William "Bill" Johnson Shasteen M.D.

William (“Bill”) Johnson Shasteen died on August 20, 2024, in Tallahassee, Florida surrounded by his loving family. Born September 7, 1940, in Clarksville, Tennessee, he was the son of the late Vernon Johnson Shasteen and Richmond Clay Shasteen. He was preceded in death by his wife of almost 53 years, Henny. Bill is survived by daughters, Kathryn (“Katie”) Proctor (Collins) of Tallahassee, Susan Hunter (Branden) of Savannah, Georgia and Mary (“Molly”) Terrell (Mark) of Nashville, Tennessee; grandchildren, Leroy Collins Proctor Jr., Richmond Clay Proctor, William Jameson Proctor, William Grant Hunter, Kathryn Elizabeth Hunter and Henrietta Lucile Terrell; sisters Carolyn Medrick (Rick) of Denver, Colorado and Jane Bricard, of Signal Mountain, Tennessee, sister-in-law Linda MacIlwaine (Bill) of Charlottesville, Virginia, and numerous nieces and nephews. Bill grew up in Clarksville and graduated in 1958 from Clarksville High School. A natural born athlete, he was named MVP of the Clarksville Little League and went on to letter in football and track as well as serving as captain of the football team during his high school years. He attended the University of the South (Sewanee) and graduated cum laude in 1962 with a BS in biology. He played Center on the football team all four years and was later inducted into the Sewanee Athletics Hall of Fame for playing on the undefeated team of 1958. Bill used to boast how he held the record for the most accurate field goal kicker in NCAA history, having kicked once and did not miss! Outside of football, Bill was President of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity and a member of the Red Ribbon Society, Omicron Delta Kappa Leadership Honor Society, the Blue Key National Honor Society and the Order of the Gownsmen. Bill graduated from Vanderbilt Medical School in 1966 and stayed there to complete his internship and residency in Pathology. He also enjoyed being a member of the Bachelor’s Club of Nashville. In 1968, Bill married Kathryn Henrietta “Henny” Wilson at West End United Methodist Church in Nashville. From 1969-1970, he served as Chief Resident of Pathology at Vanderbilt. Immediately following the birth of their first-born daughter, Bill began his service in the United States Army as a physician first in Cu Chi and Long Binh, Vietnam and later in El Paso, Texas. He ended his service as a Major. Following his discharge, Bill was Assistant Professor of Pathology at Vanderbilt University and Assistant Chief Laboratory Service of the Nashville VA hospital from 1972-1975. Bill and Henny moved to Huntsville, Alabama in 1975, where he worked for Pathology Associates and they raised their three daughters until retiring to their home in Clifftops in Monteagle, Tennessee. During his tenure, Bill served as Chief of Pathology and Director of Laboratory Services at Huntsville Hospital and served on the boards of American Red Cross, American Cancer Society (Huntsville), Huntsville Hospital Foundation, Vanderbilt Medical Alumni Society and the Canby Robinson Society Vanderbilt University. Upon his retirement from Pathology Associates in 2000, he consulted for Applied Genomics doing breast cancer research and honed his golf skills, continuing his impressive athleticism with a legendary hole-in-one at The Ledges in 2007. Bill was an avid reader, a lifelong student and teacher, a skilled debater, a talented athlete, and shared a love of all animals and nature with his wife and family. Over the years, he had several loyal canine companions, each of whom held a special place in his heart. He leaves behind his dog, Dolly, who provided him faithful companionship the last few years. He loved his walks in the woods with friends and family, often debating a political topic or telling old stories. He had a notable fascination with birds, had mastered the art of cooking a perfect poached egg and loved nothing better than sitting on his porch in Clifftops looking at the mountain view with a gin and tonic in hand. Bill will be remembered as a wonderful husband, loving father, doting grandfather, genuine friend and devoted son, brother and nephew. He was a dedicated physician with a curious mind and keen intellect. His family is comforted knowing he is reunited with his beloved Henny. A very special thanks to Bill’s wonderful caregiver and our dear friend, Laurie Haston, caregivers Miquela, Jhaianna, Rita, Kathryn, Janice, and Shemika and to his physician Dr. Michael Forsthoefel of Tallahassee. Bill will be laid to rest on what would have been his 84th birthday during a private graveside service with family. A memorial service will be held at All Saints Chapel in Sewanee, Tennessee on Saturday, September 7, 2024, at 3:00 pm. The family will receive guests following the service at McGriff Alumni House. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to South Cumberland Community Fund, P.O. Box 1301, Monteagle, TN 37356, The Sewanee Fund, 735 University Avenue, Sewanee, TN 37383, Big Bend Hospice, 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308 or the American Red Cross. If you are able, please consider donating blood at your local blood bank. Kelly Barber of Bevis Funeral Home (850-385-2193 or www.bevisfh.com) is assisting the family with their arrangements.

Tributes

William "Bill" Johnson Shasteen M.D.

September 7, 1940 - August 20, 2024