Frank Samuel Niceley

Frank Samuel Niceley, age 78, of Strawberry Plains, TN, passed away suddenly on June 19, 2025 from a heart attack. He died with his boots on, plowing a river bottom field on his farm by the Holston River, doing what he loved.
He was a man of the land, an elder statesman, a local historian, master storyteller, and a born fighter. As a leader and maverick in both private and public, he inspired people of all ages and from all walks of life. When meeting new folks, no matter who they were, he often had a way of making them feel special. He knew how to personalize a story and make the message stick, and he always had just the right joke for the moment. "Timing's everything," he often said.
Born March 3, 1947, to parents J.J. and George Lucille Niceley, Frank was one of four sons and grew up at Chesterfield, his family's historic farm in Mascot, TN. In many ways it was a storybook childhood. He was raised by a father born in 1900, amid countless 'old timers' who passed down tales from the Civil War and beyond, forever shaping how Frank saw the world.
An 8th generation Tennessean, he learned and remembered the oral history of his family and region in a way that very few can, and he made the past come alive as he retold the stories over a lifetime. He was able to see the past in great detail, cherished it, and yet was not afraid of the future and to envision how things could improve.
After receiving a B.S. in Soil Science at the University of TN, Frank spent his early adult life dairy farming and raising a family with his wife Cyndie (a beautiful Texan he met on the U.T. Ag Campus). In 1988 he entered the world of politics and was never the same again.
He passionately served in the TN Legislature for a combined 24 years; 12 years as state legislator (17th district) and 12 years as state senator (8th district), with a break of 12 years in between. He served with dedication and passion and was known to be unusually accessible to his constituents and indeed anyone who reached out to him; he was always willing to lend an ear and his office was always open.
Known as the "farmers' legislator", highlights of his political career include being Chair of the Ag Committee in the House, and sponsoring (and getting passed) a slew of bills in both the House and Senate in support of the small farmer and rural community. He not only sought ways for local food producers to make a better living, but for the rights of consumers to buy local food more easily -- direct from the farm whenever possible. Most often this meant removing excessive regulation. Among many victories along this line, he was perhaps most proud of sponsoring the Raw Milk Bill {HB 720}, making it legal to sell and purchase raw milk in the state of TN through herdshares, as well as the Tennessee Food Freedom Act, which permits homemade food businesses in the state to sell directly to consumers, allowing their sale at various venues such as farmers' markets, grocery stores, and events. {SB 693}
"Frank remains one of the greatest friends of human freedom in the Tennessee legislature," wrote his friend Franklin Sanders, author and founder of The Moneychanger newsletter, in 2017. Frank was a strong advocate for private property rights and constitutional rights; he believed in and fought for limited government, economic freedom, medical freedom, and personal responsibility. He was known to vote his conscience and speak his mind, and often paid the price for it.
Over the course of a rich, dynamic life full of highs and lows, Frank nearly always appeared to be enjoying himself, regardless of the circumstances. His wily sense of humor, masterful way of placing historical fact in a personal context, and generosity of spirit earned him the unofficial title "mayor of Appalachia".
He loved the mountains dearly and spent much of his life getting to know them -- by horseback, foot, and back roads driving.
He liked to call himself a "back roads scholar", and loved nothing more than taking a day's drive (with a small audience in tow of course) winding the older and less ventured pockets of East Tennessee, giving his own custom made tour, narrating dates and facts about historical homes, long-gone taverns, crossroads, battles fought, treaties signed, early settlements, Native American lore and so on. Somehow, seeing through the present straight into the past was second nature for him.
Horses were a central part of Frank's life since childhood and never ceased to be a passion. He was a charter member of the Tennessee Hunt Club and remained involved and supportive until present day; indeed Riverplains Farm was known to host the annual foxhunting Opening Meet "on the hill" for many years and provided lasting memories for a far reaching group of enthusiasts and onlookers. In recent years he enjoyed taking his grandchildren on epic trail rides, both in and out of state, carrying on a treasured family tradition.
Frank was devoted to his family, the land, his heritage, his calling, his varied and numerous friends, and his constituents. So many people counted on him, in all kinds of ways. His sudden passing leaves an emptiness that we know cannot be filled.
For those of us who loved Frank, we will have to retell as many stories as we can possibly remember, laugh and repeat the well worn phrases and tales, live each day to the fullest, and never stop learning and using our creative minds. We will be blessed in the remembering, blessed in the effort to uphold and construct his visions.
We will remind ourselves we are lucky to have known a legend. There will never be another one like him.
He was preceded in death by his daughter Rachel; his father James Jacob (Jake); his mother George Lucille (Davis); his brother Jim; his cousin Whisman; his grandniece Courtney and grandnephew John R.
He is survived by his wife of 53 years, Cynthia; his daughters Jennifer and Anna; his son Will; grandchildren Skyler and Zsa Zsa Beauchene, Athena Niceley, and Montalee and Maggie Barreiro; his brothers John and Bill; nephews Jake, Kevin, George, Hugh, Rush, George; niece Carrie Niceley Pittenger; grandnephews Aaron, Strong, Jaden, and Henry Pearl; grandnieces Skyla Rae, Josephine, and Ashley Niceley Stover; cousins Lucy Niceley Mays, Cindy Cobb Conner, and many many dear friends.
The family will receive friends from 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM on Saturday, June 28, 2025, at Bridges Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will immediately follow at 5:00 PM.
To honor Frank's legacy, please consider donating to one of the following organizations that were dear to him: https://www.easttnhistory.org/support/donate/ https://www.farmtoconsumer.org/donate/ https://solari.com/product/donate-to-solari/
Arrangements by Bridges Funeral Home, 5430 Rutledge Pike, Knoxville, TN 37924. www.bridgesfuneralhome.com