Paul Erskine "Pappy" Reagan

Paul Erskine "Pappy" Reagan, 90, of Kingston, Tenn. passed away on Tuesday, April 23, 2013 at his home. He was born on June 9, 1922 in Jamestown, Tenn. Mr. Reagan was a graduate of York Institute in Jamestown, Tenn. and Tennessee Technological University in Cookeville, TN, where he earned a degree in physics He worked for more than 30 years as a nuclear engineer for the X-10 and Y-12 Department of Energy facilities in Oak Ridge, TN.where he received numerous patents for his work. He retired in 1988 then filling his time with bluegrass and raising his famous tomatoes taking great pride in sharing them. Mr. Reagan served in the Army Air Corps (now the U.S. Air Force) during World War II, where he operated radar as part of the 14th Air Corp Flying Tigers B-25 bomber crew out of Kunming, China. He participated in the Burma Road Campaign. Mr. Reagan's greatest passion was bluegrass music. From the age of 13, Mr. Reagan began to teach himself how to play the guitar and later the mandolin. "The mandolin is my favorite instrument --- I've only got nine of them," he joked in a 2012 interview. Mr. Reagan was well known as a frequent player and attendee at bluegrass festivals across Tennessee for decades. His musical influences were Dick Burnett and Bill Monroe. Perhaps the greatest demonstration of his musical passion was seen in his devotion to the Bradbury Community Center in Kingston. Mr. Reagan was one of the co-founders of the community center's weekly and monthly bluegrass "jam sessions" which began in 1980. Some of his best times at Bradbury included playing with his family band, the Harvesters. A prolific writer, Mr. Reagan also contributed to several bluegrass publications. Mr. Reagan was always active in his community serving on the Roane County Farm Bureau Board for many years. In 2011, Mr. Reagan was named as a Roane County Treasure, and was honored as such with a resolution by the Tennessee State Senate. Mr. Reagan was a longtime member of Cedar Grove Baptist Church and Central Baptist Church in Kingston. He is preceded in death by his father, Joel Gaudin Reagan, and mother, Rhoda Sewell Reagan; his daughter, Janie Reagan Monroe; four brothers and sisters, Elva Reagan Turner, Edna Reagan Copley, Joel Kermit Reagan and Lela Reagan Stockton. Mr. Reagan is survived by his wife of 64 years, Billie Grimes Reagan of Kingston; his sister, Charlene Reagan Hill of Crossville; three daughters, Judy Bensey of Kingston, Joyce Nall of Kingston, Jennifer Burnett of Flowery Branch, Ga.; two sons, Joel Reagan of Knoxville and Jason Reagan of Boone, N.C.; two sons-in-law, Earl Nall of Kingston and Ray Burnett of Flowery Branch, Ga.; two daughters-in-law, Andre'a Reagan of Knoxville and Stacy Reagan of Boone, N.C.; 11 grandchildren; Todd Carriger of Kingston, Paula Fross of Rockwood, Jeremy Carriger of Iga Ueno, Japan; Emily Thomas of Oak Ridge, Sara Nall of Buford, Ga. Addison and Kelsey Reagan of Knoxville, Tyler and Corey Burnett of Flowery Branch, Ga., and Justin and Shelby Reagan of Boone, N.C. and numerous great-grandchildren. The family will receive friends on Friday, April 26 from 5-7 p.m. at Kyker Funeral Home in Kingston with funeral services immediately following in the chapel. A private burial will follow on Saturday, April 27. The Rev. Tim Shelton will officiate. Mr. Reagan will receive Masonic honors at the funeral as he was a Mason of more than 50 years. He will also receive military honors at his burial, including a 21-gun salute. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org).

Paul Erskine "Pappy" Reagan

April 23, 1923 - April 23, 2013