Puryear, Tenn.–Long-time Puryear Mayor Kenny Paschall passed away Friday at his residence after a lengthy illness. He was 72.
In November, Paschall was presented with the Loyal Patriot Award, which is the highest award that can be bestowed on a Henry County resident. Henry County Mayor John Penn Ridgeway made the presentation, noting Paschall’s lengthy service to the county.
Paschall retired from the Paris Board of Public Utilities after 39 years. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Paris and the Friendship Sunday School Class. He loved working with church groups, building handicap ramps and was always ready to drive the van for any church group trip.
Paschall enjoyed public service and enjoyed his time as Mayor of Puryear. He was highly involved in the Holly Fork Shooting Complex and the Henry County No Fly Zone Shooting Team. He loved teaching and coaching shooters and hunters and had taken many kids on their first hunts.
He was a great athlete. He played softball for the Jean Shoppe travel team for several years and went on to coach several kids sports teams through the years. One of his greatest passions was going to Ballard County, Kentucky where he loved hunting and working on the Dulworth Farm.
Kenny was born July 14, 1950 in Paris, TN. He was preceded in death by his father, James Polk (Bobbie) Paschall, and his mother, the Margie (Charlie) Marshall.
He married Sandra Gallimore Paschall on May 20, 1988, and she survives of Puryear. Besides his wife, he is also survived by one daughter, Jennifer (Monte) Starks of Paris, TN; one son, Ross (Anna) Paschall of Puryear, TN; an aunt, JoAnne McEvoy of Long Beach, MS; one granddaughter, Tori Starks; one grandson, Gage Starks; a special niece, Cassie Moody Weatherly; and special friends, Russ Orr and Donald Umstead.
Visitation will be Sunday, January 8, 2023 from 4 – 7 pm at First Baptist Church and Monday, January 9, 2023 from 11am – 1 pm at First Baptist Church. The funeral service will be Monday, January 9, 2023 at 1 pm at First Baptist Church with Larry Simmons and Dr. Trent Bullock officiating.
Serving as pallbearers will be Ted Fields, Caleb Orr, Rickie Orr, Terry Wimberley, Barry Flood and Mike Brown. Honorary pallbearers will be Mary Teague, Ronnie Conger, Mike Siebert, Roy Wadkins, Bobby Terrell, and Kelly Brown.
Burial will follow in Puryear City Cemetery in Puryear, TN.
Memorials may be made to Monroe Carell Jr. Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt, In Honor of Emily Dulworth, 2200 Children’s Way, Nashville, TN 37232, or First Baptist Church, 313 N. Poplar Street, Paris, TN 38242.