Jeffery Wade Havner passed away peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family on Wednesday, November 30, 2022. His obituary is lovingly written by his wife, Bonnie.
I met my beautiful, blue eyed, blond hair country boy, Jeffrey Havner, in 1971. We were together fifty-one years. He lived in South Pittsburg, and I lived in Winchester, Tennessee. We met through my sister, Martha. Love at first sight and we were married in four weeks. He was my soul mate.
Jeff was a simple man and was the type that could meet the President of the United States or a bum and still be just himself. He remained the country boy that he always was. When I was in Nursing School, I was afraid of doctors. He would tell me, “Honey, they get in their pants just like anyone else, one leg at a time.”
Being a mason and a carpenter, he had the vision and imagination to make or build anything. Our log house and lake on Jump Off Mountain Road was one of these visions. Many of the buildings at University of the South in Sewanee have been touched by Jeff. One of his best friends, Houston King (RIP) laid stone, cut stone, and repaired the sandstone buildings with Jeff. Cutting rock and working in rock is how he developed the horrendous Interstitial Lung Disease, Silicosis.
Jeff never wanted to be the center of attention. He took care of his family and raised his two sons, Danny Lee Havner and Christopher Havner with great love and always wanted the best for them. Both grew up to be fine young men.
Jeff was loved and returned that love freely, he will be missed dearly. I’ll meet you on the other side baby. This separation will not be long.
Jeff is preceded in death by his mother, Dorothy Havner Hammack; and father, Harvey Lee Havner.
Jeff is survived by his wife of fifty-one years, Bonnie McGriff Havner; sons, Christopher Havner (Hollie) of Tullahoma, and Danny Lee Havner (Gina) of Monteagle; sisters, Cindy Reed (Wesley) of Whitwell, and Patricia Gail Fortner of Anniston, Alabama; grandsons, Landon Havner and Forrest Derryberry; granddaughters, Maegan Havner, Summer Havner, Courtney Derryberry Sims, Gabriall Havner, and Kristin Havner.
Visitation will be from 10 am-12 pm on Saturday, December 3, 2022, at Moore-Cortner Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will follow at 12:00 pm in the Moore-Cortner Chapel with Pastor Charlie Watkins officiating.
The family would like to thank Middle Tennessee Respiratory for their quick response to our needs and family physician, Dr. Matthew Petrilla.
Moore-Cortner Funeral Home, 300 First Ave NW, Winchester, TN 37398, (931)-967-2222
