John Wesley Kilgore, 69, well-known and loved resident of Bradley County, went home to be with the Lord on Wednesday, May 9, 2012.

He was a retiree of Owens-Illinois and also owner of K&J Specialty and Starlight Packaging.

He was a member of Philadelphia Baptist Church.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Genevee (Smith) Kilgore; and father, Jessie Wesley Kilgore; brothers: Gary Kilgore and Jerry Kilgore; son, John Wesley Kilgore II and daughter, Kandy Kilgore-Satterfield.

He is survived by his wife, Kathy Kilgore; daughters: Tammie Kilgore (Preston Cross), Shari Sargent and Krystal (Larry) Wright, all of Bradley County, and Ramona Wattenbarger of Lebanon; son, Johnny Blair of Bradley County; brothers: Johnny (Betty) Kilgore of Jasper and Billy (Nancy) Kilgore of Harrison; sister, Geraldine Pyburn of Indiana; 15 grandchildren: Dustin (Natalie) Kilgore, Jessica (Justin) Davenport, Alexis Cross, D.J., Josh and Shelbey Wattenbarger, Matthew (Alisha) Satterfield, Bethany, Jacob and Sarah Satterfield, Meagan (Josh) Sisson, Skylar and Austin Queen, Tiffany Wright and little Johnny Blair; 11 great-grandchildren; special sisters and brothers-in-law: Cindy and David Armstrong, Jerry Tenpenny, Jeanette Manis and the Blair brothers; and several nieces and nephews.

The funeral will be held at 4 p.m. Saturday, May 12, 2012, in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with Pastors Ray Higgins and Guinn Green officiating.

Interment will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens with a white dove release ceremony concluding the service.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 9 p.m. today at the funeral home.

You are invited to send a message of condolence and view Kilgore family guest book at www.ralphbuckner.com.