Billy Ray Goforth

Billy Ray Goforth, 73, of Charleston, departed this life peacefully on June 13, 2022, at Chattanooga Heart Institute with his loving wife at his side. 

Billy was a true mountain man, being born and raised in Reliance, Tennessee in the Lost Creek area.  An avid outdoorsman, he loved hunting, fishing, and roaming the mountains of Polk County.  He was a simple man with a humorous personality and loved meeting people, telling jokes, and always found a way to make those around him laugh.  Billy Ray spent 30 years as a faithful and dedicated concrete truck driver for Bradley Read Mix and 10 years as a driver for Cleveland Ready Mix.

Billy Ray and Linda loved the flea markets and going to antique auctions.  They enjoyed the times they had riding around seeing the countryside while looking for antique treasures and seeing special friends.  They also loved being at Howard and Debbie’s flea market and spending time with special friends, Frankie and Robbie along with all the others he loved to wheel and deal with.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James D. “Coon” and Maggie Lou Goforth; grandparents, Simon Peter “Dick” and Done Brooks Goforth; great-grandfather, Daniel Boone and Nancy Hall Goforth.

Left to cherish the many memories include his beloved wife, Linda Dawson Goforth; one sister, Mildred Goforth Wattenbarger; brother-in-law, Gene Dawson.  Numerous extended family members and a host of friends also survive.

A Celebration of Life graveside service will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 16, 2022, at Hiwassee Union Baptist Church Cemetery, with Pastor Chad Maxwell officiating.  Adam Lee, Casin Lee, Chad Reese, McClain Reese, Steven Earle, Johnathan Johnson, and McKinley Sosebee will serve as pallbearers.

Family and friends will gather from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. on Thursday, at Higgins Funeral Home of Benton, prior to the graveside service.

Expressions of sympathy may be shared with the family at www.HigginsFuneral.com.

Arrangements are entrusted to Higgins Funeral Home of Benton.