Kirk Bivens is the Manager as well as a Licensed Funeral Director, Embalmer and Certified Crematory Operator with Gentry Griffey Funeral Home and Crematory and Cremations. He has a passion for serving families and providing meaningful and highly personalized services. Kirk studied Mortuary Sciences at Holmes Community College in Mississippi and is licensed in Tennessee and Mississippi. He lives in Maryville with his wife of over 32 years, Kathleen. They have three children: Brooke (David), Brianna (David) and Brett (Alyssa) and one grandson, Bo. He is a member of New Providence Presbyterian Church in Maryville. 

In October of 2018 Dylan came to Gentry Griffey Funeral Home and Crematory with a deep desire to serve. His passion for the care and needs of the deceased was a perfect fit to our firm. Dylan holds an Associates Degree in Funeral Service and Mortuary Science and a Certified Crematory Operator Certificate from the National Funeral Directors Association. he is also a Notary Public.

Dylan is married to his wonderful wife, Ana. The two first met in an 8th grade math class and have been nearly inseparable since then. They do have plans to start a family in the future but in the meantime they continue to strengthen their relationship.

In his spare time Dylan attends church regularly and is an active member in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

Dylan takes every effort to serve the families that come to our funeral home to the best of his ability.

Jerry Johnson Griffey, age 90, of Fountain City, peacefully departed this life and reunited with his beloved wife, Joan, on Tuesday, October 7, 2024. He was a member of Fountain City United Methodist Church for 53 years where he sang in the Chancel Choir for 47 years and was a member of the Christian Homebuilders Sunday School Class. He served the church in many leadership roles through the years.

Jerry was a charter member of North Knoxville Rotary Club serving as secretary for 37 years. He was an active Rotarian for 63 years and was honored to receive the Paul Harris Fellow from his club. He was in the first graduating class of Fulton High School in 1952 then earned a degree from Gupton Jones College of Mortuary Science – Class of 1954. Jerry was a member of The Greater Knoxville Funeral Directors Association, Tennessee Funeral Directors Association, National Funeral Directors Association, and a member by invitation of National Selected Morticians. He served on many boards of professional and charitable agencies. At the age of 15, Jerry began his life-long ministry of serving families through his work in the funeral business. Jerry and his wife owned Gentry Griffey Funeral Chapel for 40 years.

He served two years in the United States Army Medical Corps. In recent years, he enjoyed being a historical re-enactor at Ramsey House portraying Colonel Francis Alexander Ramsey.

He was preceded in death by the love of his life, Joan Bostick Griffey, his wife of 56 years. He was also preceded in death by Grace Pickle, Ruby Pickle Carpenter, and William Andrew Carpenter, the aunts and uncle who raised him.

He is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Karen and Mike Todd (Kingsport) and Becky and Ed Ripley (Knoxville); grandchildren, Ethan Todd, Katie Todd, Will Ripley and wife, Makayla, and Anna Ripley; great-grandson, Caden Andrew Ripley; sister, Charlotte Griffey Kolbe and brother-in-law, Bob Kolbe; sister-in-law, Phyllis Bostick; and many other beloved extended family members and dear friends.

His daughters want to thank Jerry’s lunch buddies and drivers over the past several years that allowed Jerry to fulfill his wish to remain in his home: the late Charlie Robbins, Ron Jones, Dylan Karnes, Gary Gibson, Craig Holtzclaw, David Smith, Truman Sweet, and Mahan Archer. Jerry’s family would like to express their gratitude to the medical professionals at Ft. Sanders Regional Medical Center who lovingly cared for him during his final days.

Family and Friends may call at their convenience Thursday, October 10, 8:30am-4:30pm and Friday, October 11, 8:30am-12:00 noon at Gentry Griffey Chapel. Receiving of friends will be 2:00pm-4:45pm Friday, October 11, at Fountain City United Methodist Church with a service immediately following at 5:00pm with church pastors, Rev. Don Hanshew, Rev. Rachel Collins, and Rev. Mahan Archer officiating. A Graveside service will be held at 11:00am Saturday, October 12, at Asbury Cemetery with Rev. Doug Smith, Rev. Gregg Bostick, and Rev. Jim Whedbee officiating. Active Pallbearers will be Ron Jones, Craig Holtzclaw, David Smith, Dylan Karnes, Gary Gibson, and Gage Farrar. Honorary pallbearers will be members of the Christian Homebuilders Sunday School Class, FCUMC Chancel Choir, and Funeral Professionals both past and present.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Fountain City United Methodist Church Chancel Choir, UMCOR Disaster Relief in care of FCUMC (www.fountaincityumc.org), or the Second Harvest Food Bank of Northeast Tennessee Disaster Fund (www.netfoodbank.org).

Megan Fritts is our Office Administrator here at Gentry Griffey and has been an asset to our team since October of 2018. Megan’s personal experiences of loss have made her an invaluable member of our team as she is able to help families navigate their grief with kindness and understanding. She was born and raised in Knoxville before moving to Maryville, TN, in 2008 where she now lives with her two children, Ella and Koen. Megan has a deep passion for serving families in the funeral industry and looks forward to continuing to help them through their most difficult time for years to come.

Chris was born and raised in Knoxville, Tennessee. Since he was a child it has always been his passion to be in Funeral Service. He is finally living his dream working with Gentry Griffey Funeral Home and Crematory and Crematory. 

He lives in Farragut with his wife, Jamie, of three years. They have four children, Ashlynn, Katerina, Izaak, and Caysen.

Gary was born and raised in the Halls Community of Knoxville, TN. He graduated from Halls High School in 1972. He is now retired but spent over 20 years of his life as a long-haul truck driver. Gary was married 42 years to the love of his life, Patricia Gibson, who passed away in 2019.

Gary is a life-long member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church of Powell, TN. He has always felt a calling to serve in funeral service but never got a chance to until recently. He came to Gentry Griffey Funeral Home and Crematory in January of 2020. In his spare time, Gary enjoys attending car shows and spending time with his family and his beloved pets.

I grew up in Rhode Island. I graduated high school in1969, then I moved to California in 1971, worked as a Shipping and Receiving Director for a large carpet manufacturer until 1983 moved back home to help take care of my Dad that had Alzheimer's, he passed in 1986. I worked for a fabric textile manufacturer as a set up mechanic. I then moved to Florida in 1989. I worked at 7-11 as a Store Manager got promoted to a loss prevention specialist went to the University of 7-11 and then the University of Louisville to get my degree in Criminal Behavior and background investigations. I retired in 2006 and moved to Tennessee. Worked at Weigel's as District Manager and the Loss Prevention Director. I retired in 2019 and took some time off then went to work at Gentry Griffey Funeral Home and Crematory in 2021 as a Funeral Assistant and I got my Crematory Operator Certificate. This has been the most rewarding job I have ever had, Being able to fulfill a person's last wish and help their family face a very difficult time, losing a loved one.

Darrin is a veteran and embraces a spirit of service. He has spent more than thirty years serving the needs of the community.

He recently joined our funeral home family and brings a wealth of knowledge to our preneed planning services.