Joel Richard Horton

Joel Richard Horton, age 86 of Maryville, passed away Saturday, February 11, 2023, at U.T. Medical Center. Joel was a long-time member of Fairview United Methodist Church. He was a veteran of the United States Air National Guard and retired from Oak Ridge National laboratory where he was a chemical engineer for 25 years.

Joel is preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Mary Etta Horton; siblings Lowell Horton, Bessie (Forrest) Steele, and Floyd Allen (Betty) Horton; and many brothers and sisters-in-law, Betty (Herman) Best, Paul Boone, and Ronnie (Donna) Boone. Joel is survived by his wife of 55 years, Jeraldine “Jerri” Boone Horton; children Mary Anne Bratton and Ricky Horton; grandchildren, Shaylee (Jon) Kinslow-Cruz, Miranda (Joe) Peterson, and Boone Bratton; beloved great-grandchild Theodore Joel Peterson; brothers and sisters-in-law, Lynda Boone, Phyllis Boone, Roe (Sharon) Boone, and Gail (Gene) Garland, as well as many nieces and nephews.

The family will receive friends Thursday, February 16, 2023 from 5:00 until 6:30 PM, at Smith Trinity Chapel with the Funeral Service to follow at 6:30 PM. Family and friends will assemble at 11:00 AM for the Interment Friday, February 17, 2023, at Happy Valley Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to Fairview United Methodist Church Spark Plug Sunday School Class Scholarship Fund or to the Music Ministry, 2508 Old Niles Ferry Rd, Maryville, TN 37803.

The family would like to pay special thanks to Joel's care team; nurses, Maddie, Brooke, and Natalie; caregivers and special friends; Cailin and McCall and Gretchen; and Doctors Michael Carringer and Christy Carringer of U.T. Medical Center. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com