Daniel "Dan" Isaiah Saxon

Daniel Isaiah “Dan” Saxon, 87, left this earth Dec 7, 2024 with his heart and soul fully committed to Jesus Christ. Dan was the 10th of 12 children born to Rev. John Davis Saxon and his wife, Sara Conner Saxon. Dan was born on a snowy Dec night in 1936 at his family’s home in rural Robertson County Tennessee. At age 13, Dan’s family moved to rural Forrest Co. Mississippi following his father’s transfer as a District Superintendent in the Church of the Nazarene. Dan graduated from Forrest County Agricultural High School in 1954. He attended Perkinston Junior College (now Gulf Coast Community College) on a football scholarship, then transferred to Mississippi State University. In those years he worked summer jobs with International Paper Company which inspired a strong interest in Land Surveying. In 1958, Dan graduated from MSU with a BS in Mechanical Engineering and immediately began employment with Eastman Kodak in Kingsport, Tennessee. In 1959, Dan married the love of his life, Molly Mercer of Petal MS. Dan worked over 41 years at Eastman, retiring in 1999. In that time, he rose to the position of Senior Engineering Associate and was named Inventor or Co-Inventor on 16 patents in the US and several foreign countries. Dan also developed a moonlight career in land surveying, eventually becoming licensed in Tennessee, Virginia, and Mississippi. He was a charter member of the Tennessee Associate of Professional Surveyors. After retirement from Eastman, Dan continued surveying until age 86.

Dan is survived by his loving wife of 65 years, Molly Saxon, one son, Joe (Connie), one Daughter, Regina Zeiser (Bruce), four grandchildren, (Hannah, Daniel, Sara Beth, Ben), four great-grandchildren, (Selah, Adaya, Noah, Liberty), one Brother, Dr. Steven Saxon, and two sisters, Dr. Esther Saxon and Elisabeth Saxon. Deceased are four sisters, (Anna Lloyd Wendell, Mary Lee Fielder, Ruth Saxon, Rebecca Lyon) and four brothers, (John, Joe, Sam, and Paul Saxon).

Dan was active in Southview Community Church of the Nazarene, where he taught Sunday School and served as Treasurer and Board Member for over 60 years. He also served on District Church Boards, often donating his survey services in the management of church properties. To those who knew him best, Dan was an ever consistent example of godly humility, hard work, and determination. His faithfulness made faith into sight for others. Now faith has become sight for him.

The family wishes to express their appreciation for the excellent and compassionate care from the staff members at Alexian Healthcare.

The family will receive friends from 11 am to 1pm on Saturday, December 21, 2024 at Southview Community Church, 1235 Moreland Dr, Kingsport, TN 37664. A funeral service will follow at the church at 1pm with Pastor Bill Willis officiating. Interment will be at East Lawn Memorial Park following the service.

In Lieu of flowers, memorial contributions can be made to Southview Community Church, 1235 Moreland Drive, Kingsport, TN or at www.southview-lovegoes.org