Frank Milazzo, Iii

Frank "Guy" Milazzo III, 65, ascended to heaven on Thursday, May 31, 2018, following a courageous battle with cancer. He was surrounded in love by his siblings, nieces, nephews and cousin while in the home of his brother, Robert, in St. Augustine, Florida. Guy, the second child of Barbara Jean Jackman and Frank Guy Milazzo Jr., was born on August 13, 1952, in Memphis, Tennessee. The family moved to Smyrna in 1957 where Guy spent his youth and attended Smyrna public schools.

As a young adult, Guy moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he attended a dental technician school and became a licensed dental technician. After returning to Nashville, Tennessee, Guy worked for Brooks Dental Lab for 12 years until the lab closed. During this time, he used his skills to begin making jewelry. He discovered that using his hands to make something beautiful brought him great joy. So he changed his career path to incorporate his love of nature and working with his hands to create things of beauty.

This new path took him into horticulture at Cheekwood Gardens and extended into working with private clients. His training at Cheekwood led him to his final job as a Senior Horticulturist at Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center where he remained until the end. His work and the people he worked with gave him great happiness.

In addition to these talents, Guy realized he was a musician at heart when he began playing trombone in the school band. He became equally accomplished with the harmonica, but the instrument he most enjoyed was the guitar. He taught himself to play as a teenager and developed this skill as he grew older. Guy's musical gift included composing lyrics and music that spoke to one's heart, especially when paired with his melodious voice.

Another of Guy's passions was fly-fishing. He loved nothing more than to hand-tie flies that were more works of art, than flies for fishing. He would pack his car, call for his beloved spaniel, Molly, and head to Caney Fork River to stand knee-deep in the cool waters, with his broad brimmed hat on his head, his favorite rod in his hand and Molly waiting patiently on the bank.

Guy enjoyed many other things such as cooking, baking, cheese making and traveling, but what he loved most of all were his family and friends. His kind heart, quiet demeanor, and wonderful sense of humor will be missed beyond what words can express.

Guy is survived by his daughter, Joanna (Jeff) Roberts, and his granddaughter, Tyler Hester; his siblings Cindy (Alan) Frazier, Vanessa (Davy) Lutton, Robert (Laureen) Milazzo, Jason (Jennifer) Milazzo, Garth Milazzo, Dwight (Diane) Gregory, Victoria Blue, Denise (Bill) Hill, Toni Gregory; cousins Gary Fortin, Patricia (Tim) Scanlan; aunt JoAnn Buege; nieces Windy Tyler, Stormy (Laura) Tyler-Bonnell, Erin (Nathan) Boone, Michelle Milazzo, Helena Milazzo, Eva Milazzo; nephews Joshua (Kerstin) Milazzo, Corey Lutton, Jared (Jordan) Milazzo, Nicholas Milazzo, Jack Milazzo; grandnieces Jordan Bonnell, Aoife Boone, Anelle Boone, Auden Boone, Lena Milazzo, Jocelyn Milazzo; and grandnephews, Lukas Milazzo, Samuel Milazzo; and a multitude of lifelong friends.