Dr. John Bacon

Dr. John Yost Bacon, 87, of Hixson, retired United Methodist minister and U.S. Army chaplain, took up residence in Heaven on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015. He was a member of Holston United Methodist Annual Conference, where he compiled 43 years of pastoral ministry, including six years as Superintendent of the Abingdon, Va., district. Following retirement from the Conference in 1996, he served as Assistant Pastor of Hixson United Methodist Church in Chattanooga. During his 43 years of ministerial tenure, he held appointments in the Johnson City, Knoxville, Chattanooga, Morristown, Abingdon, and Cleveland Districts. In 2003, he was diagnosed with Chronic Myelogenous Leukemia (CML) at which time he retired completely from church duties. Dr. Bacon was the son of the late Lonnie and Herma Maynard Bacon of Jonesborough. He was also preceded in death by his only sibling, Elizabeth Jane (Betty) Bacon Lopez of Waynesville, N.C. Born to their union were two sons and two daughters: Gerald Wesley, John Michael, Melinda Suzanne, and Angela Lea Bacon. John and Billie had agreed on a family of four children. They wanted every child to have a brother and a sister. Surviving Dr. Bacon are his wife of almost 59 years, Billie Reed Bacon; son, Gerald Wesley Bacon of Murfreesboro, Tenn.; daughters, Suzanne Bacon Davis and husband Paul Davis of Resaca, Ga., Angela Bacon Gross and husband Todd Gross of Hixson; and son John Michael Bacon and wife Thong of Murfreesboro, Tenn. and two grandchildren, Chloe Bacon and Jared Gross. Funeral service will be 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2015, at Hixson United Methodist Church. Eulogies will be given by Bishop Richard Looney, retired United Methodist Bishop, The Reverend Reed Shell, and Mr. Sammy Gooden. Interment will be at Chattanooga National Cemetery on Monday, Oct. 5, at 2:30 p.m. Pallbearers will be members and friends of the Upper Room Sunday School Class of Hixson United Methodist Church. Honorary pallbearers will be ministers of Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial offerings may be given to the Organ Fund of Hixson United Methodist Church, 5301 Old Hixson Pike, Hixson, TN 37343. Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.