Mr. Paul Larry Mottern, 75, of 240 C. Grindstaff Road, Elizabethton, went home to spend eternity with his Lord and Savior, surrounded by his loving family and friends, on Sunday, July 24, 2011, at the Johnson City Medical Center Hospital following a brief illness.
He was the son of the late Clarence Robert “Cot†and Elma Sparks Mottern and was born in Elizabethton. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two sisters, Betty Turner and Linda McQueen and a special friend, Joe White.
Mr. Mottern was proud to serve his country, his state and his county as a veteran of the United States Navy. He continued his tradition of service to Carter County as a constable under George Papantinou and most recently as a Carter County Commissioner. As a commissioner he had a particular heart for the elderly people in his district. He was an active member of Hunter First Baptist Church, as an usher and as one of the first live camera operators in the church. He loved to go on trips with the Senior Citizens of the church and always eagerly anticipated those trips. Golf was another passion, as well as camping at Little Wilbur and his beloved pets, both those in his own home and his adopted pets that he watched during the day. He was a member of the Roan’s Creek Masonic Lodge # 679 A and FM. He was a past member of the Capt. Lynn H. Folsom VFW #2166. Paul retired from East Tennessee Undergarment, where he worked his way up through the ranks to become Plant Manager.
He is survived by his loving wife, Elaine Roberson Mottern, of the home; two sons, Freddie Mottern of KY; Michael Mottern and his wife, Mitzi, Elizabethton; two step-children, Richard Grindstaff and his fiancée, Hope; Elizabethton; Tammy Johnson and her husband, Kenneth, Elizabethton; nine grandchildren, Brandi Mottern, Andrew Mottern, Alieshia Mottern-Frink, Kasey Johnson, Conner Johnson, Cheyenne Grindstaff, Sierra Grindstaff, Colendon Miller and Magnolia Miller; three great-grandchildren, Brennedy Lascola, Kiernan Frink and Liam Frink; a sister, Sharon Barnes, Elizabethton and his mother-in-law, Helen Roberson, Elizabethton; his very special friends, Bob and Mary Etta Schaff, Ruth and Louis “Mackie†McDaniel, Mike Given, Phil Trubee, John Norris, Norman Peters, Shirley White, Ruby and Lowell Garrison and Lawrence and Jenny Hodge. Several brothers and sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins also survive.
The funeral service for Mr. Mottern will be conducted on Tuesday, July 26, 2011 at 7:00 PM in the Riverside Chapel of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton with Rev. Sherrell Nave and Dr. Grant Whittenbarger officiating. Music will be under the direction of Patty Hodge and Sue Bowers. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Tuesday prior to the service and at the residence at other times.
The graveside service for Mr. Mottern will be conducted on Wednesday, July 27, 2011 at 11:00 AM at the Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Danny Jones, Cody Nunley, Rusty Verran, Rick Williams, Jon Barnett, Steve Buckles and Jack Shook.
Honorary pallbearers will be Lawrence Hodge, Roger Lewis, John Norris and Norman Peters. Those wishing to attend are invited to meet the family at the funeral home at 10:15 AM Wednesday to go in procession to the cemetery.
Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to Shriner’s Hospital for Children, 950 West Faris Street, Greenville, SC 29605.
The family would like to express a special thank you to the doctors and nurses of Johnson City Medical Center Hospital, especially nurses David and Heather on 2300 for all the compassion and love shown to Paul and to the family during his stay there.
Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book or by fax 423 542-9499.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton is serving the family. Office 423 542-2232, Obituary line 543-4917.
