Kevin Everette Hollingsworth

Kevin Everette Hollingsworth fell asleep in death on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 at the age of 57 after an extended illness. He was born on April 19, 1967 in Winston-Salem, N.C. to Brenda and Ray Hollingsworth when his father, who was a radar instructor in the United States Air Force, was stationed in that area.

As a youngster, Kevin lived on the coast of Oregon and in Biloxi, MS as his father was transferred to new duty stations. It was in Biloxi, while still a young boy, that Kevin developed a penchant for trying new and different foods, like squid and octopus, and his love of adventuresome meals continued throughout his life. Kevin loved watching The Food Network and was a loyal follower of the show Bizarre Foods.

Also in Biloxi, Kevin's parents began a study of the Bible and were baptized as Jehovah's Witnesses in 1974. Kevin's father was honorably discharged from the Air Force, and the family moved back to Adamsville, TN, his parents' hometown. Kevin was baptized in 1982 and remained a faithful witness of Jehovah until his death.

Kevin was creative, artistic, and musical. A 1985 graduate of Adamsville High School (AHS), Kevin played alto saxophone in the marching band, serving as band Vice President his senior year. He also was a part of the Art Honors Society and was a talented painter.

Kevin's greatest love was the natural world, and he had a deep appreciation for Jehovah's creation. As a child, it was never unusual for Kevin to surprise his mom with a slithering snake or squirming frog held gently in his little boy hands. Kevin was an avid hunter and fisherman and spent many hours with his friends and father at Coffee Landing on the Tennessee River with a line in the water. He delighted in telling the story of leaving the high school prom early to meet his friend to go fishing. His grandparents' family farm was his favorite place in the world, and he contentedly wiled away many days squirrel hunting with his granddaddy and then snacking on the squirrel leg his grandmother fried up.

His passion for the outdoors and wildlife continued into adulthood, and Kevin received his Bachelor of Science degree in May 1990 from the University of Tennessee at Martin (UTM) in Natural Resources Management with a focus in Wildlife Biology. It was at UTM that he met his future wife, Jan Carter, also a Wildlife Biology student. They were inaugural members of the UTM Chapter of the National Wildlife Society. It was not unheard of for them and their friends to skip a couple of classes when spring fever drew them to the North Fork of the Obion River and a favorite fishing spot.

Kevin and Jan married on October 12, 1991 at Rhea Springs in Shiloh National Park and moved to Chattanooga where they had both been hired by the soon-to-open Tennessee Aquarium. Kevin was an aquarium reptiles and amphibians biologist and did population studies on the Tennessee cave salamander, surveying cave systems throughout the Southeast. In 1997, Kevin founded his own business, Nature By Design, and spent the next 23 years designing and installing custom waterscapes, an area where his artistic talent shone.

Throughout their 32 years together, Kevin and Jan spent many happy times hunting, fishing, camping, and snow skiing. Every October, they looked forward to being mentors for the Hardin County Youth Deer Hunt, and Kevin served for 15 years as a volunteer with the program, teaching many young hunters about the value of harvesting wild game in an ethical way. While Kevin and Jan did not have children, they had many beloved pets over the years, including dogs and cats and many reptiles and amphibians.

Kevin was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Girtha and Everette Hollingsworth; maternal grandparents, Mary Ruth and Ed Mace; and aunt and uncle, Paulette and Michael Fitts. Kevin is survived by his wife, Jan; parents, Brenda and Ray Hollingsworth; and cousins Michele (Tommy) Overton of Nolensville, TN and Michael (Regina) Lewis of Tampa, FL.

The family welcomes donations to The Watchtower Bible and Tract Society; Happinest Wildlife Rescue in Signal Mountain, TN; or the University of Tennessee at Martin chapter of The Wildlife Society in Martin, TN.

Friends and family are invited to a memorial service to honor and remember Kevin on Saturday, October 26 at 2 p.m. CDT/3 p.m. EDT at the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses in Adamsville, TN located at 91 Boyd Road. The service will also be live streamed on Zoom for those who are not able to travel to attend in person.

Kevin will be deeply missed.