Donald Waites (age 74) passed away at home surrounded by his family on Monday, June 12, 2023

Don was saved at an early age and was a longtime member of Enterprise Baptist Church.

He and his wife raised their family in Thankful Baptist Church, where he saw all four of his children saved and baptized.

He met his wife, Phyllis, at church. They lived down the road from each other and often walked to each other’s houses.

When her family moved across town, he would drive his father’s pickup truck to visit her.

They married on December 21, 1970, at the age of 18 and 21. They both wanted four children and to name them from the Bible. God blessed them with their wish.

Don worked in carpentry all his life and started at an early age. He eventually joined Daniel’s Construction, which took him to Linwood, North Carolina, Savannah, Georgia, Loudon, Tennessee and, Bath County, Virginia.

In his early years, he started Don’s Home Improvement. As the company grew, he changed the name to Don’s Home Improvement Specialist where he started building log cabins and homes in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge.

In his later years, he started Home Improvement Specialist. Throughout the years, he worked with his son David and son-in-law Wesley.

He found pleasure and relaxation in carpentry and farm work. His true passion was farming and he owned cattle for the majority of his life until he took sick. His favorite bull was a Black Limousine named Bill the Bull.

He fought a courageous battle with Kidney Disease since 2010. During this time, he also fought bladder cancer and thyroid cancer.

He loved his wife, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren so very much. He fought his battle courageously and for so long to be able to stay with his family a little bit longer.

A special thank you to Amedisys Home Health Care and Amedisys Hospice and their loving and compassionate nurses.

Thank you to Dr. Ahmed and Karen Lakin at Frencious Dialysis Center. Special thanks to Harris’s Pain Clinic, Johnson City Memorial Hospital, UT Hospital, Regional Cancer Center, Hamblen Hospital and Dr. Jett at Lakeway Regional Hospital.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Curtis and Stana Mae Waites; infant brother, Bobby Waites; brother, Ray Waites; brother Bill (Phyllis) Waites; sister Louise (John) Moore; sister Peggy (Burl) Frazier; and sister, Betty Waites.

He is survived by his wife Phyllis of 53 years. Children, David (Amy) Waites, Angela Waites, Chris (Carol) Waites, Rebekah (Wesley) Wills. Grandchildren: Trevor Waites, Leland Waites, Ian Waites, Leah Gentry, Savanna (Cody) King, Trent (Madalyn) Kelly, Nathan Lawson, Caleb Lawson. Great grandchildren: Anna Gentry, Eli King, and Erin King. He is survived by his sister, Suzie Long, and brother, Jackie (Carolyn) Waites and several nieces and nephews.

“I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing” 2 Timothy 4: 7-8.

Officiating the funeral is Reverend Carol Jarnigan and Reverend Dennis Alder, both are longtime friends of Don.

Singers include Caitalyn Osburn and Ty Caldwell. Pianist will be Natasha Short.

Visitation will be at Mayes Mortuary on Wednesday, June 14th from 5:00 – 7:00 pm with the funeral to immediately follow. Burial will be Thursday, June 15th at 11:00 am.

Family and friends will meet at Mayes Mortuary for the processional to Hamblen Memorial Gardens at 10:15 am.

Arrangements by Mayes Funeral Home.