S.W. Stone

Shelah Warren (S.W.) Stone, Jr. of Tullahoma passed away on Saturday, February 14th, 2026 at his home, surrounded by his loving family at the age of 85. S.W. was born on December 24th, 1940 in Tullahoma to the late Shelah Warren Stone, Sr. and Margaret Curlee Stone. He graduated from Tullahoma High School in 1959, and went on to attend Middle Tennessee State University. Mr. Stone owned and ran the Minit Saver Market and Minit Signs from 1963 to 1992. S.W. was a member of Highland Baptist Church, and the Tullahoma Kiwanis Club. He was very supportive of the Tullahoma Little League, Babe Ruth, and all Tullahoma High School Sports, and the Special Olympics. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping, horseback riding, and golf. Mr. Stone suffered a stroke at the age of 47, and after months of rehab, was able to return to work. During his absence, his family continued running the business with the support of the community, and loyal employees. In the years after his stroke, S.W. continued playing golf and bought a John Deere lawnmower which he used as a form of ministry to help mow other peoples yards, and the church yard. He loved to spend time with family and friends, and going to U.T. football games. He was a true VFL, who enjoyed watching all Tennessee sports on TV. In his later years, S.W. enjoyed traveling to several National Parks and Hawaii with his wife, Carolyn. They drove to Niagara Falls, and Key West. He loved people, and never stopped making new friends. In addition to his parents, Mr. Stone was preceded in death by two sisters, Jeanette Bauer, and Susan Flatt; one sister-in-law, Helen Williams; three brothers-in-law, Bob Bauer, Randy Guess, and Bill Williams; one nephew, Marc Bauer; and two sons-in-law, Michael Mason, and Lesley Reed "Hurkey" Holt. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Williams Stone; three children, Melanie Stone, Sheri Stone Mason, and Steve Stone (Terri); four grandchildren, Karen Purdom (Ryan), Robin Fair (Zackary), Claire Mason, and Will Stone; four great-grandchildren, Rylee Purdom, Kalla Jo Purdom, Elliott Fair, and Evelyn Fair; one sister-in-law, Kay Williams Guess; one brother-in-law, Jerry Flatt; one niece, Suzanne Williams Troeger; and six nephews, Mike Bauer, Mitchell Bauer, Erik Guess, Taylor Williams, Travis Flatt, and Lucas Flatt. Visitation for Mr. Stone will be held on Tuesday, February 17th, 2026 from 10:00am to 12:00pm at Kilgore Funeral Home. Funeral services will immediately follow in the Kilgore Funeral Home chapel with Pastor Jim Norman officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. For those who wish, the family asks that donations in S.W.'s memory be made to either Highland Baptist Church – 808 W. Hickory St. Tullahoma, TN 37388; or the Tullahoma Animal Shelter- 942 Maplewood Ave. Tullahoma, TN 37388.