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John William McKeehan Jr., 70, of Elizabethton, Tenn., went home to be with the Lord on Thursday, July 28, 2022, at his residence after a brief but intense battle with cancer.
John was a lifetime resident of Elizabethton. He was born on March 4, 1952 to the late John William McKeehan Sr. and Laura Elizabeth Rowe McKeehan. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a sister, Rada, and three brothers, Louis, Ted and Terry.
John joined the United States Marine Corps Reserve in 1976, serving eight years as an infantryman. He then joined the Tennessee Army National Guard and served another 27 years, where he retired as Sergeant First Class. In the Guard he served as both a mechanic and Mess Sergeant. Serving throughout Operations Desert Storm and Enduring Freedom, he was twice deployed to Iraq and once stateside, along with countless other voluntary missions.
John touched many lives during his long military and professional driving career, leaving his unique and distinctive mark on all those he met. A man who could drive anything with wheels, he surely logged millions of miles in his lifetime. He had a work ethic beyond compare. John has worked for Kenan Advantage Group for the past seven years, hauling hazmat tankers. The family would like to express a special thanks to all John’s friends and colleagues for their kindness during this challenging time.
John loved to be outside, whether it be farming, gardening, logging, driving or just a good old-fashioned bonfire. He was an avid collector his whole life, leaving behind a vast accumulation of assorted treasures for his family to discover.
Those left to cherish and honor his legacy include his loving wife of 25 years, Leigh Chambers McKeehan, who was by his side to the end; his sons, John III (Lori), David, Eric and Chris (Kurt); grandchildren, Kaitlyn (Cody), Dylan and Waylon; a great-grandchild, William Brody; his sister, Linnie (Frank); his brothers, Charlie (Cherryann), Tony (Jane), Bud (Loretta) and Jackie (Kim); many other nephews, nieces and cousins of McKeehan Ridge and surrounding areas, many Army and trucking buddies and his special canine companion, Lacy.
The family will receive friends on Thursday, August 4, from 5 until 7 p.m. in the Sunset Chapel of Hathaway-Percy Funeral and Cremation Services. A graveside service will be conducted on Friday, August 5, at 11 a.m. at Mountain Home National Cemetery (Historic Section, 53 Memorial Avenue, Mountain Home, TN, 37604). Everyone will meet at the cemetery at 10:45 a.m. Friday. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 6704, Hagerstown, MD 21741. Words of comfort can be sent to the family through our website, www.hathawaypercyfuneralhome.com.
Hathaway-Percy Funeral and Cremation Services, 101 East F Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643 (423-543-5544) is honored to serve the family of John William McKeehan Jr.