James Allen Steagall Jr

James (Jim) Allen Steagall, Jr., of Ooltewah, passed peacefully from this life on March 17, 2024, surrounded by his four children.  He was 92 years old.

Jim was born on July 22, 1931, in Lexington, North Carolina.  Early on, his family moved to Lynchburg, Virginia, where he spent his formative years.  A 1950 graduate of E.C. Glass High School, Jim later attended Lynchburg College (now the University of Lynchburg) where he graduated with a degree in Business Administration.  A proud veteran, Jim served as a hospital corpsman in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict and was honorably discharged in 1954.  Jim was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

After leaving the service, Jim joined a multi-state wholesale distributor of industrial and plumbing supplies where he was employed for 39 years.  He worked his way up from clerk to general manager, overseeing operations in three different states.  During those years of loyal service, Jim was a mentor and a friend to all those that worked with him.

Later, Jim started a second career to assist in a family business.  His years of experience and business acumen were invaluable in assisting this start up to become a successful government contractor supplying industrial equipment and supplies for various federal installations.  He finally took a much-deserved rest at the age of 87.

When not working, Jim was an avid sports fan, especially of SEC college football.  For years he was an Alabama fan (since he had taken courses at UAB), but after grandchildren started attending the University of Georgia, he learned to pull for the “Red and Black.”  Jim also enjoyed gardening in his yard, but most of all, he loved his family.  Jim was so proud of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Their endeavors in athletics, academics and professional lives brought him immeasurable happiness.

Jim is preceded in death by his parents, James A. Steagall, Sr., and Violet McCarson Steagall, his sister Gwendolyn Steagall Hickson, his brother Robert Lee Steagall, his wife of 58 years, Jean Deloris Steagall, and his beloved first grandson, Tyler Brett Steagall.  He is survived by his four children, James Allen Steagall, III of Chattanooga, Sherrill (David) Stoner of Ringgold, GA, Vickie (Jim) McKoon of Chattanooga, Jennifer (Jeff) Hawke of Chattanooga; five grandchildren, Dustin Ridley, Ryan (Shavon) Ridley, Casey (Amanda) Ridley, Carson McKoon, and Kendall McKoon; and great-grandchildren: Sawyer and Cora Ridley. He is also survived by seven step grandchildren and six step great-grandchildren.  He will be missed so much.

There will be no visitation and graveside services will be private.  In remembrance of Jim’s life, memorial contributions may be made to the charity of your choice.  The family is humbled and wishes to extend a special thanks to those nurses and caregivers who went out of their way to provide loving care for their father and allowed him to continue living with dignity and respect.  

Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel.

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