Saturday, November 27, 2010 3:25 pm

Johnny Gaither, 87, of Woodbury died November 26, 2010. He was born February 2, 1923 in the Burt Community of Cannon County, TN.

His parents were the late Howard & Era (Smith) Gaither. He is also preceded by a brother, Douglas Gaither and two sisters, Mildred Wiley Gaither and Betty Dawn Gaither.

He is survived by his wife of 61 years Lola Ann Weeks Gaither of Woodbury; daughter & son-in-law, Rita (Gaither) & Dale Jones of Woodbury; granddaughter and son-in-law, Nicole (Jones) & David Galland of Murfreesboro; grandson, Brian Jones of Woodbury; two great granddaughters, Kameryn & Avery Galland.

Mr. Gaither was a member of the Bethlehem Church of Christ. He retired from Samsonite in Murfreesboro. He loved to work on his farm with cattle and horses. He and his wife were long time members of the Cannon County Walking Horse Association, Cannon County Farm Bureau, Cannon County Senior Citizens Center and Murfreesboro Trail Riders. They were season ticket holders for the MTSU Ladies Basketball games.

Visitation with the family will be held at Smith Funeral Home on Sunday, Nov. 28, 2010 from 1-8 PM. Funeral services will be Monday, Nov. 29 2010 at 2 PM in the Smith Funeral Home chapel. Herb Alsup and Mark Barker will officiate. Interment will be in Riverside Gardens.

Active pallbearers will be Dale Jones, Brian Jones, Matt Alexander, Ronnie Burks, Brent Ogles and David Galland. Honorary pallbearers will be the men of the Bethlehem Church of Christ, Mitch Wilson, Orville Lewis and Mike Weeks.

In lieu of flowers memorial donations may be made to the Bethlehem Church of Christ or Short Mountain Bible Camp. Contact Smith Funeral Home for more details (615)563-5337. www.smithfuneralhomewoodbury.net