Dale W. Counts

Dale Waddell Counts, 61, died Monday, April 30, 2007 at Johnson City Medical Center after a lengthy illness.

Born and raised in Kingsport, Tennessee, Mr. Counts was a graduate of East Tennessee State University. He served in the U. S. Air Force, working specifically in data processing at the Pentagon. He began his full career life as an administrator for HCA , serving hospitals in eastern and middle Tennessee. Mr. Counts also worked diligently in the field of accounting like his father, acting as Director of Accounting for the University Physicians Practice Group and the Quillen College of Medicine. With a passion for computers and technology, Mr. Counts was actively involved in the personal computer movement from its beginnings. He N4KMK was also an avid Ham Radio Operator. He built many strong friendships with fellow ?Techies? and ?Hams? over the last 30 years. Mr. Counts honed a love for working outdoors from his mother and spent some time keeping the grounds at the Ridgefields Country Club.

For the last decade, he has worked as Systems Administrator for Preferred Internet where he enjoyed spending time and sharing stories with his beloved co-workers, writing software, keeping the system running smoothly, and taking daily opportunities to assist with client needs.

He became most renowned for an identity he developed in 1991 as ?Papaw? to Jake, Hannah, Sarah, and Lucy. ?Papaw? loved spending time with his grandchildren and made many precious memories with them on birthdays, Christmases, cabin getaways in Pigeon Forge, karaoke sing-a-longs, and beach trips to Sunset Beach and Nag?s Head. Not many children and teenagers today have grandfathers who are more tech-savvy than they are, but ?Papaw? was just that. He was always two steps ahead of the latest thing.

Mr. Counts was also an extravagantly generous person who never hesitated to share all that he had with those around him. He especially loved sharing meals with friends and family; everything from all-you-can-eat buffets, dinners at the all-night truck stops, Big Pals and Big Macs, caviar and smoked salmon. He enjoyed a homemade peach cobbler and gourmet mail-ordered cheesecakes. He sampled and savored everything from Southern home cooking to international cuisine. He also loved Coca-Cola, best served ice cold in the glass bottles.

He loved the mountains of Northeast Tennessee and Western North Carolina. He loved bluegrass and listening to stories from the ?old-timers?. He became quite a tale-spinner himself. Mr. Counts loved nothing better than sitting around swapping memories at a gathering of friends and family. He was sometimes, well, oftentimes stubborn and set in his ways, headstrong and hard-working, and had a heart of gold. He will be greatly missed by all that knew and loved him, including his newest friend, a canine companion, Lazarus.

Dale Waddell Counts was preceded in death by his father, R. Carl Counts.

He is survived by his mother, Marie Waddell Counts, Kingsport; his daughter and son-in-law, Sanja and Carleton Lyon; son and daughter-in-law, Carl and Misty Cusick Counts, all of Johnson City; his grandson, Jacoby ?Jake? Lyon; his granddaughters, Hannah Counts, Sarah Counts, and Lucy Lyon, all of Johnson City; sisters, Suzi Counts Little and husband Jeff, Kingsport and Margaret Counts Kirk and husband Tom, Chicago, Illinois. Mr. Counts also leaves behind two special nephews, David McClellan, Asheville, NC and Bennett Little, Kingsport; special niece, Amy Spence; grandniece and grandnephew, Addison and Austin Spence, Durham, NC; and uncle, Frank Waddell and wife Edna, Baileyton.

Graveside services will be conducted at 1 p.m. Friday at East Lawn Memorial Park.

A memorial service will be conducted at 6 p.m. Friday at First Broad Street United Methodist Church with Rev. John Brewster officiating. The family will receive friends at the church following the memorial service.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Dale W. Counts Grandchildren?s College Fund at Eastman Credit Union.