James "Jim" Ira Ison

James Ira “Jim” Ison, age 87, of Knoxville, TN passed away on Saturday, October 28, 2023. Jim was born in Jenkins, KY on May 7, 1936, and in 1942 he and his mother relocated to Chattanooga, following the death of his father in a coal mining accident. Jim attended Chattanooga Central High School and Tennessee Tech University. He married Margaret “Margie” Wood in 1957 and in 1965 moved his family to the Knoxville area.

Mr. Ison’s engineering career began with the Tennessee Department of Transportation as Survey Party Chief and Jr. Engineer in the Highway and Bridge Construction Department throughout the Chattanooga Region. He assisted in the building of the first interstate highway system in the Chattanooga area.

Mr. Ison worked for the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for 32 years in the Division of Transmission Construction. He was instrumental in building transmission lines, substations, and communication facilities within the seven state TVA region. During his tenure, Jim had multiple roles including Manager of Construction Engineering Services, Manager of Material and Project Services and the Assistant Division Manager. He completed his career as the Manager of Substation and Communication Construction in Knoxville, TN upon his retirement in 1994. While at TVA, Jim was affiliated with the National Management Association, the American Society of Engineering Managers, and the Project Management Institute.

Jim’s passion was to honor and serve his Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus, within the church body and in his community. Jim is a former member of Church Street United Methodist Church where he worked to feed the hungry in the soup kitchen, assisted on the Property Committee, acted as Head Usher, and established the church’s first emergency management plan.

Jim’s community service includes serving on the Corporate Board of Directors for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley in the capacity of Chairman of the Corporate Board; Secretary; Chairman of the Moses School Renovation Committee and on other multiple committees within the East TN area. In 1994, Jim was honored as the Boys and Girls Clubs new Board Member of the Year for the State of TN. His honors also include the 2001 Children Are the Reason for Excellence Award (CARE); the 2002 “Moses Teen Center Board Member of the Year Award; and the 2004 Boys and Girls Clubs of America National Medallion Award.

Jim was a member of the Optimist Club of Knoxville. He served on the Board of Directors and as Chairman of the Henry Naff Scholarship Fund. During his service, he received the Sunshine Welch Membership Award and the Optimist of the Year Award for TN. From 1980-1981, he served as President for the Claxton Optimist Club; from 1981-1982 he served as Lt. Governor and from 1983-1984 as Governor for the Optimist TN District.

Jim’s other service and interests include being a founding member of the Claxton Volunteer Fire Department where he served as a Charter Member of the Board of Directors, founding member of the Irish Setter Bird Dog Field Trial Club, and a member of the Knoxville Quarterback Club and the Big Orange Tip-off Club. Jim enjoyed raising and training birddogs, bird hunting, reading history and politics, hiking, biking, gardening, watching the UT Vols and Atlanta Braves Baseball.

Jim was a Master Mason of Alpha Lodge 376 in Clinton, TN, a member of the Knoxville Scottish Rite, and the Kerbela Shrine Temple.

Jim is preceded in death by parents, Ira Ison, Jr. and June Wright Ison. Survived by Margie Ison, the love of his life for the past 65 years. He met Margie in Cookeville, TN and Jim states that, “She was singing on the stage with the pep band. She had a ponytail and sparkles in her hair. She stole my heart and never let it go.”

Also survived by daughter, Debbie K. Williams (Jeff) and grandsons, Alex Stidham and Josh Stidham (Kalie), great-grandchildren, Eli, Ezra, and Jude. Daughter, Jill McMillan (David) (thought of as a son), granddaughter, Brigitte Bond and great-grandchildren, Eliana, Josiah, Michaela, and Isaiah, granddaughter, Brittany Benziger (Taylor) and great-grandchildren, Judy and Gene.

Godson, Larry Cannon (Lori) and children, Brent (Chesney) and Alexa Kaye Lusby (Derek) and Ellie Britt.

Family will receive friends Friday, November 3rd from 4-6pm with funeral service following at 6pm at Berry Lynnhurst Funeral Home. Rev. Jack Pennington officiating. Private graveside service to take place at Lynnhurst Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Boys and Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley [bgctnv.org] or for the research of Infantile Spasms – Cure Epilepsy [cureepilepsy.org].

Fond memories and expressions of sympathy may be shared at www.berrylynnhurst.com for the Ison family.