Loss of a Friend ~ Mayor (of Tazewell, TN) Steve Vass, 65 - Suicide
The Kentucky Wizard
tonight of his passing. He had been suffering from fibromyalgia for some
time now, but he still seemed in phone calls and emails to be the same ole
Steve. I guess the pain was just too much, and saw no other way out.
Unfortunately I never met Steve personally, I was never able to travel down
there during his tenure of Mayor, but we became friends though online
projects I worked on with several chariatable organizations in that area,
where my maternal family line runs deep. After I made him a "Kentucky
Colonel" and sending him his commission, he returned the favor by making me
a "Tazewell Tennessee Colonel", and sent me my comission in kind. Below are
two photos of Steve, one is with his 'true love', his dog Tara, and the
other is him presenting Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen his very own
'Colonel Commission' last October.
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?396cf583fd.jpg
http://www.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?c0361d58d1.jpg
I will miss my friend Steve, and I pray that he is no longer in pain.
RIP Steve.
Wiz......
Story and obit below:
http://www.citizentribune.com/news/view_sections.asp?idcategory=67&idarticle=11284
Tazewell mourns death of mayor
By Jan Runions, Tribune Correspondent
TAZEWELL – The City Hall flag flies at half-staff as area residents continue
to mourn the death of Mayor Steve Vass.
The popular Tazewell mayor took his own life with a single bullet to the
head, early Wednesday afternoon.
Tazewell police Chief Mark Lamb confirmed the circumstances leading to the
discovery of Vass’ body inside a kitchen pantry in the Mayor’s home.
Lamb said the Mayor failed to show for a 2 p.m. meeting at city hall. The
police chief decided to go to the Mayor’s home, after several attempts to
reach the 65-year-old Vass by phone were unsuccessful.
A note apparently written by the Mayor was attached to the front door,
instructing Lamb to enter the residence. Upon entry, the police chief
discovered the Mayor’s body and notified David Honeycutt, Claiborne County
Sheriff’s Department Captain.
Lamb said it appeared that Vass had committed suicide not long before he
arrived at the residence.
Vass had apparently left a note on the kitchen table, outlining instructions
about city business for Vice-Mayor Ezell Cox. The Mayor had left the keys to
City Hall nearby the note.
Vass also left notes for his two sons - Charleton, who is the Tazewell
Planning Commission chair, and Jason, who currently resides in Knoxville.
Craig Whitaker, Tazewell Planning Commission secretary and close friend to
the Mayor, confirmed that Vass had been suffering from fibromyalgia and was
in constant pain.
"Steve was my buddy. I’ve never seen anyone more sincere with others," said
Whitaker. "You could be sure that there was never an ulterior motive for
anything Steve ever did. He was fair with everyone and took his duties as
mayor very seriously."
A noticeably grief-stricken city recorder, Diane Widner, commented on Vass.
"This is a real loss to the community. We’ve lost a good friend," she said.
The police chief, fighting back tears, agreed.
"He was a great fellow to work with," said Lamb. "It was a real shock. No
one seems to have suspected the Mayor was about to do this."
C. F. Bailey, Tazewell planning commissioner, agreed that it came as a shock
to him.
"I can’t understand why he did it. He seemed so relaxed and himself, during
the last planning meeting," he said.
Vice-mayor Ezell Cox has taken over all mayoral duties, and is expected to
continue until the city council can meet on the issue.
The Tazewell City Hall was closed Thursday and Friday, in deference to Vass.
Funeral visitation is scheduled for Friday, from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Coffey
Funeral Home in New Tazewell. The funeral will begin immediately following
visitation.
The Mayor will be laid to rest in the Irish Memorial Gardens Cemetery, at 11
a.m. Saturday.
Vass had instructed that in lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the
Tazewell Municipal Park project.
STEVE R. VASS
Steve R. Vass age 65, of Tazewell, TN was born July 21, 1943 and passed away
Jan. 21, 2009 at his home.
