Ronald Lee Woodard

Ronald Lee Woodard, 78, of Marlow went to be with his Heavenly Father on February 2, 2026 surrounded by his friends and loved ones after a lengthy illness.

Ronnie was born January 9th, 1948 in Millersville, TN and moved to the Oliver Springs area as a young boy. Ronnie had a lifelong passion for hunting and all things hunting related, which was culminated by a bucket list trip of hunting in Alaska as well as being drawn for the first elk hunt in TN; his elk remains on display at the TWRA station in Pioneer at Royal Blue. An avid marksman, Ronnie was a member of a pistol team in the seventies and eighties and was a familiar face at the Oak Ridge Sportsman’s Club until his health prevented him from attending. Ronnie proudly served his country in the Navy with 3 tours aboard the USS John Paul Jones from 1967-1971 and was rarely seen in public without his veteran’s hat on. He medically retired from K-25 in 2001, where he was a chemical operator; he previously worked at Y-12 on TRT.

Ronnie was also a deputy with Anderson County Sheriff’s Office in the late eighties. Ronnie was never short on stories about his time on the tactical response team, hunting, or how he taught Dan’l and Davy everything they knew about hunting and survival and how he was the one who made ‘coon skin caps a thing. Above all, Ronnie was a follower of Christ and he lived that life loudly and unapologetically. He never passed up an opportunity to speak about our Savior and His unending love and faithfulness, even during the darkest of days. Ronnie served faithfully as a deacon at Central Baptist Church in Oak Ridge for many years before joining Second Baptist Church in Clinton.

Ronnie is survived by his wife of 58 years, Phyllis Woodard of Marlow, his daughter Casey Kennedy and husband Rowdy of Levelland, TX; acquired son Thomas Lee of Heiskell; grandgirls Stephanie Lee of Halls and Abby Lee of Jefferson City; great grandkids Nicholas and Georgia; brother Doug Woodard of Oak Ridge; brother in law Dennis Vickery of Marlow; Melvin Vickery and wife Patricia of Oliver Springs; Dexter Vickery and wife Teresa of Heiskell; Mark Vickery of Clinton; Stacy Vickery of Marlow; sister in law Peggy Vickery of Marlow; best friend Terry Beach and wife Angie of Jacksboro, and a host of nieces, nephews, great nieces and nephews, as well as cousins and extended family in Old Hickory, TN and the surrounding area.

He is preceded in death by his parents Harry and Geraldine Lassiter Woodard of Marlow, formerly of Millersville, TN.

Pastor Mike Thompson, along with pastor and nephew Robert Melton, will be officiating services at Second Baptist Church in Clinton on Thursday, February 5th; receiving of friends will start at 5PM with the funeral to follow at 7PM. Interment will be at Poplar Creek Baptist Church cemetery on Friday February 6th at 10AM. The family would like to thank Second Baptist Church for their support, love, and assistance during Ronnie’s extended illness and passing; we would also like to thank nurse Danielle from Amedisys Hospice as well as his nurses from CNS, Sarah, Sara, Sharon, and Cheryl, whom he affectionately referred to as his “tricky, tricky white women.” We are so grateful for your love, compassion, and support these past few months.

In lieu of flowers, please donate to the mission program at Second Baptist. Psalm 116:12-15

Mott-McKamey Funeral Home and Cremations is assisting the Woodard family.