Dr. Donald Wesley Kilday

Dr. Donald Wesley Kilday, 68, went to be with the Lord Monday, August 18, at his home after a long battle with cancer.

He was a resident of Kingsport, TN. He graduated from Sullivan High School in 1964. Don attended Bridgewater College and University of Tennessee, Memphis, where he earned his Doctor of Pharmacy degree. Don was a pharmacist and an entrepreneur. He had been an executive and Board member with Crown Laboratories, Inc. since 2000, when he co-founded Crown Laboratories in Johnson City, Tn. Previously he worked in sales, marketing, and product development for Med-Derm and Herald Pharmaceutical. He began his career in 1971 when he owned and operated two pharmacies for 12 years.

Don will be remembered for his incredible love and kindness. He became a friend or a father figure to everyone he met. He loved his family and loved to play with his grandchildren. He loved UT football. He was a generous giver. He loved the Gideon ministry and getting God's Word into the world so that people could come to know his personal Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. One of the best experiences of Don's life was his mission trip to Brazil where he helped build a Church. He thrived on helping people and had a compassionate heart for the hurting. He loved growing tomatoes in the tomato garden and watching the power and mystery of God's creation.

He was a loving husband to Lorene and an amazing father to his two girls who will miss him terribly. He loved his godly parents and his extended family.
If Don's life could be summed up in a verse, it would be this, "compassionate and merciful, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love." Ps 103:8
Although, we were nowhere near ready to say goodbye, the Lord called him home and we rejoice in the hope that our family will one day be together again.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Willie and Pearl Gaby, and his maternal grandparents, "Jack" Haskell and Eula Kilday.

Don is survived by his parents, Harold and Louise Kilday, Kingsport; the love of his life and childhood sweetheart, wife of 47 years Lorene Kilday, Kingsport; his daughter, Stacie and her husband Hanes Torbett, Johnson City; his daughter, Stephanie and her husband Tim Blackiston, Chattanooga; and his 10 grandchildren, Taylor Torbett, Hannah Torbett, Natalie "Allie" Torbett, Jack Torbett, Reece Blackiston, Evan Blackiston, Lake Blackiston, Hope Blackiston, Crew Blackiston, and Rhett Blackiston.

The family will receive friends from 4-7 pm on Thursday, August 21, at Tri-Cities Baptist Church, with the funeral immediately following with Pastor Mike Laughrun officiating Graveside services will be conducted on Friday, August 22, at 11:00 at East Lawn Memorial Gardens. For family and friends wishing to take part in a processional, please meet at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home in Kingsport on Friday morning at 10:00.
Pallbearers will be Hanes Torbett, Tim Blackiston, Glen Hall, Scott Buckingham, Jeff Bedard, and Taylor Torbett.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Gideons International, c/o Kingsport West Camp, PO Box 645, Kingsport, TN 37662 or ADF (Alliance Defending Freedom) 15100 N 90th Street, Scottsdale, AZ 85260 or alliancedefendingfreedom.org.