Jack Russell, age 93, a resident of the Blair community in Roane County, died Thursday, Nov. 22, at the Life Care Center of Morgan County.
Mr. Russell was born May 27, 1919, in Roane County. Jack was a former construction laborer for Rust Engineering, Hicks Construction at the Oak Ridge nuclear plants and the Southern Railroad.
He was a trusted member of the entire Roane and Morgan County communities. His past included being a waterboy at the old Dyllis Peach Orchard, working the quarry mine on Blair Road, and being a farmer and moonshiner (to help support his family).
Jack was of the Baptist faith and professed his salvation often in his elder years. He gave God the glory for his lengthy life and the wonderful family bestowed unto him.
Mr. Russell was a honorably discharged veteran of World War II, where he earned the rank of corporal being a cook and orderly. While enlisted, he received a medal for being a expert marksman, and he also received the American Theater Ribbon.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Ambrose E. Russell and Elizabeth Tennessee Foster; by parents, John Washington Russell and Laura Bell Lawson; by brothers, Walter Russell, Virgil Samuel Russell, and Logan Louis Russell; by sisters, Marie Russell (Hunt), Georgia Russell (Phillips/Ward), and Susie Russell (Lowery); by stepsons, Ronald Ray Ladd and James Douglas Ladd; by a son-in-law, James Donald Hawn; and by a great-grandchild Colton Norton.
Jack is survived by three sons, John Wayne Russell and wife Becky Ladd of Indianapolis, Ind., Virgil Thomas Russell and wife Brenda Trentham of Harriman, and Michael Lynn Russell and wife Marcella Guy of Harriman (Blair); by a daughter, Sara Bell Russell (Hawn) of Harriman, (Blair); and an ex-wife and longtime loving companion, Reba Inez Powers of the Harriman Nursing Home.
He is also survived by 10 grandchildren, Johnnie Russell and wife Stephanie, Carrie Russell Perkins and husband Larry, Beth Russell Goss and husband Andrew, Victoria Russell Lawson and husband Freddie, Adam Russell, Jessica Hawn Posey and husband John, Marlena Hawn McCullough and husband David, Anthony Hawn, Amanda Russell Andrews and husband Luke, and Allen Russell and companion Tabatha Miller; and by 10 great-grandchildren.
The family received friends Saturday, Nov. 24, between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. at Sharp Funeral Home. The funeral will follow at 8 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Pastor Garvan Walls officiating.
Burial and graveside services with full military honors will be held Sunday, Nov. 25, at 2 p.m. at the Ollis Cemetery in Harriman. The family expresses their gratitude to the nursing staff at The Life Care Center of Morgan County for all the care received during Mr. Russell’s illness.
The Jack Russell Family would like to preserve the family ancestry by providing the opportunity for all individuals known to be related to Jack Russell to add their names to the Russell family tree. To add your name to the Russell family tree, contact Michael Russell at (865) 435-1173 or go to www.russellancestry.com.
Sharp Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book is available at www.sharpfh.com.
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