Robert Wade Frazier, a resident of White Pine, Tennessee, died Thursday Jan. 9, 2025 in Newport Medical Center. He was 81.

At six-feet four-inches, Frazier was a tall man with a wide smile, which was his signature feature. He was most comfortable with a gun stock pressed to his shoulder, a gravy biscuit on his breakfast plate, or a funny story on his lips. On the other hand, he didn’t care for neckties, mushrooms, or liberals.

Frazier’s passing will hit hard in the trap-shooting community. He and his wife, Anne Koella Frazier, established the Hog Heaven Gun Club on Highway 113 as business partners in the 1990s and she continues to operate the trap-shooting venue today. Shooters from throughout the Southeast, and beyond, converge on the scenic farm overlooking Douglas Lake for big seasonal shoots. Frazier was a decorated trap shooter himself; and for much of his adult life he was a regular participant in the annual Grand American Shoot. He was also a Tennessee State Champion in trap shooting. He and Anne were inducted into the Tennessee Trapshooting Hall of Fame on June 14, 2009.

At points in his life Frazier was a home-builder and a pig farmer. He attended East High School in Morristown. Although he never bragged about it, Frazier was also a talented wood-worker who could see a photograph of a piece of furniture and construct a blueprint in his head. People were often astonished to see the finished tables, chairs and wooden sculptures he constructed in his wood-working shop.

Among his many friends and family members, he will be remembered for his broad smile and honest laugh, which sometimes shook his whole body. He did not believe a good story was disposable. Instead, he thought of stories as family heirlooms made to be taken off a shelf, dusted off and passed around a room. Hearing of his passing, one of his young step-grand-children mused that maybe Frazier could meet up with Jimmy Carter in heaven and teach him some wood-working skills. Those who love him know that Frazier would have laughed at that story and retold it forever.  

Frazier, who was born in Hamblen County, is the son of Ross and Mattie Lou Frazier. He is preceded in death by his siblings: Burle Frazier, Bud (William David) Frazier and Margie Snider; along with nephews Mike Snider, Danny Snider and Dale Frazier. 

 He is survived by his wife Anne Koella Frazier; his daughter, Wetherly Frazier (Mark) Kennedy; and his grandsons, Keeling and Brooks Kennedy. Other survivors include step-children: Jon (Sherry) Koella, Louis “Bummi” (Elizabeth) Koella, Julie Mayshark, Jenny Koella, Will (Jill) Koella; and step-grand-children, Carver and Alex Koella, Maggie Koella Jernigan, Zoller and Rex Mayshark, Carrie Anne Koella, Henry and Thomas Koella, and step-great-grandchild, Conner Jernigan.

Surviving nieces and nephews include: Jane Frazier, Linda Shultz, Randy Frazier, Robin Snider, Dave Snider, Sherri Snider, Patti Miller, Robert Frazier and Karen Frazier.

 Another survivor is Frazier’s miniature poodle Lucy, who would eat you up if you touched her "daddy."  Little Lucy could use your prayers.