Rev. Houston R. Northcutt, 91, went home to be with his Lord, Monday, September 29, 2014 at his residence. He was born November 5, 1922 to Houston Northcutt and Suzie (Wade) Northcutt Strickland. He was well known throughout the country for his years of service in the Lords ministry.

Bro. Northcutt's first experience as a pastor was with First Baptist Church of Kenton, where he served as interim pastor during the years 1949-1950. He preached as a lay preacher for three years before he consented to be ordained as a Minister of the Gospel.

The last part of 1950, Bro. Northcutt received a call to Mary's Chapel Baptist Church of Ripley, TN, where he spent 5 years that he called "The Promised Land". Most of his education at Union University took place during the 5 years at Mary's Chapel.

In February of 1957, Bro. Northcutt left a pastorate at Dyersburg to go to southern Illinois, where he not only served as a full-time pastor-evangelist, but as what was then known as a "Pioneer Missionary" but now is known as a "Church Planter". While in Illinois, Bro. Northcutt led in establishing and constructing several churches as well as the church at Waterloo and in Valmyer, and in an advisory capacity in developing churches at Red Bud, Columbia and Prairie Du Rocher, Illinois.

He received his seminary credits from the Old Tower Grove Seminary, in St. Louis, MO., The Baptist Theological Seminary in Kansas City, MO. Some of his work had been done at Bethel College in McKenzie, TN.

After ten years, Bro. Northcutt returned to West Tennessee, where he regularly filled pulpits in several small churches, before moving to Palmer Baptist Church at Ripley, MS., serving there until his move to Lake County, Tennessee, where he accepted the pastorate at Cottonwood Grove Baptist Church beginning the first Sunday in January 1970.

Their ministry was fruitful for 25 years. For the first three years, he also did substitute teaching in the Lake County school system, he remained on the substitute list until 1984.

In 1995 Bro. Northcutt retired from Cottonwood Grove and was only retired 2 weeks until the Lord called him to become the pastor of Lakeview Baptist Church where he served for 7 years.

One of the greatest treasures of Bro. Northcutt's ministry in Lake County is his being known as everybody's "Preacher", not only in the Baptist circles is he called "Preacher", but by saved and the unsaved in and out of black and white congregations.

No matter what may be said about the ministry of Bro. Northcutt, sacrifice, forbearance and success leave no doubt that he was born to preach. Praise God from whom all blessing flow!

Visitation will be Thursday, October 2, 2014 from 5-7 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Tiptonville with funeral services immediately following led by his pastor, Bro. John Troutman.

Private interment will be Friday, October 3, 2014 at 10:00 a.m. at New Haven Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Ray Semlitsch, John Semlitsch, Neal Smith, Keith Sherrell, Zach Sherrell and Dewayne Haggard. Honorary pallbearers will be Baptist Men's S.S. Class, Jerry D. Bargery, Jack Erwin, J.C. Williams, Bill McElyea, Alton Pritchard, Bro. John Poor, Bro. Jack Long, Bro. Steve Carr, Bro. Jerry Leggett and Bro. Mackie Prince.

Surviving is his wife, Frances Matheny Smith Northcutt; two daughters, Linda Northcutt Blankenship of Ripley and Regina Northcutt Pittman of Bellbrook, OH; three step-daughters, Elizabeth Brandes (Alan) of Tampa, FL, Malissa P. Semlitsch (Ray) Columbia, MO, Monica Smith Fox of Atlanta, GA; a step-son, Neal Smith (Lori) of Kokomo, IN; one grandson, Chris Northcutt Blankenship; eight step-grandchildren, Matthew Brandes, Michael Brandes, John Semlitsch, Sarah Semlitsch, Kayla Fox Terrell, Marah Fox Abercrombie, Joshua Smith, Lauren Blackwell; and four step-great-grandchildren, Phoenix Fox, Avery Munzo, Scarlotte Terrell and Ethan Smith; and a brother, Willard Northcutt of Campbell, MO.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter, Betty Northcutt Callier; wife, Emma Northcutt; wife, Gracie P. Northcutt; ten brothers and sisters; and numerous nieces and nephews.