A well-known Clinton businessman, Ervin Queener, 86, of Riverbend Road, died at 7 a.m. Jan. 27 at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center. He had been a patient there for several weeks.

He was born Jan. 26, 1908, in the Dutch Valley community of Anderson County to the late Caswell and Burnetta Queener. Mr. Queener was a member of First Baptist Church of Clinton for 60 years. He also served as a lifetime deacon, a trustee, taught the Boy's Sunday school class, was Sunday school clerk and served on many committees.

He was veteran of World War I I serving with the U.S. Army 567th Ordnance Company.

Mr. Queener and his wife, Freddie, began their florist shop business in a small frame building which stood near where the Third National Bank is now located. After the building was torn away, they moved to the opposite corner in the Luther McGhee building and then later built a new shop on Broad Street across from the Anderson County courthouse. The telegraph office was also in their business place.

During the Oak Ridge boom, the Queeners owned the only florist business in the county for five years. They not only made arrangements, they delivered them all over the county.

At one time Mrs. Queener was in an automobile accident and her husband was injured in an accident on the way home from visiting her at the hospital. He ended up in the same room. A wedding had been planned and the couple felt a sense of responsibility in seeing that the arrangements were made, so they worked from their hospital beds.

Mr. Queener was a member of the Clinton Lions Club and the Clinton Chamber of Commerce. He also was the FTD Inspector for the South. He taught landscape design at the vocational school and won many prizes at the fair for his floral arrangements and needlework.

After selling the flower shop, the couple found that they couldn't do without the work they found so fascinating for years, so they began arranging flowers at their home.

Survivors include his wife, Freddie Norman Queener; a sister, Emily Cox of Maryville; brothers, Haskell Queener of Lake City; Hope Queener of Knoxville; nieces, Joyce Driskell of Maryville; Sue Barnette of Karns; Janice Brock of Knoxville; nephews, Gary Queener of Clinton and Dan Queener of Knoxville; Garney Scott Jr., of Nashville, a close friend who was like a son.

Services were 6 p.m. Saturday at First Baptist Church of Clinton. The Rev. Samuel Dean officiated. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Sunday at Sunset Cemetery. Friends were received Saturday night at the church before services. Memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church, Main Street, Clinton, Tenn. 37717.

Deacons at the church were honorary pallbearers. Holley-Gamble Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Source:
Clinton Courier News
30/31 Jan 1994