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The Knoxville Journal, Monday, February 10, 1943

Uncle Bush, Famed For Funeral, Dies

Kingston, Feb. 9--
     "Uncle Bush" Breazeale, who heard--and enjoyed--his own funeral preached in 1938, died peacefully today at the ripe old age of 78 years.
     Because of that funeral in June nearly five years ago, there won't be any this time. Instead, there will be a burial service, and Uncle Bush will be laid to rest in the casket he fashioned with his own hands from a big walnut tree that grew near his home just outside Kingston in Roane County.
     It was a magnificent funeral that Uncle Bush had in 1938. Some days beforehand he had announced his intentions, saying he wanted to hear some good words said about him before, rather that after, he had passed on to his reward.
     Newspapers over the nation--and the world--carried stories and pictures, and thousands flocked to the little country church near Kingston to watch the proceedings.
     Preacher Charles E. Jackson (now serving a church in another state) preached the funeral, with many words of fulsome praise for the old man, who was held in high esteem by all who knew him.

     Uncle Bush sat and fanned on that hot June day, and thoroughly enjoyed the unique ceremony.
     "Folks, I'm telling you, this business of having a funeral before you die beats sparking in a buggy", he told his friends when it was all over.
     He was standing beside his flower-draped casket as he spoke, and in that same coffin he will be buried at 2 p.m. Sunday in Cave Creek Cemetery near Kingston.
     It is at his own request that no funeral is being held, that the burial is in his own casket, and that the body will lie in state for an hour at the cemetery before interment. Quinn Funeral Home of Loudon is in charge.

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