Marion Edward Lawhorn, 93, of Mascot, TN peacefully entered the glorious gates of Heaven on Wednesday, February 8, 2023, surrounded with love. He was born on December 1, 1929, in Knox County, TN to Oscar Edward and Jessie Ruth (Findley) Lawhorn. From a young age, he was gifted with mechanical inclination, repairing and constructing various projects including his family's home in West Knoxville. He often disassembled things only to rebuild them his way, including countless vehicles. He met the love of his life and devoted wife of 72 years, Virginia Dare Koon, in 1946. They wed on his 21st birthday before he was deployed to South Korea with the United States Army. He was severely wounded in combat and was awarded the prestigious Purple Heart. With his relentless determination, he overcame many medical obstacles to return home to his waiting wife and infant daughter. He received an honorable discharge from the United States Army. He returned to work at the University of Tennessee holding various titles until earning his position as Supervisor of the Alumni Mailroom. On his retirement, January 31, 1995, he was recognized for his more than 48 years of loyal and devoted service to UT Knoxville with the naming of the Alumni Mailroom in his honor. Marion exemplified serving God faithfully to his family, belonging to Ebenezer United Methodist Church and later First Church of God and the Cherokee Masonic Lodge No. 728. His family was his greatest joy. He loved being outdoors and spent hours gardening, trailering his grandchildren and great-grandchildren behind his riding mower, golf-carting with his black lab, Rosie, playing croquet and badminton on his beautiful Zoysia lawn.
Marion was preceded in death by his parents and his first granddaughter, Keisha Dare Blake Williams.
He is survived by his wife, Virginia and their three children, Julia L. Grisham, David E. Lawhorn and Lisa A. Leach (David); sister, Maxine L. Ferguson and brother, Rufus A. Lawhorn along with several nieces and nephews; six granddaughters, Virginia Melton (Randy), Stephannie Coyle, Chesia Cunniff (PJ), Michelle Spradlin, Jennifer Proffitt (Tyson) and Kristy Leach; great-grandchildren, Hunter and Kaitlyn Williams, Victoria and Presley Melton, Tripp and Charlotte Coyle, Kinsley and Knox Cunniff.
We will greatly miss our 'Papaw' Lawhorn. Family would like to extend special thanks to the staff of LaFollette Court Assisted Living facility, Jessica Hatfield with Amedysis and Kristy Leach for their compassionate, loving care.
A visitation will be held for Marion on Friday, February 17, 2023 at 1pm at Berry Highland Memorial Funeral Home, with a funeral service to follow at 2pm. A graveside service will be held at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery at 3pm with full military honors.
Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.berryhighlandmemorial.com for the Lawhorn family.
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