Dan Hearn

Funeral services for Mr. Dan Kent Hearn, age 83 of Cookeville, will be held Saturday, July 7th, at 1:00 p.m. at Cookeville First United Methodist Church. Dr. Martin Thielen and Rev. Tom Howe will officiate. Interment with military honors will follow at Crest Lawn Cemetery. The family will receive friends Saturday from 11 a.m. until service time at the church. Mr. Hearn passed away on Sunday, July 1, 2018. He was born in Houston, Texas, on July 22, 1934, to the late Robert and Zelma Roberson Hearn. He grew up in Texas City, Texas, where he played in the high school band and local dance bands. After graduating from Texas City High School, he attended Sam Houston State College and spent two years in the U.S. Army Band in Seattle, Washington. He returned to school and received his Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the University of North Texas. His teaching career began with seven years of band directing in Texas public schools and one year at the college level. He joined the faculty at Tennessee Tech University in 1967 teaching clarinet, saxophone, theory, and assisting the band director. His students were always his main concern. He wanted them to become their very best. He was clarinetist with the Nashville Symphony for 10 years. He also played with the Chattanooga and Knoxville Symphonies. He was principal clarinetist with the Bryan Symphony for his 34-year tenure at Tech. As clarinetist with the Cumberland Quintet at Tech, he performed over 400 concerts, including a gig at Carnegie Hall and a European tour. The quintet holds a very special place in his heart. Since retiring in 2001, Dan has performed in musicals locally and at the Cumberland County Playhouse. Always a teacher, he taught private lessons in several area schools. He performed with the Big Band Sound until shortly before his death. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Roy Hearn, and sister, Vera Howe. He is survived by his wife of nearly 56 years, Eva Hearn; son, Steven Hearn; cousin, Lois Hymel (Fry); and several nieces and nephews. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be members of The Cumberland Quintet. Memorial contributions may be made to the Music Scholarship Program at Cookeville First United Methodist Church, 165 E Broad St., Cookeville, TN 38501. Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements (931)526-6111. Share your thoughts and memories at hhhfunerals.com.