Dr. Barry Neal Ligon

He was born on March 15, 1942, and grew up on a farm in Sumner County, Tennessee. After high school, he attended the University of Tennessee for his pre-veterinary studies and then earned his Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from Auburn University, graduating in 1966. He paid for his education with earnings from a tobacco crop which he raised.

He moved with his wife Beverly to Chattanooga and worked at a prominent small animal practice for seven years. Then, in 1974, he opened East Brainerd Animal Hospital where he remained until retirement. Dr. Ligon’s animal hospital was one of the first in Chattanooga to work by appointment and to become accredited with the American Animal Hospital Association. He was a past president of the Hamilton County Veterinary Medical Association and in 1995, he received the Tennessee Outstanding Veterinary Practitioner Award.

Perhaps his greatest achievements were with the Boy Scouts of America. Having earned the rank of Eagle as a boy, Barry served as Scout Master of Troop 30 in the Cherokee Area Council for many years, guiding many young men as they too earned the Eagle rank. He received many awards as a Boy Scout leader, the highest being the Silver Beaver.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Buford and Lila Ligon and his son, Dr. Jeff Ligon a dermatologist at Chattanooga Skin and Cancer Clinic, who also achieved the Eagle rank.

He is survived by his wife Beverly of 61 years and one son Dr. Neal S. Ligon, who is a veterinarian at East Brainerd Animal Hospital and also an Eagle Scout, daughters-in-law, Gayle Ligon and Elizabeth Garner. Other family members include six grandchildren, Meg, Foster, Samuel, Curren and Abby Ligon, and Laura (husband Craig) Carter and great-granddaughter, Laura Gayle.

Dr. Ligon's love for the outdoors was evident in his leisure activities: biking, camping, hiking, canoeing, back-packing, running, and working on the Iditarod Dog Sled Race in Alaska.

He was a member of Brainerd United Methodist Church where he served in numerous capacities, and was also a Kiwanian for over fifty years.

Barry’s faith in God was evidenced by his many mission trips as well as his deep appreciation for creation and its creator.

The family will receive friends from 11:30 am to 1:30 pm on Saturday, January 10, 2026 at Brainerd United Methodist Church, 4315 Brainerd Road, Chattanooga, TN 37411. A celebration of life will follow at 1:30 pm in the church with Rev. Tom Daily and Rev. Tim Bracken officiating.

Memorial contributions may be made to Brainerd United Methodist Church at: www.brainerdumc.com and or the Cherokee Area Council of Boy Scouts of America at: www.cherokeeareabsa.com .