WASHBURN – Robert Boston Nicley, a lifelong farmer, public servant and faithful church leader whose roots in Grainger County stretched back to before Tennessee achieved statehood, passed away peacefully February 10, 2026, at the home of his daughter Karen Roper in Sparta, Tennessee. He was 98.

Born August 5, 1927, on Dutch Valley Farm in Washburn, Nicley spent nearly his entire life on the same land his ancestors settled in the 18th century after moving from Asheville and other parts of North Carolina. The farm is recognized as a certified Tennessee Century Farm and Nicley’s family is counted among the state’s First Families, those who established homes in Tennessee prior to 1796.

With the exception of his service in the U.S. Army from 1946 to 1948 and a brief period attending Lincoln Memorial University, Nicley remained devoted to his community and the soil that sustained it. While stationed in Alaska during his Army service, he often shared the story of serving breakfast to Army Chief of Staff and future President Dwight D. Eisenhower while assigned to kitchen duty on his 19th birthday.

Following his military service, Nicley attended Lincoln Memorial University in Harrogate where he studied and played collegiate basketball. Though not exceptionally tall, he jokingly credited his “sharp elbows” for helping him compete against larger opponents. He later returned home to Grainger County where he married Wilma Jean Satterfield on February 3, 1951. Their first daughter Karen was born in 1954 and their second daughter Kim in 1963.

Under his leadership, Dutch Valley Farm grew into a diversified agricultural operation that included tobacco, corn and hay along with beef cattle, dairy replacement heifers and a 10,000-hen commercial egg business known as Dutch Valley Eggs. In addition to farming, Nicley represented the Tennessee Farmers Co-op for 16 years as a feed salesman, troubleshooter and manager in East and Middle Tennessee and served two years as manager of the Hawkins County Co-op.

Nicley devoted decades of service to local leadership. He served 37 years on the Grainger County Soil Conservation Board of Directors, 32 years on the Grainger County Farm Bureau Board of Directors and was named an Honorary Lifetime Director in 2022. He also served on the Grainger County Co-op Board of Directors and was a longtime member of the Grainger County Commission.

Known to many as “Brother Rob,” Nicley was a lifetime member of Beelers Chapel Methodist Church where he helped lay the cornerstone at its present location. He served for decades as treasurer, Sunday School teacher and song leader and was known for his homemade country ham biscuits served at Memorial Day dinners on the ground. He was also a founding member of the Liberty Hill Cemetery Association, serving more than 70 years. As a young man he worked with a mule team and hand tools to help maintain the cemetery.

Since 1965, Nicley held the Sublime Degree of Master Mason through J.C. Baker Lodge 720 under the Most Worshipful Grand Lodge of Free and Accepted Masons of Tennessee.

He was preceded in death by his father Curt Nicley, his mother Ida Beeler Nicley, his brother Ed Nicley, his first wife Wilma Jean Satterfield Nicley, his second wife Bertie Cash Trent Nicley and his son-in-law John Roper.

He is survived by the family of his first wife including daughters Karen Roper and Kim Elliott and husband Scott Elliott; grandchildren Justin Roper and wife Lauren Roper, Lauren Grizzard and husband Brandon Grizzard and Charleston Causey and husband Michael Causey; great-grandchildren Jonah Roper, Cora Roper, Vera Roper, Amelia Grizzard and Caroline Grizzard; nephews Steve Nicley and wife Lucy Nicley and Barry Nicley.

He is also survived by the family of his second wife including Helen Trent and late husband Ed Trent, Brenda Bell and late husband Garrett Bell, Erma Sexton and late husband James Sexton, Kathy Ballard and husband Eddy Ballard and Rick Trent and wife Sandy Trent along with numerous grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Receiving of friends will be held Friday, February 20, from 5 to 8 p.m. EST at Smith-Reagan Funeral Home in Rutledge. A second visitation will be held Saturday, February 21, from 10 to 11:30 a.m. EST at Beelers Chapel in Washburn. Funeral services will follow at 11:30 a.m. EST at the church with Rev. Denver Davidson and Rev. Wayne Trent presiding. Interment will follow immediately at Liberty Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be Tom Clay, Michael Coffman, Mack Fennell, Mark Hipshire, Martin Nicely and Aaron Trent.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Liberty Hill Cemetery Association through Citizens Bank & Trust of Grainger County or to Beelers Chapel Church.

The family expressed special thanks to Caris Healthcare Hospice personnel especially Noah Hawk, R.N., and the many friends and relatives who offered love and support during his final days.