Phillip E. Nave

Phillip E. Nave, 83, of Elizabethton, went home to be with his Lord and Savior, Saturday, October 31 following a very short illness. He had a life dedicated to faith, family, and community service.

A lifelong member of Beck Mountain Baptist Church, Phillip’s faith was the cornerstone of his life. He found great joy in worship, fellowship, and serving his church family throughout his journey.

A proud veteran of the United States Army, Phillip served his country with honor before returning home to make a lasting mark on Carter County. Over the years, he was a familiar face and hard worker at Nave Brothers, Elk Mills General Store, and dedicated many years of service to the Carter County School System. Deeply committed to the future and well-being of his community, Phillip served as a Carter County Commissioner for 24 years, faithfully representing his neighbors and working to improve the area he dearly loved.

Phillip was preceded in death by his beloved parents Golden “Toad’ and Mary Potter Nave; his parents by marriage: I.S. and Jane Burrow; his siblings: Val, Sue, Joan(Bob), Richard (Sandra), Mike (Mary Lou), and Dianna(Paul) nephews Mitchel, Eddie, and Carl David and a great niece: Mary Grace Hayes

Survivors include wife of 58 years Judy ; his daughter Michelle Bowers (Jerry); his granddaughter Sarah (Nick) DeVusser; his Precious “great” grandsons Miles and Macklin DeVusser; his brother Carl (Pat) Nave; sister-in-law Beverly Blevins and her daughter-in-law Sarah. MANY loved nieces, nephews, and cousins and was like a father to some (Mary and Loretta).

Pallbearers will be his nephews: Scott Blevins, Tim and Jackson Hayes, Jamie Tolley, Hal, Josh and Phil Nave, Jeff Giles, Daren and Tim Cato. His son-in-law Jerry Bowers and grandson-in-law Nick DeVusser.

Honorary Pallbearers will be Garry Smith, Maurice Shell, Phil Webb, Darrell Bowers, Steven, Mark and Evan Nave, Darin and Tim Cato, Little Mister Kyrie Russaw, Adam Timbs, the current and former employees of Carter County School System, Adult Men’s Sunday School Class of Beck Mountain Baptist Church, and friends/neighbors of the Beck Mountain and Siam Community.

A service to celebrate the life of Phillip will be conducted at 7:00 pm Wednesday in Memorial Funeral Chapel with Ronnie Campbell and Nick DeVusser officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 prior to the service. Graveside Service will be conducted at 11:00 am Thursday, November 5, 2026 at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Music will be provided by Karen Timbs. Military Honors will be provided. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 10:20 am Thursday to go in procession to the cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at our web-site www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.

Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Nave Family.

In lieu of flowers, make donations to RUF-PO Box 89004 Charlotte, NC 28289 (# 0125 Nick DeVusser-Campus Minister University of Iowa) or to the Beck Mountain Baptist Church Youth Group.