Phil Len Clapp

Phil Clapp, age 83, lifelong resident of South Knoxville, passed away October 31st, 2018. A wonderful and hilariously impatient father, lovingly grumpy husband, Phil had enough charisma for 20 men and the heart to match. All-State in football and basketball at Young High School, and All-American at bulls----ing on the streets of South Knoxville and the MacAnally Flats, Phil was the center of attention of whatever room he commanded. Armed with a searing intelligence and a creative, mischievous eye, the only thing he loved more than his family and friends was riling them up through the recounting of embarrassing stories (of which he would invariably embellish) at their expense, or by outright pranking them. Everyone was fair game, but his employees at Clapp Tire Company probably received the worst (read: best) of it. He wasn’t afraid to serve a delicious ex-lax milkshake to his employees (unbeknownst to them of course), mail fake letters from the ''V.D. Clinic’’ to their homes, or scare them halfway to Huntsville by staging a gunfight at the company Christmas party between two men armed with blank cartridges. His energy and sense of humor will of course be missed, and his love and spirited sense of friendship and family, although irreplaceable, will forever endure. He often said, “The greatest thing you can have in this life is friends,” and Phil Clapp had many. Preceded in death by parents John Boston and Sara Jane Clapp; wife of 61-years Lemoyne Clapp; sister-¬in¬-law Marjorie Clapp; brother-¬in-¬law Bob Wade; and father and mother-¬in¬-law John and Nora (Billie) Houck. Phil is survived by brother¬ Dr. Johnny Clapp and wife Betty; daughters Lynne and husband Ronnie Draughon, Krisden and husband Danny Parrott; son PJ and wife Naomi Clapp; grandchildren Dusty, Krisden, and Ronnie Draughon, Brandon Parrott, Madison, Rocko, and Arlo Clapp; great¬-grandchildren Dylan and Devyn Draughon, Londyn Crawford; sister-in-law Phyllis Wade; half-brother-in-law Johnny Houck; niece Rhonda Whitt; nephews Robbie, Roger, and Richie Wade. The family will have a graveside service Saturday, November 3rd, at 11am at Woodlawn Cemetery, 4500 Woodlawn Pike, Knoxville, Tennessee 37920. Rev. Don Wilson will officiate. Condolences may be offered at www.berryfuneralhome.com.