Lin "N.J." Trent

Lin “N.J.” Trent, age 73, of Newport, passed away peacefully at home. Born to Etter Trent and Sonny Collins and grandson of Major and Vernie Trent and Harmon and Lilly Collins, he grew up on Newman’s Ridge in Sneedville. He served in the U.S. Army and in the Indiana and Tennessee National Guard. He was an over-the-road truck driver and owner and operator at Lakeway Trucking. He also drove for Roy Widener, R & J Trucking, Columbia Meats, and Schrader Trucking. N.J. loved the freedom of the road, running front door and putting it into the wind. He loved gardening and landscaping and his favorite activity was being on the river and lake bottoms with his family looking for driftwood or fishing. His true talent was making and designing walking sticks and driftwood art. He was a father figure and brother to his younger siblings and many others. N.J. stood tall in his beliefs. He was fearless in the protection and well being of all his family members. He was preceded in death by his beloved son, Travis Lin Trent; son-in-law, Willie Cline; brothers, Terry A. Trent and Thomas Glenn Collins; nephews, Douglas and Zac Collins; and brother-in-law, Miles Dalton. Survivors to forever cherish his memory are his soul-mate and deeply devoted partner of forty five years, Sureda Faye Trent; children, Tony E. Bunch and Casey Trent of the home and Lisa (Charlie) Smith; grandchildren, who was his heart and soul, Taliah Trent, Madison Trent, Karleigh, Kinsley, and  Kammry Cline, and pappaw’s firecracker grandson, Barrett Jack Smith; brothers, Kenneth Collins and Darrell Trent; sisters, Eulene Jones, who passed away twelve days after him, and Ella Faye Shepler; sister-in-law, Betty (Richard) Shell; brothers-in-law, Wayne Dalton and Ernie (Shirley) Dalton; special nieces he walked down the aisle, Katrina (Kevin) Grey and Cindy (Donnie) Parker; best friend, Bo Dalton; life-long friend, Lonnie Simpson; and area friends, Beecher Davis, Billy Miller, David Jackson, L.V. Calfee, Ben Gordon, and Buford Calfee. N.J.’s wishes were to donate his body to Restore Life USA for future research to help others. Special thanks to Dr. Michael Hood, Dr. Barry Michelson and staff, Gentiva Hospice and staff, Walmart Pharmacy and staff, and Crockett Trace Drive. A memorial service will be held in honor of his life at 2 p.m. Saturday, March 14th at Westside Chapel Funeral Home with Brother Greg “Festus” Snyder officiating. “To live in the hearts of those we leave behind, is not to die.” Arrangements by Westside Chapel Funeral Home in Morristown.

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