John Linville Salmon was born August 22, 1944, in Paris, TN, the son of John Waylon and Lila Sue Salmon. John was raised in Buchanan, TN, and lived a rural life; farming tobacco, corn, and livestock for dairy, beef, and pork, as did most of the others in the area. John spoke lovingly about his experiences in Buchanan and the life he led growing up. His animals, work ethic, and family there shaped the rest of his life. Attaining the designation as a Century Farm for his grandfather’s farm was among his most sentimental and treasured accomplishments.

John attended Buchanan School until his family moved to Paris where he graduated from E.W. Grove High School, class of 1962. He furthered his education at Bethel College and Murray State.

John married Kay Radford on April 4, 1965. The two enjoyed 57 loving years of marriage before Kay’s passing. John and Kay raised 3 children, Tracy, Gina, and Andy on their farm in Weakley County. They were proud grandparents to 6, and great grandparents for 2. John and Kay were members of Olive Branch United Methodist Church and Dresden First United Methodist Church.

John continued to raise cattle on the farm just outside of “the bright lights of Como,” for the rest of his days. He loved to tell people that he has owned at least one cow since he was 5 years old. His farm provided an idyllic setting to grow his family and his beloved Red Angus. John was a master tinkerer and gifted at creating solutions to things that needed to be done.

John worked at, and retired from, Goodyear Tire and Rubber in Union City, TN, from 1969-1999. He was instrumental in the founding and served on the Board of Directors for the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co Credit Union. He began as a tire builder and was realized to be more of an asset to the company using his unique talents to increase mechanical efficiency of machines. He worked alongside engineers, applying his spatial vision to their more scholarly approaches. While at Goodyear, John acquired his Tennessee Real Estate License and worked with Century 21 Overton/Moore Real Estate in Martin, TN. His part-time work was successful enough that upon retirement from Goodyear, he worked full-time with real estate until he stopped to care for Kay during her later years.

He was also civic minded. John served the citizens of District One in Weakley County for 28 consecutive years as County Commissioner. He was very proud to say he never missed a meeting during his tenure. He was elected to serve one term during that period as the President of the Tennessee County Commissioner’s Association, presiding over meetings and events with Commissioners from all 95 Tennessee Counties. His proudest works were the 911 Committee, where he was on the board from 1994 to present, the “Are You OK? Program that was to check on sick and homebound citizens, and the creation and installation of The Weakley County War Memorial. John was also very proud to support and advocate for the Weakley County Drug Court Program, the participants and attended many of the graduations. He was a man of conviction and action, doing what he said and what he felt was right and would help his constituents.

John was honored to be a member of one of the first classes of the WestStar Organization, created by UT Martin to bring leaders together with the intent of fostering economic development. He enjoyed attending reunions and meeting new WestStar classes, tremendously.

Most of all, John loved his Kay deeply for their 57 years of marriage. You rarely saw one outside of work, without the other. John spent the last 12 years of their marriage tenderly caring for Kay as she battled cancer. John was a shining example of a father and friend for Tracy, Gina, and Andy. He was a proud grandfather and great-grandfather as evidenced by his and Kay’s love for Camp-Salmon, a tradition that has lasted for 15 years. John was a friend to all, a champion for those he could help, a Christian, a man of action, empathetic and passionate about life and those around him. To us, he was Daddy, and the best one we know of. To the grandchildren, their beloved Daddy John.

John was preceded in death by his parents, John Waylon and Lila Sue Salmon, his brother, George Edwin Salmon and his wife, Kay Radford Salmon. He is survived by his three children, Tracy (Natalie) Salmon, Gina Workman, and Andy (Farrah) Salmon, six grandchildren, Mary Kate (Whit) Throckmorton, Bea Workman, Jack Workman, Wally Workman, John Evan Salmon and Ava Salmon and two great grandchildren, Harper and Henry Throckmorton.

Ridgeway Funeral Home, 201 Dunlap Street, Paris, TN, 38242, is handling the arrangements. Visitation will be held Monday, November 24, 2025, from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at Ridgeway Funeral Home and again on Tuesday November 25, 2025 at Olive Branch United Methodist Church in Cottage Grove, TN at 11:00 a.m. until 1:00 p.m. with the funeral service beginning at 1:00 p.m. at the church.

Burial will follow at Olive Branch Cemetery.

Memorials may be made to Olive Branch United Methodist Church, 145 SR-140, Paris, TN, 38242, or Miss Kay’s Drawer, Dresden Elementary School, 759 Linden St., Dresden, TN, 38225.