Don Weems

Died: June 29, 2008

JONESBOROUGH -- Donald R. "Don" Weems, 62, of Jonesborough, died Sunday at the Johnson City Medical Center.

Mr. Weems was born in Greene County and was a son of the late Jack and Freida Johnson Weems. He lived most of his life in East Tennessee.

He was a 1966 graduate of Washington College Academy, where he excelled in basketball.

Mr. Weems attended Telford Baptist Church.

He served in the U.S. Army, Europe 2nd Battalion, 5th Artillery, and received an award for meritorious service and was awarded a National Defense Service Medal.

Mr. Weems retired from Eastman Chemical Co. and later worked at John M. Reed Nursing Home in Limestone.

He was an avid University of Tennessee sports fan.

"Don was also an animal lover. His pets 'Shiner' and 'Tucker' will miss their 'Papaw Don,' " his family noted.

Survivors include his wife of 21 years: Karen Ryan Weems; his children and their spouses: Megen Weems of Jonesborough, Allen and Myria Weems of Jonesborough, and Keri and Scott Masters of Johnson City; five grandchildren: Hunter Masters, Chandler Masters, Alysa Weems, Alex Weems and Andrew Weems; two sisters and brothers-in-law: Iris and Charlie Bennett of the Bowmantown community and Jewel and Lynn Willis of Limestone; a brother and sister-in-law: Jackie and Betty Weems of the Rheatown community; his special aunts and uncles: Harold and Elmina Johnson and Juanita Weems, all of Greeneville, and Ralph and Joyce Johnson of Asheville, N.C.; and several nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home and other times at his home.

A graveside service will be held at 10 o'clock Thursday morning in Pleasant Grove Baptist Cemetery. Dr. Mark Harrod will officiate.

Pallbearers will be Johnny Slagle, Jonathan Miller, Scott Masters, Ira Grant, Steve Vasilko, James Casey, Johnny Willis and Keith Broyles.

Gary Saults will be an honorary pallbearer.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Trinity Baptist Church Building Fund, 260 Headtown Road, Jonesborough, TN 37659.

Condolences may be sent to the Weems family online at www.dillow-taylor.com