John James, 80, of Elizabethton, went home to be with his Lord on Monday, October 20, 2014, at Sycamore Shoals Hospital following an extended illness.
Mr. James was a native of Carter County and a son of the late Clarence and Edna Norman James. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Herman Tate James.
Mr. James was a former employee of Kingsport Press as a maintenance mechanic and was also the former owner of Stateline Gift and Ceramic Shop. He was a member of East Side Freewill Baptist Church and a member of Hampton Masonic Lodge No. 750 F&AM.
Survivors include his wife of 37 years, Ruth Greer James, of the home; a daughter, Tammy Reinhardt and husband Mike, Melbourne, Fla.; a grandson, Ryan James and wife Katie, Palm Bay, Fla.; great-grandchildren, Ashlyn James and Emma Sandberg, both of Palm Bay, Fla.; a brother, R.C. James and wife Janie, Lenoir, N.C.; a sister, Louellen Goodwin, Hickory, N.C.; and a step-son, Timothy “Tim” Butler and his partner, Jay Matherly, Nashville, Tenn. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
A service to honor the life of Mr. James will be conducted at 7 p.m. Thursday, October 23, in the Chapel of Peace at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Rev. Justin Deaton and Rev. Sam Nickles officiating. Music will be under the direction of Kayla Marley, Uncle John’s nieces and nephews, Cara Carr, Alice Bunton and Sandra Carr. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, prior to the service, or at the residence at anytime. The graveside service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, October 24, at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Jeff Carr, Ryan James, Larry Peters, Joe Williams, Nathan Jaynes, Glen Marley, Thuron Johnson and Anthony Brickey. Honorary pallbearers will be Don Wilson, Bill Cline, Jim Troutman, Jack Bunton, Henry Campbell and the Adult Men’s Sunday School Class at East Side Free Will Baptist Church. Those wishing to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at 9:15 a.m. Friday at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, to go in procession. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the nurses at Sycamore Shoals Hospital, ICU and 3rd Floor, for the loving care extended to Mr. James and his family. A very special thank you to Dr. Dennis Starr and Beth and Leah; and his brother-in-law, George Greer, for being there when he needed him the most. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to East Side Free Will Baptist Church, DVD Ministry for The Sick and Shut Ins, 704 Siam Road, Elizabethton, TN 37643. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the James family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.