Mike McGinnis

There is a Hooley going on in Heaven right now! Mike McGinnis took his last breath on earth and his first breath in Heaven on March 7, 2016, at his home in Athens, Tennessee.

Mike was born December 20, 1938, to the late Charles (Chuck) Samuel and Mary Lois Richey McGinnis. He was of the Methodist faith. Mike spent his formative years in Newcastle, Indiana. He enjoyed daily reading his Bible, swimming, fishing with Prof, planting massive vegetable gardens, the Boy Scouts, porch sitting with a good cigar and his dog, Ruth.

Mike graduated from Central High School in Knoxville, Tennessee. He joined the Marine Corps. Later, he attended MTSU in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, where he received a B.S. in Mathematics followed by his Master’s in Mathematics from the University of Tennessee.

Mike’s first teaching assignment was in Key West, Florida. He then returned to Athens, Tennessee, where he taught at City Park School. When Athens Junior High was built, he transferred and was a member of the first staff. He taught there until his retirement after 37 years of faithful service. While employed by ACS, he was the Parliamentarian for Athens Education Association. He also received the Stokely Fellow Award from the University of Tennessee.

Mike and Mary led a very adventurous life. They enjoyed 4X wheeling, traveling to various cities with Irish pubs, going to Ireland and genealogical research. He was an avid fan of the University of Tennessee VOLS. Mike was involved with the Boy Scouts on both the Local and National level. As a local leader, he taught at the National Camping School for 26 years. Mike formed the Chess Club at AJHS and was a Senior Tournament Director for the U.S. Chess Federation. Mike, also, won the Gold Swimming Medal at the Senior Olympics. At age 76, he felt his greatest success was having taught Hannah Timmerman, his granddaughter, his beloved game of chess.

He leaves behind to cherish his memory, his wife of 30+ years, Mary Wetterstroem McGinnis of Athens, Tennessee; Bob (Jaime) McGinnis, of Athens, Tennessee, Mary Jane McGinnis Bacon (Brooks) of Soddy Daisy, Tennessee, DeeDee Wasmund (Matt) of Seoul, South Korea, and Dyan Timmerman (Chris) of Jacksonville, Florida. Grandchildren; Will McGinnis, Katie and Lauren Bacon, Lily and Olivia Wasmund, Hannah and Heather Timmerman; Mike’s sisters; Ann Smith of Knoxville and Jane Crabb (Claude) of Maryville, Tennessee; Mike’s dearly loved nephew, Michael Combs (Christy) of Maryville, Tennessee; many nieces and nephews , cousins Dan Richey (Rosie), Cindy Bay (Larry), and Susie Kendall (Mike) of New Castle, Indiana.

There will be no visitation or funeral. Burial will be at Mt. Pleasant, New Castle, Indiana at a later date.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorial donations be made to United Way of McMinn County specifying the local Boy Scouts or Serenity Funeral Home to defray expenses.

Visit the McGinnis family guestbook and leave a message of comfort.