Gary Dwight Fannon
On Sunday, October 24, 2021, Gary Dwight Fannon passed away from a pulmonary embolism at the age of 58 in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
Gary was born on Sept. 2, 1963, in Morristown, Tn., and resided in Rogersville, Tn., for most of his childhood. He was a “boarder” at McCallie School of Chattanooga, and graduated in 1981. Gary then attended the University of Tennessee in Knoxville and graduated in 1987 with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture degree.
After becoming a Christian, Gary felt the Lord calling him into the ministry. He left Tennessee and headed South to Fort Worth, Texas to attend Southwest Baptist Theological Seminary. It was there that he met Kara, and they were married in 1993. Graduating from SWBTS in 1995 with a Master of Divinity with Biblical Languages, Gary had already begun a pastor position at Sharpe Missionary Baptist Church in the Paducah, Kentucky area. That same year he was ordained to the work of The Gospel Ministry by Persia Baptist Church in Rogersville, Tn. Two years later Gary accepted his second pastoral position at Pine Ridge Missionary Baptist Church in Harriman, Tn., where he served for eight years. While pastoring in Harriman, Gary’s most precious gifts, Walker (1998) and Olivia (2001) were born. In 2004, God led Gary to First Baptist Church of Diboll, Texas. In October of 2007, a hunting accident would leave Gary paralyzed and change the trajectory of his and his family’s life. After retiring from the ministry in 2012, Gary taught himself HTML code and started a new ministry via the internet, The Ministry Well. He also began working in web design for Pioneer Design in Lufkin, Texas. Seeking a fresh start in 2013, God guided his family to Chattanooga, as Gary could work from home anywhere with his new found occupation.
He was preceded in death by his grandparents, Lizzie Kate and Clifford Fannon, and Nova and Duncan Walker.
Gary is survived by his loving wife of 28 years, Kara Murry Fannon; his two children, Walker and Olivia; his parents, D. A. and Callie (Walker) Fannon of Rogersville, Tn.; and his brother and sister-in-law, Tim and Nancy Fannon of Atlanta.
As a jack-of-all-trades, Gary enjoyed many hobbies: hunting, reloading, fishing, riding ATVs, repairing vehicles, and woodworking. He was an avid reader and truly, a life-long learner.
Donations in loving memory of Gary may be made to the Tennessee Wildlife Resources Foundation in support of Moment of Freedom Project.
“When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.” John 14:3
Please visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share words of comfort to the family.
The family will receive friends on Friday, Oct. 29, from 3-5 p.m. at Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 E. Brainerd Road.