John Robert Shanks, age 83, died on June 4, 2013. John was born in Greene County, TN on August 5, 1929, the son of George and Lucy Shanks, the third child of four children.
He was a 1947 graduate of Sulphur Springs High School. John began college at what is now known as East Tennessee State University, often walking from Sulphur Springs to the ETSU campus when transportation was unavailable. He was enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict, serving on the USS Midway Aircraft Carrier. After his services in the U.S. Navy he returned to East Tennessee State University, completing his B.S. Degree in 1955 with majors in Industrial Arts and Business.
He continued his education at North Carolina State University where he obtained a B.S. Degree in Furniture Manufacturing and Management, with honors, in 1957.
Upon returning to east Tennessee, he worked for Gordon’s, Inc for 42 years. He served as the Vice President in charge of Production.
John served as President of the Southern Furniture Manufactures Association and afterwards on the Board of Directors of the Southern Furniture Manufactures Association.
After retirement from furniture manufacturing, John became a full-time farmer in the Sulphur Springs Community.
John was a member of the Sulphur Springs United Methodist Church. He volunteered numerous hours around the church helping with church maintenance, the child care program, and building a playground with several others. He served as Chairman of the Finance Committee, Chairman of the Child Care Committee, and on the Administrative Board.

John was a woodworker, furniture manufacturer, builder, gardener, and beef cattle farmer. Most importantly John was a loving father. He instilled values of integrity, honesty, and hard work by the example he set. He always encouraged his children to do well in school with their sights set on college. He enjoyed spending time with his family playing chess, monopoly and rook; singing with his brothers; riding the waves at the beach; surf fishing; eating barbeque at the Firehouse restaurant; watching Gunsmoke on TV; and reading Louie L’amour books.

John is survived by his wife of 60 years, Nancy Walker Shanks; by his children: Sam Shanks and his wife Barbara, Gail Shanks, Susan West and her husband Jim, Audrey Taylor, and Leyla Haverlock and her husband Mark; by eight grandchildren: Rachel Shanks, Jake Shanks, Patrick Shanks, Ray Smith, Shane West, Dustin West, Sarah Taylor, and Austin Haverlock; by his nieces and nephews: Mark Shanks, Carla Gentry, Jerome Franklin, and Lora Poe.
John was preceded in death by both parents and by his brothers and sister: Marvin Shanks, Fred Shanks and recently, Sue Shanks Franklin on May 25th, 2013.

John contributed to medical science with his participation in a study for Clinical Research in Movement Disorders (related to his diagnosis of PSP or Progressive Supranuclear Palsy) by the Mayo Clinic.

The family will receive friends at Sulphur Springs United Methodist Church on Friday, June 7th, 2013 from 1:00-2:30pm. A memorial service will follow at 2:30 pm. Graveside services will follow at the Sulphur Springs Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be granddaughters and grandsons, Bill Ferguson, and Benjamin Bennett.

Those who desire to make memorial donations may do so to the Sulphur Springs United Methodist Church at 1432 Gray-Sulphur Springs Road, Jonesborough, TN 37659 or to CurePSP at 30 E. Padonia Road, Ste 201, Timonium, MD 21093 or online at www.psp.org.

Condolences may be sent to the Shanks family online at www.dillow-taylor.com.

Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home & Cremation Services, Jonesborough, 753-3821