Joel R. Usery passed away peacefully, surrounded by his precious family, on Monday, September 2, 2024 in Gallatin, Tennessee.
Joel was born in Lexington, Tennessee on December 21, 1954 to J.W. and Opal (Parham) Usery.
He attended Westover Elementary; graduating from Lexington High School in 1972. He proudly graduated from the University of Tennessee at Martin (UTM) in 1976 with a degree in Business Administration. Joel nurtured a tenured career in the manufacturing field; earning financial leadership titles through integral commitment and confident dedication with Global Power Company (Waverly, TN), Comfortzone Corporation (Nashville, TN), Dozier Equipment Company (Nashville, TN) and successfully retiring from Lochinvar Corporation (Lebanon, TN) in 2017.
Joel was a loyal member of, including the appointment to Board and Council positions along with organizational leadership roles in the Lebanon/Wilson County Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Wilson, Prospect, Wilson Bank Community Council and Leadership Middle Tennessee. He was named the “2011 Industrialist of the Year” by the Lebanon/Wilson County Chamber of Commerce for his work at Lochinvar Corporation.
Joel and his children, Amanda and Andrew, enjoyed their education experiences while attending the University of Tennessee at Martin. The fall of 1972, and the spring of 2004, a span of 32 years are tied together for these three former students by professors, advisors and friends known to all three. Their satisfaction with the education and life foundation received at UTM created a desire to give something back to their alma mater: the creation of the U-3 Usery Family Scholarship.
In 2020, the Usery family endowed the U-3 Usery Family Scholarship at UTM, assuring that scholarships will continue to be provided in the future. Joel was a true sports aficionado; he faithfully supported the Tennessee Volunteers, Atlanta Braves and Nashville Predators. He proudly coached youth sports for his children and incorporated the girls’ fast pitch softball organization in Franklin, TN.
Joel had a lifelong passion for music and dancing; he favored Dave Matthews Band, Eagles, Eric Clapton, Heart, Journey and Lynyrd Skynyrd. He was a passionate fanatic of Star Wars, American history, U.S. Presidents and Mustang cars.
Everyone who knew Joel knew his proudest achievement was his family.
He spent priceless time coaching, empowering, loving, nurturing, promoting, teaching, trusting and valuing his treasured legacy.
Joel was preceded in death by his beloved parents, J.W. and Opal (Parham) Usery. He is survived by his dedicated wife, Becky Fox-Usery; his devoted children, Amanda (Usery) Lester, Andrew Usery and Johnathan Harris; his cherished grandchildren, Peyton Lester and Olivia Lester. He is also survived by his generous brother and sister-in-law, James and Peggy Usery, and an extended family tree including nephews, nieces, cousins, friends and bonus loved ones.
We are blessed and indebted to Dr. Roger McKinney, the Mayo Clinic (Jacksonville, FL) medical staff and Dr. Wendy Sherman, Brooks Rehabilitation (FL), Rehab Without Walls (Hendersonville, TN) and the Highpoint Health-Sumner hospital and in-patient rehab staff especially Dr. Kevin Childers and all of Joel’s nurses who diligently, faithfully and unselfishly cared for Joel and his family.
A Celebration of Life will be conducted on Saturday, September 14, 2024 at Partlow Funeral Home in Lebanon, Tennessee. The family will receive visitors from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. The Celebration of Life service will begin at 5:00 p.m. https://partlowchapel.com
The family requests any memorial contributions be made to the Mayo Clinic Comprehensive Cancer Center.
For more obituaries visit https://wilsoncountysource.com/obituaries/
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