Published: August 4, 2021

Robert Dean Dunnavant Sr., 77, died August 2, 2021 at NHC Pulaski. 

A Pulaski native, Dunnavant was born April 2, 1944 in the Beech Hill community. A hard-working man, he retired from Valley Packaging and spent many years working for Gabriel, both in Pulaski and Chickasha, Okla. An active deacon of Rock Springs Baptist Church, he loved serving the Lord and church as well as reading his Bible, having read it completely through 43 times. He was also an avid fan of western cowboy films and all sports, particularly of Atlanta Braves baseball, the Tennessee Volunteers and Oklahoma Sooners. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends playing cards, singing, traveling, camping, cooking and telling stories. He is preceded in death by parents, Thomas and Maybell Dunnavant; in-laws, Jessie and Jurann Barnett; and sisters Martha Davis and Janice Garner. 

Funeral services are at noon Saturday, August 7 at Bennett-May-Pierce Funeral Home. Visitation is 4-8 p.m. Friday, August 6 at the funeral home. Memorial donations may be made to either, Mars Hill Baptist Church El Salvador Missions, 630 Weakley Creek Road, Lawrenceburg, Tenn., 38464, or Lawrence County Substance Abuse Prevention Coalition, 240 West Gaines St., Lawrenceburg, Tenn., 38464. 

Survivors include wife of 54 years Linda Dunnavant of Pulaski; son Robert (Bob) D. Dunnavant Jr. and wife Christy of Pulaski; daughter Susan Buie and husband Mark of Lawrenceburg; grandchildren, Trea Dunnavant and wife Hannah of Lawrenceburg, Chelsea Ellis and husband Tyler of Lawrenceburg, Zach Dunnavant and wife Taylor of Minor Hill, Peyton Buie and fiancée Faith Sherrow of Lawrenceburg, Eli Buie of Lawrenceburg; great-grandson Jackson Ellis of Lawrenceburg; and several brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nephews, nieces, cousins and friends.  

Bennett-May & Pierce Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements for Robert Dean Dunnavant.