Johnny Wayne McMasters of Chattanooga, Tennessee, passed away on December 4, 2021, at 75 years of age. He lived a good and happy life, and was active and adventurous until the very end.
He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and uncle. Johnny’s loss leaves a huge hole in a close, loving family.
Johnny was born on Aug. 27, 1946, in Lawrenceburg, Tn. He lived in Nashville as a child and moved to Chattanooga in his early teens. He graduated from Tyner High School in 1966 and married his high school sweetheart a few months later.
He worked at the TNT factory during the Vietnam war, and then worked at U.S. Pipe for 33 years. He was superintendent over the plant when he retired at age 57, a few months before he became a grandfather for the first time.
In his decades of retirement, Johnny took great delight in being Pappy to his grandchildren. He was a master gardener and was active in his community. He was treasurer of the Chattanooga Hosta Society. He and his wife Shirley traveled extensively with Scenic City Friends as well as McDonald Boomers and Friends.
In his younger years, he was a longtime member of Scenic Land Hunting Club, and he was one of the first men to help lead a Girl Scout troop back in the seventies. He was an accomplished dog trainer who took the family’s German Shepherd Dog to many ribbons and awards at competitions around the southeastern U.S. He was a skilled juggler and performed at various local festivals with his daughter.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel Clyde and Emma Jean McMasters.
Johnny is survived by his loving wife of 56 years, Shirley Anne Crownover McMasters, his daughter and son-in-law, Christy and Larry Lewis, two grandchildren he loved more than words can possibly express, Jasmine and Savannah Lewis, a little miniature schnauzer full of attitude named Little Bit, and a sister, Doris Fay McMasters.
Please visit www.heritagechattanooga.com to share words of comfort to the family.
Visitation will be held from 2-5 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 11, at Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 East Brainerd Road.