Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

Dewey Murriel Holtsclaw, 85, of Roan Mountain, was peacefully called home on Friday, November 12, following an extended illness.
A native of Carter County and a son of the late Brownlow Walter Holtsclaw and Arthene Mabelle Shell Holtsclaw, Murriel was also preceded in death by the love of his life, wife of 64 years, Ellen Marie Holtsclaw, and beloved daughter, Janet Marie Holtsclaw.
Murriel was born on December 5, 1935 in Elizabethton. After attending Cloudland High School and graduating from the Knoxville Barber College, he practiced as a barber in Clinton, Elizabethton and Roan Mountain for much of his life and into retirement.
He was a proud resident of Roan Mountain, taking great pride in serving his local community with two six-year terms on the Carter County Board of Education as well as 12 years as Constable for Carter County’s second district of Roan Mountain and Tiger Valley.
An avid sportsman, fisher and hunter, he was a member of the High Country Bass Club and Watauga Smallmouth Club, and a successful fly-tier. He loved old westerns, gardening, and hunting and fishing trips with his sons, relatives and friends. He also enjoyed watching Atlanta Braves baseball and rooting for the Tennessee Volunteers, Tennessee Titans and Cloudland Highlanders. Most of all he greatly enjoyed the company of his grandchildren, great-grandchildren and close friends.
Murriel was of the Freewill Baptist faith and a former member of the Boundless Love gospel trio.
Along with his parents, wife and daughter, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Tracy Holtsclaw and Leroy Holtsclaw, and three sisters, Faye Largent, Ruby Jean Carnett and Geraldine Edwards.
Survivors include three sons, Ricky Holtsclaw, Michael Holtsclaw and Kenneth Holtsclaw of Roan Mountain; grandchildren, Wes Holtsclaw, Ashlee McKeehan, Carey Lynn Holtsclaw, Sarah Moore (Ryan), and Macala Caraway; great-grandchildren, Aubrey Pike, Sophia Moore, Rhett Moore and Dallas Bell; brother-in-law, Cecil Largent; special friend, Thomas Smith (Natalie); special niece, Candy Harrald; and several other nieces and nephews.
The family will honor the life of Dewey Murriel Holtsclaw on Friday, November 19, at the Holtsclaw Cemetery, 178 Dark Hollow Road in Roan Mountain. A memorial graveside service under the direction of Rev. Randy English with songs provided by Candy Harrald and Sherry Tilson will begin at 11 a.m. Those attending should arrive by 10:45 a.m. Active pallbearers will be Wes Holtsclaw, Ryan Moore, Thomas Smith, Gary Smith, Dale Carnett, Mason Carnett, Cletis Holtsclaw, Lane Holtsclaw and Scott Mays. Honorary pallbearers are Cecil Largent, Rhett Moore, Dallas Bell, Roger Harrald, John Henson, Ed Skeans, George Skeans, Doug Merryman and each of the Constables and Carter County Sheriff’s Department deputies from his time of service in Carter County. In lieu of flowers or donations, Murriel wanted friends and family to continue his support of close friend Thomas Smith in the May 2022 Carter County Sheriff’s primary race. The family would like to offer a special thank you to Amedisys Hospice Care and the nursing staff at The Waters of Roan Highlands for their care. Memories and condolences may be shared at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com