Howard Goodlett Olive

Howard Goodlett Olive, 93, of Maryville, TN, passed away Monday, October 3, 2022. He was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and surrendered to the call of pastoral ministry for much of his adult life. He was a loving, forgiving, and sacrificial husband, father, grandfather, and great grandfather. Howard was born December 13, 1928, to the late John Howard and Lucile Goodlett Olive of Chapman, AL. He attended and graduated from Vanderbilt University where he met the late Jean Etta Key, who was the love of his life. After graduating and serving as a U.S. Army Officer in the Korean War, he married Jean and began seminary, pastoring churches, and starting a family. His pastorates included Canoe Baptist Church (AL), Port Royal Baptist Church (KY), First Baptist Church, MacClenny (FL), and Monte Vista Baptist Church (TN). He retired from pastoring at Monte Vista where he served for 30 years. Years after attaining his Master of Divinity from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary (KY), he returned to SBTS as a distant learner and completed his Doctor of Ministry. Howard was a community and denominational leader. He was formerly chair of the Maryville School Board, president of the Maryville Little League, board member for United Way of Blount County, the Florence Crittenton Home, and the Blount County Boys Club. He was moderator of the Chilhowee Baptist Association, chair of the Executive Committee of the Tennessee Baptist Convention and served on the national council of the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Including his parents and his beloved wife, Jean, he was preceded in death by his sister Christine Olive Davis. He is survived by children and spouses, Lynn (Olive) and Tom Orms of Shelby, AL, John and Cherié Olive of Tullahoma, TN, David and Kathryn Olive of Bluefield, VA, Allison (Olive) and Dodd Townsend of Evans, GA, and Angela (Olive) and Barry Johnson of Birmingham, AL; grandchildren and great grandchildren, Alicia (Mayes) and Andrew Eshman, along with Ryan, of Fairfax, VA, Jared and Macy Olive of Tullahoma, TN, Caitlin Olive of Long Island, NY, Caleb and Maranda Olive, along with Jared Daniel, of Tullahoma, TN, Kayla Olive of Birmingham, AL, Will Olive of Knoxville, TN, Katie (Townsend) and Atom Young of Smyrna, GA, Jon and Becca Townsend of Marietta, GA, Madison Townsend of Atlanta, GA, Matthew Johnson of Nashville, TN, and Ashley Johnson of Orlando, FL; and other family, Richard and Betty Davis of Andalusia, AL, Amanda (Davis) and Will Wardle, along with Grant and Daniel, of Andalusia, AL, Merrill and Shanna Davis, along with Corban and Collin, of Andalusia, AL, and Baker and Jana Davis, along with Maryn, Sullivan, and Mabry, of Magnolia Springs, AL; and one like-a-son, John Palincia of Cali, Columbia. The family will receive friends from 12:00 to 1:30 p.m. Saturday, October 8 at Monte Vista Baptist Church, 1735 Old Niles Ferry, Maryville, TN 37803. A service of celebration will follow at 1:30 p.m., with Rev. Bob Dalton officiating. Interment will follow the service at Grandview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Building Fund, Monte Vista Baptist Church, 1735 Old Niles Ferry Road, Maryville, TN 37803, or The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, www.lls.org. McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home Maryville, 865-982-6812, www.mccammonammonsclick.com.