John Davis Staley Jr.

John Davis Staley Jr., 85, received his eternal "inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade" on September 21, 2024 as he slipped from this earth into eternity with his Savior, Jesus Christ. John was born on June 25, 1939 in Lynch, Kentucky to Clarice and John Staley. He enjoyed playing on the Lynch High basketball and football teams and working at the soda fountain at the local drugstore. His thirty years in Lynch blessed him with many lifelong friendships and earned him the nicknames "Gravy" and "Buck." Most importantly, during his teenage years in Lynch, he met and fell in love with the lovely Rita Farris, and they later married in 1961. John received his bachelor's degree from Cumberland College and returned to Lynch High School to serve as a science teacher, football & basketball coach, and school bus driver. He celebrated multiple regional and Kentucky state football championships while serving on the Lynch football coaching staff and was honored to be inducted into the Lynch Walk of Legends in 2018.
John and Rita moved to Knoxville, Tennessee in 1969 where he completed a master's degree in education at the University of Tennessee. He then joined the Knoxville City School system, (later Knox County Schools), and positively impacted the lives of thousands of students as West High assistant principal, Holston High principal, and Director of Human Resources.
John and Rita were blessed with two children, Kellie and Johnny. They spent many fun times together boating on Norris Lake and hosted family and friends at "Happy John," the family lake cabin built by John's father in the 1950's. John imparted his love of sports to his son, Johnny, who also became a basketball and football player. John again celebrated a state football championship when son, Johnny, played on the 1986 Halls High Tennessee state championship team. John's science background led him to encourage Kellie to pursue an engineering career. He instilled in both Johnny & Kellie a strong work ethic balanced with a zeal for the fun of life!
John put his faith in Jesus Christ as his Savior early in life, and he and his family became faithful members of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church upon moving to Knoxville. Many friends and ministers from Wallace have been such a blessing to him and Rita throughout the years.
John retired in 1996 and began an exciting new phase of life as Popaw/Papaw. Over the next three decades, he embraced this role with enthusiasm as five precious grandchildren and his first awesome great-grandchild entered the world. He rocked babies, held napping toddlers, slipped his grandkids his favorite M&M candies, supplemented the Tooth Fairy's cash rewards for lost teeth, cheered at ball games, band concerts, and dance recitals, attended numerous birthday parties, enjoyed vacations, (beach trips and a western adventure to see the Grand Canyon & more), coaxed grandkids to jump into his waiting arms in swimming pools, boated & watched fireworks at Norris Lake, and beamed with pride at graduations and weddings. Beloved grandchildren, Spencer, Brock, Kendall, Garrett, and Grayson have been blessed by his fun-loving attitude and the abundant love he poured out on them. Over the past 14 months, Popaw enjoyed performing every trick he knew to get new great-grandson Lincoln to belly laugh at him!
John will always be greatly loved, remembered, and missed as husband, Dad, Popaw/Papaw, and friend.
Preceding him in death were his parents, Clarice and John Staley; sister, Virginia Lou Staley; and beloved son, John Davis Staley III.
Surviving family include his cherished wife of 63 years, Rita; daughter, Kellie Staley Miller (David); daughter-in-law, Stephanie Staley; grandchildren, Spencer David Miller (Heather), Brock Johnathan Miller (fiancée Sarah Ashley Hall), Kendall Miller Graham (Matt), John Garrett Staley, Grayson Lane Staley; great-grandson, Lincoln Knox Miller, and a multitude of dear family and friends.
The family will receive friends at Wallace Memorial Baptist Church, 701 Merchant Drive, Knoxville, on Thursday, September 26th from 5:00 - 6:00pm, followed by a celebration of life service at 6:00pm. In lieu of flowers or memorial trees, the family would much appreciate memorial contributions to Wallace Memorial Baptist Church. https://wallaceknox.tpsdb.com/Give/wallacecampus