James L. Clausel

James L. Clausel, the son of James Daniel (Danny) and Lou Nettie Steward Clausel, was born July 14, 1929. His birthplace of Olive Hill, Tennessee was home during his early childhood years prior to his family moving to Savannah, Tennessee before he began school. A few years after completing high school he enlisted in the Army and was stationed at Fort Campbell. His discharge from the Army led to his employment with the Tennessee Valley Electric Cooperative as a lineman. Once he gained the necessary experience, he began teaching lineman classes at night in an effort to give the newer employees the knowledge and skills they needed to move up in the ranks. Eventually, James L. was promoted to the position of Superintendent - a position he held until his retirement.



Prior to his enlistment in the Army, James L. married Gladys Baugus on December 9, 1950. As the years progressed, he became an active member of the Savannah Church of Christ where he often led singing during the worship services. He loved bluegrass music and played in bands for community events such as Country Christmas, at nursing homes for the enjoyment of the residents, and at benefits for those people who found themselves in financial difficulties. He always tried to stay busy and to that end took up fishing, woodworking and, after his retirement, cattle farming.



James L. died Saturday, December 31, 2011 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, Tennessee. He had lived on this earth 82 years, 5 months and 17 days.



In addition to his wife, Gladys, he is survived by a daughter, Janice Gail Smith and her husband, Michael, of Savannah, Tennessee, two sons, James Edward Clausel and his wife, Sandy, of Savannah, Tennessee and Steven Thomas Clausel and his wife, Betty, of Witchita, Kansas, three sisters, Juanita Wolfe of Erin, Tennessee and Nettie Sue Hughes and Betty Lou Blount, both of Savannah, Tennessee, twelve grandchildren, J. D. Clausel, Kelli Clausel, Robby Clausel, Hannah Clausel, Jason Burgess, Jamie Burgess, Lyndsay Smith, Alex Smith, Dr. Chad Smith, Dr. Brent Smith, Angela Ennis, and Michael Westbrook, and eleven great-grandchildren, Jacob Burgess, Collin Burgess, Annabeth Burgess, Lauren Smith, Luke Smith, Connor Smith, Noah Smith, Libby Ennis, Isabelle Ennis, Samuel Ennis, and Carson Westbrook.



Other than his parents, he was preceded in death by four sisters, an infant who died at birth, Magdalene Clausel Hardin, Estelle Gillespie Tucker ,and Mildred Dickson and two brothers, James Edward Clausel and Harrison Odell Clausel.