Buddy Makin

Buddy was born Sept. 14, 1931, in Big Stone Gap, Va., to the late C.B. Makin and the late Mabel Warren Makin. After leaving Virginia, the Makins settled in Tiptonville, where Buddy attended and graduated from the former Tiptonville High School, the class of 1950.
Following graduation, he enrolled at the University of Missouri in Columbia, where he earned his bachelor’s degree and master’s degree from the School of Agriculture.
Buddy was married to his high school sweetheart, Alice (Roberson) Makin, for 64 years. To this union, four children were born. They are James Bradshaw Makin (Sarah) of Clinton, TN; Mary Makin (R.T.) of Tiptonville, Tom Scott Makin of Obion County and Katherine Makin of Johnson City; six grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren, all of the above who survive.
Buddy excelled in football, playing at Tiptonville High School and the University of Missouri and on a special team while serving in the U.S Army at Fort Bragg, N.C. During this time in the Army, he was awarded the rank of second lieutenant, field artillery.
After completing his military service, Buddy taught biology and was an assistant football coach at Union City High School. Leaving Union City High School, he taught agriculture and biology, worked as an assistant football coach and eventually became the principal at Lake County High School in Tiptonville, serving in this capacity for five years.
Believing he had accomplished all of his goals in education, Buddy returned to Wise County, Va., where he owned and operated a seeding and land restoration company for strip-mined areas. Also, he engaged in cattle farming, along with his business, for the next 35 years.
In 2010, Buddy and Alice made their final move home to Reelfoot Lake. He loved to share his wonderful fishing and hunting times that he had experienced in this area. However, Buddy eagerly shared that his most special memories of hunting were with his sons, Brad and Tom, while deer hunting in the mountains of Virginia.
Above all his accomplishments, Buddy has been a dedicated Christian from his teenage years to the present. He was a faithful member of the Church of Christ, which he attended regularly. Prayerfully and financially, Buddy served the Lord by always putting Him first in his life.
Buddy was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Ann Makin.
A celebration of Buddy’s life will be held at Tiptonville Church of Christ from 5-8 p.m. today. His cremation, as well as the visitation, will be handled through Dyersburg Funeral Home.
The family requests that any memorials for Buddy be directed to Tiptonville Church of Christ, 515 Church St., Tiptonville, TN 38079.