Obituary of Steven Franklin Thaxton

Dr. Steven Thaxton, age 62, passed away on September 27, 2013. The family will be receiving friends at Sellars Funeral Home in Lebanon on Monday from 4-8 p.m. The Memorial Service is 4 p.m. Tuesday, October 1, 2013 at First Presbyterian Church (304 West Main) in Lebanon. Honorary Pallbearers: Lebanon Flying Club, Dr. Sam Crutcher, Dr. George Robertson, Willie York, and David Pelley. Steve was a General and Family Dentist and Chamber of Commerce member since 1978 in Lebanon. He was a member and elder of First Presbyterian Church; President of the Lebanon Flying Club, an FAA certified Flight Instructor and Certified Flight Instructor of Instruments. He has been a Boy Scout Master and he and his son, Paul, both received Eagle Scout rank. He was a chairperson several years for Saint Jude's Children's Hospital bicycle rodeos and many other civic committees. He was the wonderful father of Stefanie and Paul Thaxton who were the joy of his life. He and Brenda, his wife of 38 years, were devoted to each other. They worked together every day in his practice as dentist and dental hygienist. He is also survived by siblings Barry (Charlene) Thaxton of Alexandria, Gay Cerney of Portsmith VA, and Walter Thaxton of Lebanon, and his wonderful dental staff, Debbie, Christi, Stacy and Sara. Steve graduated from Tennessee Technological University with a B.S. degree in Chemistry. He graduated from the University of Tennessee College of Dentistry in 1975 with his Doctorate in Dental Surgery. He served 2 years in the U.S. Army as a Captain at Ft. Polk, LA. Dr. Thaxton was awarded the Army Commendation Medal for "his expertise and rare talent in child management." But, he loved general dentistry. Steve was a member and Master of the Academy of General Dentistry, American Dental Association, Tennessee Dental Association, Tennessee 4th District Dental Society, Officer of the Tennessee Academy of General Dentistry, the American Endodontic Society, International Dental Health Foundation, Implantology Groups, Dental Organization for Conscious Sedation, on the Tennessee Dental Board Committee on Sedation, Tennessee Dental ACE award recipient and completed his IV sedation residency at the University of Alabama Dental School. He was a lifelong student of dentistry and he loved his profession. Steve loved his family, his profession, flying and his God. He was an exceptionally good man. He was taken suddenly and entirely too soon.