Rev. Billy Ray Panter

Rev. Billy Ray Panter, age 94 of Helena, Alabama, passed away on Saturday, November 9, 2024, at his residence surrounded by his loving family. He was born in Estill Springs on November 14, 1929, to the late Frank and Ethel Panter. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Dennis Panter; and sister, Doris Amacher. Bro. Panter is survived by his loving and devoted wife of seventy-two years, Charlotte Panter of Helena, Alabama, formerly of Tullahoma, Tennessee; daughters, Sherry (Mike) Matthews of Helena, Alabama, and Karen Panter of Helena, Alabama; grandchildren Ashley (Aaron) Yoder of Hoover, Alabama, and Blake (Amanda) Matthews of Helena, Alabama; and two great-grandchildren. Bro. Panter was a graduate of Martin College and Tennessee Tech. He also attended Vanderbilt and Emory University to fulfill his qualifications as a Methodist Minister. After receiving his license to preach in 1950, he served many churches in the middle Tennessee area. When he retired in 1994, he was a Superintendent of the Murfreesboro District. Throughout his ministry, Bro. Panter served the Tennessee Conference in Camping and Evangelistic programs and served on State Special Needs Programs assisting in Organizing Sheltered Shop Programs in Fayetteville and Dickson. In 1951, Bro. Panter joined the Masonic Lodge in Estill Springs, transferring his membership to the Tullahoma Lodge after his retirement. He has been active in the following Masonic bodies: Grand Lodge of Tennessee, serving as Grand Chaplain in 2009 and 2015, 33 Scottish Rite, Valley of Nashville, Stone Fort Chapter Royal Arch Masons of Tennessee, Tullahoma Council 102 Cryptic Masons serving as Grand Chaplain in 2006 and 2013, Manchester Commandry #40 Knight Templar, Middle Tennessee York Rite College, The Order of St. Patrick, Council #416 Johnson/Sanders Allied Masonic Degrees, Knights of the York Cross of Honor, Order of the Knight Commandments, Grand Council Order of High Priesthood, Knight Crusaders of the Cross and Middle Tennessee Past Masters Association. Visitation will be from 12-1:30 pm on Saturday, November 23, 2024, at Estill Springs United Methodist Church with a Memorial Service following at 1:30 pm with Rev. Dickie Johnson officiating. Interment will be at Maplewood Cemetery in Tullahoma. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Moore-Cortner Funeral Home, 300 First Ave NW, Winchester, TN 37398, (931)-967-2222, www.moorecortner.com.