was serving as Senior Chairman. He served on the board and as chairman in several dairy-industry associations, including: Tennessee Dairy Products Association; Master Dairies; and the Milk Industry Foundation in Washington, D.C., for which he was the national spokesman for the Dairy Industry for two years. In 1977 he received the Distinguished Alumni Award from the College of Agriculture at The Ohio State University. Other honors include: Red Cross “Man of the Year” Award in 2002; Nat’l. Ass’n. of Professional Fundraisers “Philanthropist of the Year” award in 1996; AGAPE “Man of the Year” in 2006; Lipscomb University “Torch Award” in 2001, Operation Andrew “Joe and Honey Rodgers Award” in 2008 and Youth Encouragement Services “Generations Award” in 2013.
Ezell has been a member of the Una Church of Christ since 1941 and served as an elder for 30 years and as a Bible teacher for 50 years. He was a member of the Lipscomb University Board of Trustees for twenty years, serving as chair for six years. He served on the board and was chair of Fanning Foundation, Youth Encouragement Services, and was a founding member and several-times chairman of A.G.A.P.E. Other community activities included: Board of Directors of Nashville’s First American National Bank, 1980-1998; Board of Directors, Nashville Chapter, The American Red Cross 1986-2000 and chairman, 1996-1998; Tennessee Chapter, The Nature Conservancy, 1980-1999 and chairman 1990-1994; He was a member of the Metropolitan Human Relations Commission in 1965-1975 and a member of the board of the Washington Foundation from 1988 until 2014. As long time president of Ezell Foundation his last years were devoted to leading the foundation and blessing many Christian ministries and charitable causes in Middle Tennessee and throughout the world.
Ezell was a serious amateur photographer, having studied this subject at Ohio State. He had hiked much of the Appalachian Trail and backpacked in many locations in the U.S. He made over 500 scuba dives around the world, mostly with his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He and Linda had travelled to more than 80 countries on all seven continents.
Visitation will be held from one o’ clock in the afternoon until eight on Sunday, September 18, 2016 at Una Church of Christ, 1917 Murfreesboro Pike, Nashville, 37217. Funeral Service will be held at eleven o’ clock in the morning on Monday, September 19, 2016 at Una Church of Christ, with visitation one hour prior. Private entombment to follow.
In lieu of flowers, please consider memorial contributions to Lipscomb University, AGAPE and Una Church of Christ “Mission Fund”.
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
September 21, 2016
Anita Ezell Fisher
Dear Linda, Roy, Aunt Sara, many cousins, and all who loved Miles Jr.;
What a privilege it is to have had such a gentleman in our lives. God Blessed many 'folks' with Miles' unusually brilliant mind and Faithful soul and spirit. I Praise GOD for ministering to all those he knew and all those who continue to benefit from his generous nature of giving and building into lives of Community. Communities at home and throughout the world. I knew him as my oldest first cousin and I Thank and Praise GOD as Miles Jr. is free of the limitations of 'the body' and his Soul and Spirit are with Jesus Christ our Saviour. Thank you Father God for our 'Sonny'. Anita Ezell Fisher
September 21, 2016
Roderick Jackson
My prayers go out to the Ezell family. It was a pleasure to have known Mr. Ezell and I know he will be missed by many.
September 20, 2016
Theresa Masek
My thoughts and prayers go out to the Ezell family during this difficult time. May you be comforted by the love and legacy he left behind.
September 20, 2016
Latonya Henderson
So sorry to hear of the family's loss. He left behind an amazing family and legacy.
September 19, 2016
Finn Eri
I was so sadden to hear of Miles passing. He was such a wonderful man, and it is with my deepest sympathy and condolences to the Ezell family.
Finn,
Kelsie and Cecilia
September 19, 2016
We share your loss with deepest sympathy, your friends at Travelink, American Express Travel
September 19, 2016
Billy Mason
Miles blessed me with his amazing spirit and wonderful time on this earth , I'll always remember he's smile and love for life .
I know your flying with the angels now and my mom and dad
Love always billy
September 17, 2016
John Compton
May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.
September 16, 2016
Ann &John Sullivan
Thank you for being our friend, mentor, but most of all our Christian brother for nearly fifty years. Whatever we have become as people, and especially as Christians, we owe in great part to the influence of you and Gerry.
We selected the Una congregation as our place to worship God because we thought it would be best for our young children. Little did we realize God had placed us at Una so we could fall under the influence of the Ezell family.
As Jesus grew in wisdom and statue and in favor with God and man. so did you and Gerry help us to grow just as Jesus grew. You were our daily example of Jesus showing us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.
Our joy of being together as friends and servants of Jesus has been the highlight of our life, but because of your guidance the hope of being together in eternity with you will be our reward.
We loved you brother,
Ann and John Sullivan
September 16, 2016
Lori Hunter
Even though I didn't have all those great years to work with him. I will always remember my 1st day at Purity Dairies when he introduced himself and welcomed me. He always came to each one of our offices to say good morning by our name. It always amazed me what a memory he had. Sometimes he would stop by and get "one" piece of candy from my candy jar. Truly an amazing man. We will all miss him very much but know we will meet again one day.
September 16, 2016
David Forbis
We've been friends with all of the Ezells since 1962. I can remember my dad commenting, on more than one occasion, that the Ezells are one of those families you can't say anything bad. Miles jr was always involved in so many good works. I best remember our years in the Boy Scouts.
September 16, 2016
Peggy Gaw
Thank you for all you did for the Chadwells and Gaws for many many years. We all appreciate the Ezell family and respect your Name to this day! Please know Mark, Ronnie and I will carry the torch with great pride!!! I miss you already, Peg
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