James Burt Wagner, Jr.

James Burt Wagner, Jr., age 78, formerly of Johnson City, passed away at his home in Knoxville on April 8th 2010 after a lengthy illness. He was a graduate of Science Hill High School and served proudly in the United States Navy in the VP-186/VP-18 squadron from 1951-1955. He was a graduate of East Tennessee State University holding an undergraduate degree in Business and a Masters degree in City Management. Jim began a distinguished career in city planning working for the State of Tennessee at the local planning office in Johnson City. During this time, he worked directly with various cities and communities in upper East Tennessee to help improve the quality of life for the citizens of those communities. He was a founding member of the Jonesborough Civic Trust for Historic Preservation and was especially proud of his leading role in establishing the town of Jonesborough as an historic preservation district. Jim later became Director of the local planning office in Knoxville. He retired from the State of Tennessee and continued to pursue his passion for civic duty by accepting the position of Assistant City Manager and Director of Planning for the City of Sevierville, TN. During his tenure in Sevierville, he twice served as Interim City Manager and was an advocate and driving force for much of the recent development and growth the city has experienced. After retirement from his work in Sevierville, Jim enjoyed time with family and friends, traveling, reading, watching his favorite pastime; baseball, and pulling for his Tennessee Volunteers. Jim was the son of the late James Burt Wagner, Sr. and Grace Landingham Wagner. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandparents, John H. and Daisy Lister Wagner; an aunt and uncle, George and Mary Parker; and a nephew, Jere Marshall Wagner. He is survived by his wife, Nora Jane Wagner; his daughter, Elizabeth Wagner Crisp and her husband Allen Crisp of Knoxville; a step-son, Robert R. Reeves, Jr. and his wife Joanne Zahorsky-Reeves of Woodland Hills, CA; a grandchild, Emily Rose Zahorsky-Reeves also of Woodland Hills, CA; a brother, Jere M. Wagner of Greenville, SC and his wife Dell; a niece, Cynthia Dawn Barker and her husband Mark Barker of Johnson City; a niece-in-law, Allyson Wagner and grand nieces and nephew, Olivia, Marshall and Sarah Wagner all of Dunwoody, GA; a cousin, Robert Wagner of Johnson City; his first wife, Betty Starnes Wagner of Johnson City and several family members by marriage. A funeral service is scheduled for Tuesday, April 13, 2010 at 2:00 p.m. in the South Chapel of the Morris-Baker Funeral Home, 2001 E. Oakland Ave., Johnson City, TN 37601. The family will receive friends from 12:00 p.m. until the time of service. A committal service will be conducted in the Monte Vista Memorial Park immediately following the funeral service. Memorials may be made in the form of contributions to: the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation at www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org. Online condolences are available at: www. morrisbaker.com.