John David Jarrard

John David Jarrard, 77, of Powell, Tennessee, passed away peacefully, surrounded by family on April 24, 2018, in Knoxville, Tennessee. To those who knew him, there has never been a more generous, kind, loving, and honorable man. A devoted and adoring husband, a loving father, a wise and committed grandfather, an ardent volunteer, a passionate man of faith, and imbued with a razor-sharp mind and wit, John’s passing will be mourned by many. And, yet, his life is to be celebrated and his legacy will continue in those with whom he has invested so much.

John, born November 20, 1940, grew up in Springfield, Missouri, and attended college at the University of Missouri (Rolla) before graduating in 1963 with a B.S. in Engineering Physics from the University of Tennessee.

While pursing graduate studies in Industrial Engineering at UT, John conducted research in nuclear physics in the Neutron Physics Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and authored several technical articles reflecting his work there.

While in Oak Ridge, John met and married the one and only love of his life, Gail Ann (Beatty,) Jarrard, who survives him.

After graduation, John was employed in Newport News, Virginia, as a civilian consultant to the US Army’s Continental Army Command, where he worked under “Q” and “Top Secret” security clearances. He returned to Knoxville in 1965 and founded Commercial Technology, Inc, (“Com-Tech”) one of the city’s first data processing companies.

Between 1973 and 2001, John held multiple positions within the University of Tennessee focused on computing and administrative systems. During his 28-year career there, John managed every aspect of computing and telecommunications associated with a major university. When he retired in 2001, John was the Executive Director of University-wide Computing Services and also served as the Asst. Vice-President, Office of Research and Information Technology.

John received the “Chancellor’s Award for Outstanding Service to the University,” and was the “1999 Distinguished Service Award” recipient of the Tennessee Higher Education Computer Processing Symposium.

During these years John also ran for public office in Anderson County, winning multiple terms as a member of the Anderson County Board of Education.

Following retirement from the University of Tennessee – and until the time of passing - John was an active volunteer with disaster services and homeland security agencies, responding to numerous local and national disasters and ministering to many in their time of distress and need.

A consultant with the Tennessee Commission on National and Community Service and on the advisory board of RSVP, he was the founder and director of the Sevier Heights Baptist Church Southern Baptist Disaster Services team.

In addition, John was a 16-year volunteer with the American Red Cross where he served principally as a volunteer manager in External Relations. He was also an Advanced Disaster Services Red Cross Instructor.

He was the 2012 recipient of the Red Cross “Clara Barton Honor Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership,” the highest award the American Red Cross bestows on volunteers.

John and Ann have been inseparable for almost sixty years. Their marriage resulted in two boys, John David Jarrard, Jr. and Kenneth Edward Jarrard. David Jarrard is married to Brenda and they live in Franklin, Tennessee. They have two adult children, Nathaniel (married to Courtney Roberts Jarrard) and Madeline. Kenneth (“Ken”) Jarrard is married to Rebecca and they live in Canton, Georgia, with their four children, Briggs, Kendall, Gavin, and Bristol.

John loved spending time with his wife, sons, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren, with John and Ann routinely traveling together to family (and grandchildren) events, ballgames, holidays, special events, weekends away, parties, socials, and dinners. John embraced every moment of it. John invested one-hundred percent in everything that he did, whether it was his family, prayer booth ministry, the Red Cross, ham radio, hiking, sailing, biking, or the other many pursuits, hobbies and pastimes that he so enjoyed. While he was probably the most content behind the rudder of a sailboat, with Ann, navigating through many and varied places around the world, John derived true pleasure wherever he was – so long as Ann was there.

John was a man of faith, a Christian, and an active member of Sevier Heights Baptist Church. Evidence of John’s faith could be seen in his words and actions; but mainly actions.

The family will receive friends Saturday, April 28, 2018 from 10:00 am until 11:00 am in the chapel of Berry Funeral Home, 3704 Chapman Highway. A Celebration of Life Service will follow at 11:00 am. The family would like thank the staff and caregivers of the University of Tennessee, Knoxville Medical Center, ICU unit, and CVICU unit, who worked with such dedication and compassion to restore John and make his final days comfortable.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to One Vision International, 2915 Alcoa Highway, Knoxville, TN, 37920 or the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association, 1 Billy Graham Parkway, P.O. Box 1270, Charlotte, NC, 28201-1270.