Buford C. Lemons

Buford C. Lemons, age 72, of Walland, passed away Thursday, April 21, 2016, at Blount Memorial Transitional Care of Maryville. He was born in Corbin, Ky, and graduated from Corbin High School in 1961. He received his undergraduate and Master's degrees from the University of Tennessee. He was retired from Blount County Schools as a teacher. During his teaching career he taught in Union County where he was the freshman football coach. Later he taught at Friendsville, Porter, Lanier, Townsend and spent most of his career at Heritage High School as a Math and Physics teacher. At Heritage his duties also included periods of coaching swimming and track. While teaching fourth grade at Townsend he was honored as Blount County 'Teacher of the Year' for the 1983-84 school year. He was elected president of the Blount County Education Association (BCEA) and held that position on three occasions. His military service included active duty with the US Air Force from 1961-1965, including tours in Vietnam. After discharge he joined the Army Reserves and continued for another nineteen years ending as a Master Sergeant. He was a member for many years at Walland United Methodist Church but in recent years attended Pleasant Grove Baptist Church and became a member in August of 2015. He cherished his Happy Helpers Sunday School class where he loved them as an extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, Buford, Sr. and Carlea (Turner) Lemmons; sister, Shirley Worley Turner; brother, James David Lemmons. His survivors include his wife of 37 years, MaryLynn Gillespie Lemons; daughter, Kenlyn Foster (Andy Hutsell) of Maryville, TN; son, Clay Foster (Merritt) of Santa Rosa, CA; grandchildren, Kelson and Campbell Spence, Ellary Hutsell, Riley and Cole Foster; sister-in-law, Janet Lemmons of Knoxville. Receiving of friends will be held on Tuesday, April 26, 2016, from 5-7:00 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Baptist Church, 3736 Tuckaleechee Pike, Maryville, TN 37804 with the funeral to follow at 7:00 p.m. with Pastor Greg Long officiating. Family and friends will meet at 11:00 a.m. Wednesday at Pleasant Grove Cemetery for the interment service. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Pleasant Grove Cemetery, c/o Shirley Hitch, secretary treasurer at 222 Summit Drive, Maryville, TN 37804.