Donald “Donny” Emmett Pavatte Obituary
Mr. Donald “Donny” Emmett Pavatte, age 72, of McMinnville, TN passed away suddenly on Monday, October 9, 2023 at Ascension St. Thomas Hospital in Murfreesboro, TN. He was born on December 10, 1950 in Nashville, TN to the late Ivan Eugene Pavatte and Martha Gertrude (Waldron) Pavatte. Donny graduated from Smyrna High School in 1968 with high grades. He worked for Shoney’s for a brief time after high school. However, he was struck with mental illness in his early 20’s and suffered with it for the rest of his life. In and out of reality, he maintained a gentle and sweet spirit. His memory was always exceptional.
For the past 28 years, he lived in a wonderful mental health private group home in McMinnville. Carol Goforth and her son, Chris, along with the home manager, Erica, gave Donny the best of care. They became his new family. Donny enjoyed puttering around their farm and attending activities at the mental health center.
He was a baptized believer in Jesus Christ and attended church services when he could.
In addition to his parents, Donny was preceded in death by his sisters, Deborah Gene Pavatte and Sue Ellen Pavatte. Donny is survived by his brothers, Dale Pavatte and his wife Beverly and Drew Travis, and sisters, Sarah C. Maynard and her husband Almon and Emma McWilliams and her husband Jeff.
Visitation with the family will be Saturday, October 21, 2023 from 1:00pm until 2:00pm at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Funeral services will be held Saturday, October 21, 2023 at 2:00pm at Woodfin Memorial Chapel. Robert Waldron and David Waldron will be officiating. Burial will follow in Mapleview Cemetery, Smyrna. TN. Cousins will serve as pallbearers.
An online guestbook is available for the family at www.woodfinchapel.com. Woodfin Memorial Chapel (615) 893-5151
