David Michael Vestal

David Michael “Big Dog” Vestal age 73 of Sweetwater, Tennessee passed away at his home in Sweetwater on July 21, 2010. David was preceded in death by his grandfather Charles Vestal of Sparta, North Carolina and his grandmother Esta Hampton Vestal of Leesburg, Florida and his father and mother Jerry and Sue Vestal of Athens, Tennessee. He is survived by his wife of 51 years Carol Ann Kennedy Vestal; son David Michael Vestal, Jr. and wife Tamara Vestal of Sweetwater; daughter Julia Vestal Lee and husband Robert J. Lee II of Sweetwater; and daughter Laura Vestal Byrum and husband Eddie Byrum of Sweetwater; sister Susan Vestal Shelton of Sweetwater; He is survived by five wonderful grandchildren Tyler Vestal, Carter Vestal, Taylor Lee, Anna Lee and Bailey Byrum. He is also survived by special friend and hunting buddy Paul Watson. David Vestal was born on March 29, 1937 in Athens, Tennessee. David graduated from McMinn County High School in 1955 where he was named as the first All-American football player at McMinn County High School and also named to the Wigwam Wisemen All-American team. David also received the Roy Lotspeich Trophy given annually to the most valuable player in East Tennessee. David was the only player in McMinn history to ever receive the All-State, All-Southern and All-American teams awards in the same year. David’s number 46 was the first retired jersey at McMinn County High School. David then went on to play football at the University of Tennessee where he graduated with a Bachelors Degree in Business Administration. He was a member of the All Students Club and Phi Gamma Delta Fraternity. He was also a member of the First United Methodist Church of Sweetwater and served on the Board of Directors for the Sweetwater Hospital for twenty-five years. He also served on the Board of Directors of Springbrook Golf and Country Club in Niota, Tennessee. He also served on the City Economic Board and was later Chairman. He was a member of the Monroe County Bass Club for many years and was an avid bass fisherman. He was also avid sportsman who loved to hunt turkey and deer. David started to work at Vestal Manufacturing in 1959 as a salesman traveling in Missouri, Arkansas and southern Illinois. In 1960 he began working in the home office in Sweetwater as a sales manager and then later vice-president of sales and then vice-president of operations. In 1982 David became president of Vestal Manufacturing until he retired in 1998. David loved his job and he was devoted to the people he worked with and the success of the company. Our family would like to say a special thank you to Dr. Barry Berman, Dr. Richard Grapski, Dr. Bill Harvey and Jennifer and Shila and staff at Thompson Cancer Center and the staff at Fort Sanders Eight North. Our family would also like to thank the doctors and staff at the Sweetwater Hospital and Home Health Care of East Tennessee and Hospice. The family will receive friends at Kyker Funeral Home in Sweetwater, Tennessee on July 24, 2010 from 5:30 – 8:00 p.m. with funeral to follow at 8:00 p.m. with Rev. Carl Oaks officiating The interment will be at Cedar Grove Cemetery in Athens, Tennessee on July 25, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. Memorials may be made to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation 383 Main Ave. 5th Floor, Norwalk CT. 06851, or www.themmrf.org and Sweetwater First United Methodist Church .Scott Bowman and the board of directors will serve as of Sweetwater Hospital will serve as honorary pallbearers. Mort Thomassson, Dan Harvey, Clyde Wells, Bill Bradberry, Bill Price, Lennis Chambers, Bill Chambers, Paul Watson, Keith Shope, Bill Edmondson, Ron Mincey, Ted Baker, and J.L. Barker will serve as active pallbearers. www.kykerfuneralhome.com

David Michael Vestal

March 29, 1937 - July 21, 2010