Invite friends and family to read the obituary and add memories.
We'll notify you when service details or new memories are added.
You're now following this obituary
We'll email you when there are updates.
Please select what you would like included for printing:
Send a Sympathy Card
Saturday, January 3, 2026
12:00 - 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Starts at 2:00 pm (Eastern time)
Saturday, January 3, 2026
Starts at 3:00 pm (Eastern time)
Flea Whitaker went to be with the Lord on December 30, 2025 at the Johnson City Medical Center. He was a lifelong resident of Kingsport. He graduated from Sullivan Central High School, where he was an exceptional basketball player. Flea was currently employed at Eastman Chemical Company and had been there for 37 years. He always loved hunting, working on cars, but what he loved most of all was his family and grandchildren. While his kids were young he enjoyed many years of coaching and building lasting relationships with all the kids that still call him “Coach Flea.” He played softball for various public leagues throughout the years. He was a loving husband, dad, brother and papa, and will be greatly missed by all who knew him.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Rant & Lula Mae Spears; mother, Patsy Louis Barnes Whitaker; brother, David Whitaker; and fur baby “CoCo.”
Those left to cherish his memories are his loving wife, Sherry whom he has been married to for 41 years; daughter, Jamie Christian and husband, Mark; son, Chris Whitaker and wife, Emily. Flea was a proud Papa to four grandchildren, Reilee Christian, Aiden Christian, Leeya Kate and Allie Whitaker; father, Claude Whitaker; sister, Sarah Spangler and husband, John; and several nieces and nephews; and fur baby “Zoey.”
The Family will receive friends on Saturday, January 3, 2026 from 12:00 – 2:00 pm in the Chapel of Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home & Memorial Park, 2630 Highway 75, Blountville, TN 37617 with funeral services to follow with Brother Randall Roller officiating. Graveside services to follow in the Hamlett-Dobson Memorial Park Garden of Peace.
Pallbearers will be Russell Pope, Tommy Lawson, Tony Mann, Al Parker, Hunter Hawkins and Aiden Christian. Honorary Pallbearers will be David Webb, Kevin Whitehead, and Billy Houser.
Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Terry Lee Whitaker.
Hamlett Dobson Funeral Home and Memorial Park
Hamlett Dobson Funeral Home and Memorial Park
Hamlett Dobson Funeral Home and Memorial Park
Visits: 4133
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the
Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Service map data © OpenStreetMap contributors