Robert Nye

Robert Nye

Knoxville, TN

Robert Earl "Toby" Nye, age 69, of Knoxville, passed away on Wednesday, February 10, 2016. Toby, as he is known by family and friends, was born and raised in the tobacco belt of Southeastern North Carolina. A second generation graduate of Clarkton High School in NC. He graduated from North Carolina State University in Raleigh, NC with a BS in Wood Science and Technology. After graduation, he pursued his chosen field of furniture manufacturing in Sales and marketing for 17 years. Departing his chosen field in furniture and having reached the position of Vice President of Sales with Davis Cabinet Company in Nashville, TN, he changed careers. He spent the next 19 years with the Hill-Rom company, the world-wide leader in patient care systems in hospitals. After retiring and with the love of his life, Deborah, they traveled extensively in the United States and numerous foreign countries. Toby loved travel, cars, history, and geography but most of all his family and friends. He was a member of West Hills Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Earl Nye. Toby is survived by his wife, Deborah Harper Nye; sons, Robert Earl Nye, Jr. and Beth Nye, Benjamin Mitchell Nye and Kelly Hyland; daughters, Tammy Nye Hutchens and David Hutchens, Jennifer Kelly Treece and Scott Treece; grandchildren, Carson Hutchens, Jacob Nye, Hannah Nye, Will Treece, and Wesley Treece; mother, Mary Elizabeth Nye; sister, Judy Nye Thompson.

A graveside service was held on Saturday at 1:00 p.m. at Edgewood Cemetery with Rev. Drew Prince officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials in Toby's name be made to the V foundation for Cancer Research, 106 Towerview Ct., Cary, NC 27513. The family received friends this past Friday from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.rosemortuary.com.