Melissa Marie Davis Kern

Melissa Marie Davis Kern passed away peacefully surrounded by family on Sunday, September 23, 2018. Melissa was a lifelong resident of Kingsport and Provo Utah for 8 years. She graduated from Dobyns-Bennett High School in 1978. In 1985 she got her Associate's Degree in accounting from Bristol College. In 1995 she got her Associate's Degree to become a legal assistant at Utah Valley State College, and she made the Deans List at numerous times during her college years. She worked in customer services and legal services over the years. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. She was a very vibrant and bubbly person with a wicked sense of humor who enjoyed genealogy and cooking. She also enjoyed cross stitching, music, singing and was a huge fan of Donny Osmond and she loved her family with all her heart. She was preceded in death by her parents, James Ray and Euna Davis (Kingsport); sister, Margaret Davis (Kingsport); grandparents, Orpha Moody Phillips and Henry King Phillips and Margaret Keller Davis and John W. Davis. She is survived by her daughter, Rebecca Tarleton and husband, Richard D. (Greeneville, TN); sons, James Thomas Kern (Kingsport, TN) and PVT Ronald Dale Kern, Jr (Fort Lee, VA); grandchildren, Richard J. Tarleton (Greeneville, TN) and Tiffiany Tarleton; four great grandchildren, Ezekiel Tarleton, Caden, Liam, and Xavier Ottinger (Kingsport); sisters, Marilyn Slaughter and husband, Bill (Knoxville, TN), and Mary Burrell and husband, Jeremiah (Jonesborough); several nieces and nephews; special friends, Lynn Taylor, Becky Oaks, Myrth Mills, Connie Tarleton and Richard C. Tarleton. The family will receive friends on Thursday, October 4, 2018, from 6:00 P.M. until 8:00 P.M., with funeral services at 8:00 P.M. in our chapel with Brother David Carter and Bishop Kurt Fagerburg officiating. Graveside service will be Friday, October 5, 2018 at 1:00 P.M. at Oak Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers will be James Kern, PVT Ronald Kern, Richard J. Tarleton, Bill Slaughter, Jeremiah Burrell, Adam Burrell, Michael Slaughter, Matthew Slaughter and Brent Slaughter. The family would like to say a special thank you to her church family and friends for their love and support, to Avalon Hospice and to Jessica Perry, who was her caregiver and a Godsend to the family. Trinity Memorial Centers Funeral Home (423-723-8177) is honored to be serving the family of Melissa Kern.