Obituary for Wayne Rondal Mottern

Wayne Rondal Mottern, 86, of Watauga, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 21, 2025, at Holston Valley Memorial Hospital.

Born on July 12, 1939, in Watauga, Tennessee, Wayne was the son of the late George Ellis Mottern and Josephine Chambers Mottern. He attended Range School and Elizabethton High School before graduating from East Tennessee State University with a degree in Accounting.  While in high school, he played part-time semi-professional baseball with the Elizabethton Twins as a shortstop.

Wayne proudly served in the United States Army, earning the rank of Sergeant (E5). He was an Eagle Scout, Order of the Arrow, and Scout Executive with the Boy Scouts of America.  He worked for several other companies, including Texas Instruments and Lone Star InfoSystems, before answering his calling to the ministry. Wayne was a member of Brick Christian Church in Watauga, TN and He served faithfully as Pastor at Central Christian Church in Elgin, Texas, as well as Unicoi Christian Church and Limestone Cove Christian Church in East Tennessee before retiring in 2021.

Wayne was an avid fisherman who enjoyed fly tying, hunting and all types of sports. His hobbies included stained glass making and leatherworking.  He was especially proud to be a Black Belt in Goju Ryu Karate, appearing in Traditional Karate Magazine, and a practitioner of kobudo (traditional karate weapons).  He taught private karate lessons as well as instructing law enforcement.  Wayne was a life member and past Captain of Carter County Rescue Squad.  He was a certified SCUBA diver and a member of the Rescue Squad dive team.  He was also a life member of Mina Masonic Lodge #1456 AF&AM in Bastrop, Texas.

Wayne married the love of his life, Judith Marshall Mottern, in 1963 and together they shared 62 wonderful years of marriage. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather whose life was centered on faith and family.

He is survived by his wife, Judith Mottern; two sons, Rondal "Ron" David Mottern and his wife, Andrea (Bertram, TX), and Brian Scott Mottern and his wife, Fran (Dallas, TX); grandchildren Daniel Baker and his wife, Olga (Leander, TX), Eric Basi (Boston, MA), Rachel Mendes and husband Matt (Argyle, TX), and Alexander Fitzgerald (Austin, TX); and great-grandchildren Cameron Basi (Boston, MA) and River Mendes (Argyle, TX). He is also survived by his sister, Sharon Clark, and her husband, Gary Clark, along with their children Blake, Leah, and Elise, and their spouses and children. Godson and Goddaughter Kent and Lisa Burdick.

A Service to Celebrate the life of Wayne Mottern will be conducted at 6 p.m. Monday, October 27, 2025, in Memorial Funeral Chapel with Mr. Ernie Depew and Mr. Grant Foster, Ministers officiating. The family will receive friends from 5 to 6 p.m. Monday in the funeral home prior to the service. Music will be provided by Mr. Scott Reynolds. Graveside Service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, October 28, 2025, in the Mountain Home National Cemetery (Historic Section). Active Pallbearers who are requested to assemble at the cemetery at 1:45 p.m. Tuesday will be; David Yates, Paul David, Kent Burdick, Wane Harr, Eddie Thomason, Joe Mottern, Stanley Mottern, Tommy Whitehead, David Kent, Wiley Morgan and Todd Isaacs. Honorary Pallbearers will be: Don Orth, Greg Yates, Tony Mottern, Ron Sewell, M.J. Stover, Buddy Carrier, Doug Smalling and Gary White. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Brick Christian Church, 815 Watauga Road, Watauga, Tenn. 37694. Military Honors will be provided. Family and friends will assemble at the Mountain Home Cemetery at 1:45 p.m. Tuesday. Condolences may be sent to the family at our web-site www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.

Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Mottern family

CHANGE TO THE NEW SECTION OF THE CEMETERY:  MTN. HOME CEMETERY 215 HEROS DRIVE JOHNSON CITY TN