He was Mayor of Tazewell, TN. He loved the town he grew up in and loved to
see things getting done.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Maggie Moore Hickey; father, Steve
A. Vass.
He is survived by his sons and families, Charlton, Haley, Melanie and Mikey
Jason, Misty, Makena and Alyssa and a host of other relatives and friends.
The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m Friday, Jan. 23, at the Coffey
Funeral Home with funeral service to follow at 8 p.m. Friday night in the
Coffey Funeral Home Chapel in Tazewell. Graveside service 10 a.m. Saturday
morning at the Irish Memorial Gardens. Minister: the Rev. Mike Humfleet.
Singers: Haley Vass, Brooke and Kayla McGinnis.
Pallbearers: Tazewell City Alderman: C.F. Bailey, Mark Lamb, Wayne Jessie,
"Hawk" Meyers, Ezell Cox, Betsy Shoffner,All City Employees and Police,
Jackie Davis, Diane Widner, Judy Buchanan, Hollis Bush, Lynn Essary.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Tazewell City Park c/o
Jackie Davis P.O. Box # 206 Tazewell, TN 37879.
Arrangements by Coffey Funeral Home in Tazewell.
Matthew Kruk
The Kentucky Wizard
consultations with my Joint Chiefs of Staff, being briefed by members of my
Cabinet and many telephone conversations with various World Leaders, I have
come to the following conclusions:
> Sounds like another good man gone. RIP.
Yep, he was a good man, and yet I'm still living somehow. What a weird world
we really do live in.
Thanks, Matthew.
--
Never argue with an idiot; they'll drag you down to their level and beat you
with experience.
© The Wiz ®
«¤»¥«¤»¥«¤»
orpheus
wrote:
You have to respect his choice to control his own destiny. It
terrible that his disease pushed him to take this step.
Kathi
Kathi
.
Jane Margaret Laight
wrote:
> Steve was the mayor of the little town my mother is from. I just learned
> tonight of his passing. He had been suffering from fibromyalgia for some
> time now, but he still seemed in phone calls and emails to be the same ole
> Steve. I guess the pain was just too much, and saw no other way out.
>
> Unfortunately I never met Steve personally, I was never able to travel down
> there during his tenure of Mayor, but we became friends though online
> projects I worked on with several chariatable organizations in that area,
> where my maternal family line runs deep. After I made him a "Kentucky
> Colonel" and sending him his commission, he returned the favor by making me
> a "Tazewell Tennessee Colonel", and sent me my comission in kind. Below are
> two photos of Steve, one is with his 'true love', his dog Tara, and the
> other is him presenting Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen his very own
> 'Colonel Commission' last October.
>
> http://www.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?396cf583fd.jpg
>
> http://www.freeimagehosting.net/image.php?c0361d58d1.jpg
>
> I will miss my friend Steve, and I pray that he is no longer in pain.
> RIP Steve.
>
> Wiz......
>
> Story and obit below:
>
I am so sorry for your loss.
Rob Cibik
MWB
Your friend made a very difficult choice.
GO WIZ
Mark
La N
"The Kentucky Wizard" <KyWi...@insightbb.com> wrote in message
news:LJSdnSB6q5dyTOfU...@insightbb.com...
> Steve was the mayor of the little town my mother is from. I just learned
> tonight of his passing. He had been suffering from fibromyalgia for some
> time now, but he still seemed in phone calls and emails to be the same ole
> Steve. I guess the pain was just too much, and saw no other way out.
>
Another good friend of an a.o.'er gone. Losing a good buddy is very
painful, almost as achy as losing a family member, because we *choose* our
friends with great care, and they choose us likewise.
My condolences.
- nilita
The Kentucky Wizard
"La N" <nilita20...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:gIOel.6765$PH1.6016@edtnps82...
Thanks everyone for the kind words of condolence, they are much appreciated.
The Kentucky Wizard
Cabinet and many telephone conversations with various World Leaders, I have
come to the following conclusions:
> i'm sorry for your loss, wiz.
Thanks Rob and Jane. Mucho appreciated.