Sorry to hear of Travis's passing. He was a good man, and a good resource for sharing the pursuit that he loved, Geology.

Prayers for the family and may the Peace of God shine down on the family during this time.

Allen Trotter

Travis greatly enjoyed "holding court" at rockhounding field trips he hosted at the Ballard Barite Mine in east Tennessee.  He was always good-natured and generous with his time and energy.  Travis was a positive force who will be sorely missed by countless friends.

I have known Travis since the early 2000s when my late wife Cheryl and I first joined the Knoxville Gem and Mineral society (KGMS).  He made us feel welcome and was always ready to help identify rocks and fossils that we brought to club meetings.  He even remembered some rocks that Cheryl brought in, that she had purchased at a rock shop in Gatlinburg in the early 70s!  He remembered seeing the very rocks in that shop years ago!

Travis attended many a field trip, where he would encourage attendees in their collecting.  Travis was a geologist with a long history of working in the field.  He had many interesting recollections of these efforts.  That and field trip stories.  He shared some of those stories with me & that kept me interested.  I am a big fan of wearing flip flops everywhere & Travis had a good time keeping after me for wearing them on field trips!  Conversely, I had fun wearing them to get his attention!  Kidding aside, I was glad to have been able to talk to Travis during the October show of this year (2023) about past field trips, and especially the visits to the Norris Kimberlite deposit.  I had no idea that that would be our last conversation. I suspect I will forever think of Travis whenever I am working with my rock collection or writing about rocks.

Travis did a lot of “stepping up” to make KGMS a success.  He was President when he passed, and he had been President several other times before that.  He has been referred to as “the glue that held the club together”.  Travis gave programs, including those on gold, coal mining, geocaching, the Knoxville “Marble” industry, and meteorites.  Travis thought that the earth science was important.  He Loved our club! It was his extended family!  

If you want to honor Travis, consider stepping up and volunteering on behalf of the Knoxville Gem & Mineral Society.  He would want the club to live on and prosper.  It takes people stepping up to make any organization a success.  Thank you, Travis!

I am so sorry to hear this news.  I have such fond memories of conversing with Travis at mineral shows and ETGS.  Travis was very respected in the community and will be missed.  The Gem show will not be the same and Knoxville has lost a true friend.  Please keep us posted on arrangements 
Robert Storms
Mineral Vug
Mineralvug@gmail.com
865 776 8184

Travis was generous with his time and sharing knowledge of interesting mineral localities. He enriched the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences at U Tennessee in many ways, e.g., personally delivering field camp scholarships to the undergraduates, and engaging with faculty to help plan field trips. He will be missed.

Travis admiring the colorful minerals in a rock during an East Tennessee Geological Society (ETGS) field trip in 2014.

Travis, we miss you, but we take comfort in knowing you now have the best view of the rocks and minerals. Rest in peace, dear friend.

Travis was our gem and mineral expert. His license plate demonstrated his keen interest in the subject. This photo was made on an East Tennessee Geological Society (ETGS) field trip in 2014.

Travis was generous with his knowledge. He was our invited speaker at least four times over the years.

Travis interpreting our region's complex geology at a roadside exposure of folded rocks during a field trip he led in 2010.

Travis led ETGS as president in 2006/2007, following two years as vice president in 2004/2005.

Travis leading members of the East Tennessee Geological Society (ETGS) on a field trip to a former barite mine in 2010.

We keep his family and friends in our thoughts and prayers.

Travis sharing his knowledge with members of the East Tennessee Geological Society (ETGS) during a field trip to a local lead-zinc mine in 2008.

ETGS members are saddened to learn we have lost our dear friend and colleague, Travis Paris.

I remember when Travis joined Knoxville Gems and Mineral Society a LOT of years ago!  He has done so much for the club and the hobby ... a wealth of information.

I will miss him as a fellow club member and a friend.  It was wonderful talking with him at the show in October!

Travis doing what he always did, working to make KGMS a better organization.  He will be missed.  Rest in peace my friend.  God bless, Steve Clark

OBITUARIO

Travis Anthony Paris

10 mayo, 1949 – 16 noviembre, 2023

Weaver Funeral Home

Muestre su apoyo

Comparta Un Recuerdo

Comparta
Un Obituario

Obtenga actualizaciones

Servicios