Alfred Donald (Don) Fuson, 86, of Smithville, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on September 25, 2024.
The youngest of five children, he was born in Smithville to Toy Jackson Fuson and Martha Frazier Fuson. A gifted athlete, Don was captain of his high school football team and alternate captain of the high school basketball team which played in the 1956 State Tournament. Following graduation he attended Columbia Military Academy on a post-graduate scholarship to play football, basketball and baseball. After CMA, he attended the University of Tennessee Medical School, College of Pharmacy, and graduated in 1962. He was a member of Kappa Psi pharmaceutical fraternity where he made lifelong friendships.
In 1962, Don married his high school sweetheart, Linda Hendrixson Fuson, and they lived in Nashville for 48 years happily surrounded by family and friends. He established a successful career in healthcare, winning many leadership and sales awards with Merck Sharpe & Dome and with Specialty Surgical Instrumentation. His work ethic, honesty, integrity, and engaging demeanor quickly won the respect of doctors, nurses and peers. He took great pride in managing, mentoring, and impacting other young men in medical sales before returning to his first love—pharmacy. Don particularly loved counseling and serving his patients and was known for his reliability, caring and attention to detail.
Don served on the Board of Directors of the Downtown Nashville YMCA where he was instrumental in opening their membership to women, the Seven Hills Swim Club and Young Life of Nashville. He served as a Deacon and taught Sunday School at Immanuel Baptist Church, coached Little League Baseball and volunteered at God’s Food Pantry. He loved traveling with family and friends, playing tennis, SEC football, entertaining with Linda in their home, and any outdoor activity- from working in the yard to family time on Center Hill Lake. Don was a kind and gentle man who lived life to the fullest. He had a joyful spirit and loved to sing and to dance. His keen sense of humor and laughter drew people to him, and he made everyone comfortable in his presence. He was a loving husband, father and friend beloved by his devoted wife, children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and countless friends.
Don was preceded in death by his parents, his brothers, Toy Jackson Fuson, Jr. and Dr. Amon Joe Fuson, Jr., and sisters, Martha Jean Robinson and Helen Virginia Matthews. He is survived by his wife of 62 years, Linda Hendrixson Fuson, two children and four grandchildren: Bradford Jackson Fuson (Nathalie) of West Palm Beach, Florida, and their daughters Alexandra Davis Fuson and Katarina Diana Fuson, and Martha Ashley Fuson Holder (Patrick) of Atlanta, Georgia, and their sons Patrick Haralson Holder III and Sellars Pendergrass Holder.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Hugh Don Cripps and his staff and Lora Webb and the staff and caregivers of the Webb House. Their faithful devotion and care for Don will be forever appreciated.
A family interment will be held at DeKalb Memorial Gardens at a later date.
Memorials may be made to Smithville First United Methodist Church, 102 West Church Street, Smithville, TN 37166 or Nashville Rescue Mission, 639 Lafayette Street, Nashville, TN
Love-Cantrell Funeral Home, Smithville, is in charge of the arrangements.
