Harold Henson "Hal" Yount Sr.

The builder of tree houses that spanned towering pine trees, teller of captivating Little Boy Stories, maker of the best banana splits and milkshakes, protector from giant waves at Ormond Beach, Harold Henson Yount (Hal), our Daddy, 86, passed from this life on 1/5/24 at home after long battle with Parkinson’s Disease.

Hal was preceded in death by siblings Joanne, Lynn and Jimmy Yount.  Hal is survived by his wife Kitty (Alice) of 64 years, son Buddy (Harold Henson Jr.) and wife Penny and daughter Laura Yount and husband Jason Budde; grandchildren Morgan and Alex Yount, Anna and Caroline Budde; sister-in-law Connie and brother-in-law Richard Green, sister-in-law Shirley Yount and numerous nieces and nephews.

Born 6/23/37 to the late Evelyn and James Peterson Yount in Bonny Blue, VA, the son of a coal miner in a poor Appalachian town, the family ultimately relocated to Etowah, TN, looking for financial stability. James ultimately found work on the railroad and Hal grew up playing in the hills and rivers of the Hiwassee.  All of his stories would have made for a beautiful book if ever written down, but instead served as the best bedtime stories fondly known at ‘Little Boy Stories.’  Dad loved telling about being a soda jerk at Rexall Drugstore during high school and his milkshake making skills lasted his entire life and were always in demand by his kids and grandkids.

Hal was the first from his family to go to college and ultimately earned a degree in Metallurgical Engineering at the University of Tennessee.  He met Kitty on a blind date arranged by friends. Hal was a career-long Alcoan and work took them to Davenport, Iowa, Pittsburg, PA and then ultimately back to Maryville.  Along the way he and Kitty made lifelong friends and after retirement the men formed the ROMEO club “retired old metallurgists eating out.”

In his younger years, Hal was very involved with Boy Scout Troop 88 thru New Providence Presbyterian Church and loved his time on scouting trips with Buddy. He also served on the Boys and Girls Club Board and United Way.  He was a life-long UT fan and held the same UT Football tickets for over 50 years.  The first touch-down run back of this year’s TN-Alabama game brought him great joy even with his great suffering and pain.

Dad was charming and charismatic and a master wordsmith. He was the editor of high school and college essays for his children and was always irked when meteorologists said “the temperature will rise up.”  With a full head of grey hair since his late 40s, he always commanded a room at 6’7” with a gregarious laugh and gentle way. He was exceptionally proud of his children and their advanced degrees.   A lover of mom’s Jello pies and tomato and mayo sandwiches, full days were spent in his shop on woodworking projects and making beautiful pieces of furniture for Laura that she will always cherish.  He often went to Home Depot multiple times a day and always said ‘measure twice cut once.” He was an easier crier and every Christmas the Clydesdale commercial brought tears to his eyes.  He loved his yard and was always trying to outsmart the squirrels who were stealing from his birdfeeders. 

Special thanks to Dr. Kevin James who helped the family navigate his care for over a decade and Dr. Faiz Rehmani who could never quite convince Dad that he actually had Parkinson’s. In his final days caregivers Autumn Hawkins, Rebecca Lanter, Cindy Tipton, Tracy Gregory, and Blount Hospice allowed dad to be at home which was his wish and provided the family enormous comfort.

No formal services are planned but the family will gather privately in the spring to spread his ashes in the mountains as he requested. In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to the Second Harvest Food Bank 136 Harvest Ln, Maryville, TN 37801 or Boy Scout Troop 88, 703 West Broadway, Maryville, TN 37803