James Montgomery Kyker

James Montgomery Kyker, 87 of Maryville, TN, passed from this life to meet family and friends on September 8, 2013. He was born to Andrew J. and Mary Emma Montgomery Kyker on November 18, 1925. He was preceded in death by wife, Ruth Hamilton Kyker; brothers, Earl Winfield Kyker and Darius Kyker; and cousin, Alice Montgomery Stephens. He leaves to mourn his passing, daughter and son-in-law, Marilyn Jane and Thomas Earl Cate; nephew, Vernon Ray Kyker; niece, Addie Jo Jones; cousins, Joe Pedigo, Cindy Burnett, Taylor Stephens, Marty Stephens, Ron Mullis, Rex Montgomery and Jackie Montgomery; special friends and neighbors, David and Shirley Hitson and his beloved dog Whiskers. Jim served his country as a member of the United States Army, 104th Infantry Division in World War II, on the European front including the Battle of the Bulge and the liberation of the Mittlebau Dora Concentration Camp in Nordhausen, Germany. Afterwards he supported veterans causes as a member of Blount County Memorial Post #5154 Veterans of Foreign Wars and Capt. Emerson J. Lones Post 13 American Legion, faithfully devoting his time and efforts to veterans for more than sixty-five (65) years. Jim was elected to the Blount County Quarterly Court in August, 1960, and served through August, 1969 and was elected again in 1978 and served through August, 1994, with having served a total of more than twenty-five (25) years as a member of the Blount County Quarterly Court and the Blount County Board of Commissioners. While serving in these capacities and during his term as County Commissioner in 1990-1994, he was elected as Chairman Pro Tem and Chairmen, and also served on numerous committees, including the Budget and Finance Committee, Agriculture Extension Committee, and the Veterans Affairs Committee. He also served on the Blount Memorial Hospital Board. Jim represented Blount and Loudon counties in the Tennessee House of Representatives during the 86th General Assembly and as a Delegate to the 1977 Limited State Constitutional Convention of Tennessee. During the 1990's, Jim contributed over 170 acres of land to the Tennessee Wildlife Resource Agency for the preservation and habitation of wildlife at Kyker Bottoms Refuge in Blount County, to be used for the education of school children and for all citizens to observe, enjoy, and learn about the beauty of Gods creations. Jim was an avid golfer and on October 21, 1986 scored one of his hole-in-ones at Wallace Hills 160-yard sixth hole using a six iron. Jim cherished his many golfing buddies and all the golfing trips. Jim was a sixty (60) year member of Mountain View Masonic Lodge #519 serving as Past Master and Past Patron of the Mountain View #358, Order of the Eastern Star. He was a 32nd degree Scottish Right Mason as well as a York Rite Mason. He was also a member of the Williamson Chapel United Methodist Church. He was a retired livestock farmer. Special thanks goes to Sandy and Pat Snoderly and Bonnie McGill for their compassion and loving care. Funeral services will be at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday in McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Danny Treadway officiating. Family and friends will meet at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at Grandview Cemetery for the interment service. The family will receive friends from 5-7:00 p.m. Tuesday at McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home. 982-6812 www.mccammonammonsclick.com