November 5, 2020
Clyde Bradley Nokes age 91 of the Short Mountain Community, passed away Tuesday afternoon, November 3, 2020 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital in Murfreesboro. He was born December 13, 1928 to his parents, the late Shelah and Gertrude Derting Nokes. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Rayburn Nokes and sister, Dorothy Bryant. He was a member of the Gassaway Church of Christ and a TV repairman. Clyde played music for over 80 years. He is survived by 4 sons, Gerry (Rita) Nokes of Short Mountain, Nicholas (Patsy) Nokes of Liberty, Billy (Kathy) Nokes of Short Mountain and Jeffery (Maureen) Nokes of Short Mountain; 8 grandchildren, Tonya (Bill) Melton, Stephanie (Tommy) Alexander, Nicholas (Susan) Nokes, Jr., Wesley Nokes, Natasha (James) Anderson, Sarah (Derrick) Arnold, Hannah Nokes and fiance Mike Hartman, Jeffery (Shannon) Nokes, II; 13 great-grandchildren, Jacob Melton, Erica (Josh) Shores, Jarrett Melton, Rachel Alexander, Luke Alexander, Matthew Nokes, Lucas Nokes, Lakelynn Anderson, Noah Anderson, Koen Bradley Nokes, Chloe Nokes, Anna Nokes, and Miles Nokes; 2 great-great-grandchildren, Allie Melton and Chloe Melton; 1 sister, Oleta Bullard of Murfreesboro; special nephew, Charles Nokes of Short Mountain and special friends, Gloria Steward and Jesteen Brown. Graveside services and interment will be 1 PM Saturday, November 7, 2020 at Melton Cemetery at Short Mountain with Gary Hancock officiating. Visitation will be Friday 4 PM until 7 PM at the funeral home. There will not be any visitation on Saturday, family and friends will meet at the cemetery for the service at 1 PM. Due to COVID-19 and Social Distancing Guidelines, we ask for the health and safety of everyone that you please exercise social distancing. The funeral home lounge is closed at this time and No food or drinks are allowed in the funeral home. In addition to flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Gassaway Community Center in memory of Clyde. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.
BIO:
Clyde Nokes was born on December 13th 1928 to the Gassaway community. He began his music career at age 5 when his parents bought him a guitar from Sears and Roebuck for $5.00. Two ladies took an interest in him and taught him some cords and he started from there to go on and perform for over 8 decades. He and his brother Rayburn played together for many years He formed close relationships with local musicians and even formed a band named The Short Mountain Boys and Girls. He played music throughout the communities of Gassaway, Smithville, Woodbury, and many others. He played with countless Grand Ole Opry stars to include Benny Martin, Michael Cleveland, Curly Fox, Buddy Spiker, Ernie Ashford, Johnny and Bob Campbell, Billy Womack, Speedy Grissom, Harry Smith, Benny Williams, Earnest and Dean Rubley, Randall Smith, Homer Hodge, George Asbury, Rayburn Simmons, Mitchell Fuston, Ronny Loftis, Jerry Lee Cantrell and boys, and many many more. He was a frequent performer at the Gassaway Homecoming and Smithville Jamboree. He played on the local record called the Smithville Jail. He even played a role in a movie called Nashville 99. On February 18th 2016 he was honored by the Governor and state of Tennessee, and Cannon County Executive Mike Gannon proclaimed March 18th as “Clyde Nokes Day”.
Clyde married Maxine Hale on April 23, 1949 in Mississippi. They had 4 wonderful sons, Gary, Nick, Bill, and Jeff. He and the boys played music together every time they were together whether it be Christmas, Thanksgiving, and even birthdays.
Clyde was a business owner of his own radio and TV repair shop. He worked at colonial bread baking in Nashville, he and his dad, Shelah, owned at the general store in Sycamore, and he worked with his mom and dad at Nokes’ General Story in Liberty TN.
Clyde was respected and loved by many in all communities that he was a part of. Everybody knew of the famous Clyde Nokes from Short Mountain TN.
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