Robert Nicholls Sims Crownover Jr.

Robert Nicholls Sims Crownover Jr, age 75, of Nashville, TN, passed away on February 3, 2022. Born in Nashville to parents R. N. Sims Crownover and Ruth Horn Crownover, Sims was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Ruth Crownover Gold; and his brother Arthur Crownover II. He is survived by his children, Ashley Crownover (John Mott), Christie Wolford (John), and Joy English (Steve); grandchildren Venus Forsythe, Meade Forsythe, Parker Lawrence, Cassidy Lawrence, Susannah English, and Julia English; siblings Alice Crownover Weymuller (Dr. Ernest) and Stanley Horn Crownover (Katie Greenberg); sister-in-law Amy Parks Crownover; many loving nieces and nephews, including Emma and Parks Crownover; and a host of lifelong friends. The family would like to thank Russell Nunnally in particular for his support and friendship. Sims attended Woodmont Elementary School, Montgomery Bell Academy, Hillsboro High School, and the University of Tennessee, where he was one of the first to receive a master’s degree in ecology. He worked for the State of Tennessee’s water pollution control department, starting in the field in East Tennessee and eventually serving in Nashville as director of enforcement. Before and after retirement, Sims traveled a good deal in the American West by car, train, and foot, searching out remote vistas and great steak places from the California desert to the mountains of Washington State. He loved our U.S. National Parks, especially Arches and Yellowstone, and enjoyed trips on the California Zephyr train as well as the Durango to Silverton narrow gauge line in Colorado. He was inspired by the photography of Ansel Adams to take his own beautiful photos of the West, and found a kindred spirit in Edward Abbey’s Desert Solitaire. Locally, his favorite natural spots included Beaman Park and Percy Warner Park. He knew and loved the geography and geology of Tennessee, and never failed to identify a tree, flower, or bird. An avid sports fan, he followed local teams in football, baseball, and hockey, and always enjoyed a good NASCAR race. Known to many as an “ornery cuss” with a longstanding reputation as a curmudgeon, Sims was clever and kind and funny, and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

Visitation will take place at Mt. Olivet, 1101 Lebanon Pike, Nashville, TN 37210, on Sunday, February 27, 2022, from 10 a.m. until the hour of service at 12 noon. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to your favorite state or national park.

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.mountolivet.com for the Crownover family.