Morris J. Bohannon, 69, of Athens, died Tuesday, Dec. 29, 2009.

A native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, he was a son of the late Norman Howard and Vesta Mae Lusk Bohannon. He was a member of East Athens Baptist Church and was a former employee of Collins and Aikman. He was a member of the Athens Travelers Car Club. He had served in the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Army National Guard, having served in Desert Storm and Saudi Arabia. He was a member of American Legion Post 68.

Survivors include his wife of 32 years, Connie Cass Bohannon of Athens; one son and daughter-in-law, Martin Jackson "Marty" and Katie Bohannon of Knoxville; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Melissa Sherrill of Athens, Mitzi and Brent Shadden of Cleveland, and Laura and Anthony Umphrey of Athens; one sister and brother-in-law, Betty R. and Dick Mitchell of Seattle, Wash.; nine grandchildren, Shelby Carpenter, Tabetha Phillips, Zoe Bohannon, Nicole Morris, Nicholas Morris, Shelby Carpenter, Logan Carroll, Dalton Umphrey and Patric Carroll; one great-grandson, Gabriel Burnett; and several nieces and nephews.

Funeral Service will be 8:00 PM Friday, January 1, 2010, in the Chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with Rev. Allen Bohannon and Rev. "Skip" Hale officiating.

Graveside Service will be 11:00 AM Saturday, January 2, 2010 at McMinn Memory Gardens.  Pallbearers will be Ken Hammonds, Shane Carroll, Brent Shadden, Logan Carroll, Patrick Carroll, and Nicholas Morris.

The family will receive friends from 5-8 Friday, January 1, 2010 at the Laycock-Hobbs Funeral home.

Memorial Contributions may be made to the American Cancer Society, c/o Faye Forgety, 120 County Road 447, Athens, TN 37303.