Dr. John A. Reaves

Dr. John A. Reaves, 90, of Dyersburg, died Wednesday, January 28, 2026, at Okeena Health and Rehabilitation. Born July 8, 1935, to the late John Andrew Reaves, Sr. and Nancy Myra Tickle Reaves. He was a member of Dyersburg First United Methodist Church and the Sellers Sunday School Class. Dr. Reaves was graduated by the University of Tennessee with his Doctor of Medicine in 1959. He interned at William Beaumont Army Hospital in El Paso and served 3 years in Mannheim, Germany as a Battalion Surgeon. He did his Radiology Residency at UT Memphis and worked as a Radiologist in Dyersburg and the surrounding communities until his retirement at age 65 in 2000. He was a member of the Northwest Tennessee Medical Society, of which he was President in 1976; the American Medical Society, the Memphis Roentgen Ray Society, of which he was President in 1976; the Radiological Society of North America; the Tennessee Radiological Society, and the American Cancer Society, of which he was the Dyer County Unit President in 1974. Dr. Reaves was a Board-certified Radiologist and, in 1991, was honored to be selected as a Fellow of the American College of Radiology. After retiring in 2000, Dr. Reaves enjoyed traveling, hiking in the mountains, playing golf and tennis, swimming, nature, watercolor painting, bird carving, and, along with Ann, he enjoyed gardening. He was a Master Gardener for 20-plus years with the Jackson Master Gardeners. Of all the highlights of his life, he was proudest of his family – especially the love of his life, Ann Anderson Reaves.

Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. Friday, January 30, 2026, in the Chapel of Curry Funeral Home officiated by Dr. Phillip Cook. Due to the weather conditions, a private interment will be held at a later date.

The family will receive friends on Friday, January 30th, beginning at 12 Noon until service time.

Donald Hickman, Scotty Hager, Gary Hager, Charles Seaton, Robert Reaves, David Reaves, Seth Richards, and Danny Joe Richardson will serve as pallbearers.

He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Ann Reaves; daughter, Cheryl Ann Reaves Peeples of Martinsville, VA; sons, John Andrew "Drew" Reaves, III and wife Patricia of Chicago, IL, David Glen Reaves and wife Angela of Dyersburg; sister, Susan Elizabeth Richardson and husband Danny Joe of Elkville, IL; brother Robert Glen Reaves and wife Debbie of Nashville; seven grandchildren; Taylor Peeples, Anderson Peeples, Tatiana Boucher, Brad "Henry" Reaves, Lizzy Curl Reaves, Seth Richards, and Merylann Campbell; and ten great-grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his son-in-law, John Peeples.

The family requests memorials be directed to Dyersburg First United Methodist Church, P.O. Box 452, Dyersburg, TN 38024 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude’s Place, Memphis, TN 38105-9959.

We are privileged and honored to serve the family of Dr. John A. Reaves, Jr. You may share your condolences and your memories with the family at www.curryfuneral.com.