Bob Johnston

A Celebration of Life Service for Dr. Bower L. (Bob) Johnston, Jr., 72, a long-time resident of Cookeville, will be held at 7 p.m. Monday, June 15 at Life Church in Cookeville. Pastor David Corley and Rev. Brent Johnston Jr. will officiate. The family will receive friends Monday from 5 p.m. until service time at the church. Dr. Johnston died Tuesday, June 9, 2015 at Saint Thomas Hospital in Nashville. Bob was born in Meridian, Mississippi, to the late Bower L. Johnston Sr. and Esther H. Johnston. After the family moved to Jackson, Mississippi, he began his sports career at Bailey Jr. High, where he played basketball and football and ran track. He then attended Murrah High School where he lettered for three years in all three sports. At Murrah he played on state championship teams in basketball and track. An outstanding athlete, he won the 220-yard low hurdles in his junior and senior years, threw the shot put and discus, and ran the 220, 880 and mile relays. The state record set by the mile relay team in his senior year at Murrah remained unbroken for 20 years. After graduating from Murrah, Bob received a football scholarship to Mississippi State University. He lettered for three years at MSU where he played end and was part of the team which competed in the 1963 Liberty Bowl in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Upon receiving a BS degree from MSU, Bob attended Florida State University where he received a doctorate in Physical Education. Returning to Mississippi State, he coached football for several years before joining the faculty at Tennessee Tech in Cookeville, where he met his wife, the former Anne Burnett. Anne and Bob were married in 1977 and spent 37 years together. He spent the remainder of this career at Tennessee Tech, teaching in the Physical Education department and serving as Chairman of that department for several years. Bob was a true outdoorsman, spending time in the woods and enjoying all outdoor activities. He also liked antiquing, following Mississippi State sports and traveling. He was planning a trip to Hawaii which would have completed his goal of visiting all 50 states. Bob and his family attended Life Church in Cookeville. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his daughter, Heather Carico (Kevin); son, James Joseph Simpson Sr. (Jessica); grandchildren, Anneston Skylar Carico, James Joseph Simpson Jr. (Zoie), and Jeffrey James Simpson; and great-granddaughter Hunter Grace Simpson, all of Cookeville. He is also survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Brent and Cynthia Johnston; nephews Brent, Jr., Bard, and Greg Johnston; and six great nephews, all of Madison, MS. Memorial contributions may be made to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Nashville, 2144 Fairfax Ave., Nashville, TN 37212 or Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt, 2200 Children's Way, Nashville, TN 37232. Hooper Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. (931)526-6111 You may share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com