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Olen Bryant Obituary
Cottontown, TN
Age 90, passed away July 11, 2017 at Oak Hill Assisted Living.
Mr. Bryant was a native Tennessean. He held a Master of Fine Arts Degree from Cranbrook Academy of Art, Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Mr. Bryant retired from Austin Peay State University, Clarksville, Tn, where he was a Professor Emeritus of Art from 1963 to 1991.
In 2007 Mr. Bryant won the Distinguished Artist Award, Governor's Award in the Arts. This was just one of the many honors that Mr. Bryant received during his lifetime.
Mr. Bryant has public collections throughout Tennessee. His art is featured in the Tennessee State Museum, Cheekwood Museum, Portland Public Library, and various other museums, libraries, and sites.
Mr. Bryant touched and changed many lives through his philosophies and artistic creations.
He is survived by his brother, Don (Doris) Bryant of Lebanon; sisters, Cliter (J.D.) Agee, Dorothy Youngblood, both of Cottontown, Modene Grosse of Hendersonville, Freda Eatwell of Hernando, Ms; nephew and nieces.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Emmitt and Totty Bryant, and good friend, Tom Brambaugh.
Memorial service will be 10 a.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2017 at Wilkinson & Wiseman Funeral Home in Portland.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to The Portland Library.
Wilkinson-Wiseman, 615-325-4191
To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.
Memories and Condolences
for Olen Bryant
Sponsored by Wilkinson & Wiseman Funeral Home - Portland.
4 Entries
Ron Slagle
August 6, 2017
Olen affected me in profound ways, his intelligence so enlightened, his manner reserved, his questions always filled with insight and challenging. His conversations always of wit and humor.
A friend stated that " there are people in our lives that make up the foundation of our strength and with its loss your world is shaken." Olen has been a large part of who I am as a sculptor/ potter.
My condolences to the family and I hope you will gain strength knowing that he was loved by many people.
shirley anderson dover
July 15, 2017
olen will be missed..He was a great friend to my family..see you on the other side ...my condolences to the family.
Willie Anderson Jr and family
Billye Ann Bryant-Brown
July 14, 2017
As a pre-teen girl in rural Leeville, Tennessee, my cousin opened my eyes to a completely different world. He would tease, asking questions such as "Did you paint all those butterflies on your shirt?" I would sometimes watch him work in the small studio behind his parent's home and a few times he would give me a small rock and help me make my own sculpture. Over the years we would occasionally cross paths at an art event or concert and I was always happy to introduce him to my friends as "my cousin, the artist." RIP Olen; I know you'll brighten the corner where you are.
John Branham
July 13, 2017
I will think about Olen every time I enjoy the ten or so pieces of his art that grace my home. One of these was given to me one night when Olen and Tom came to dinner. Still trying to figure out that enigmatic face. Like the Mona Lisa, is it a smile or not?
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Memorial Events
for Olen Bryant
Jul
15
Memorial service
10:00 a.m.
Wilkinson & Wiseman Funeral Home - Portland715 S Broadway, Portland, TN 37148
Funeral services provided by:
Wilkinson & Wiseman Funeral Home - Portland715 S Broadway, Portland, TN 37148
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