James T. Mottern, Jr., age 70, of Knoxville, died on December 26, 2014, after an extended illness with pancreatic cancer. He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio, and lived most of his life in the Knoxville and Oak Ridge areas. He graduated from Oak Ridge High School and studied business administration at the University of Tennessee. With an adventuresome spirit, he moved to Fairbanks, Alaska, at the tender age of 20 and made it his home for 14 years. He was the first staff photographer for Denali National Park and later owned a successful photography business in Fairbanks. He returned to Knoxville after the deaths of his parents. He was a senior industrial photographer at the DOE Oak Ridge facilities, and retired from the Y-12 National Security Complex in 2006. Mr. Mottern was a devoted, loving husband, and he thoroughly enjoyed sharing traveling adventures and nature photography with his wife. He cherished God and country, and he was honored to attain an Eagle Scout status as a youth. He had a generous soul and supported several charities over the years. His primary charity was St. Jude Children''s Research Hospital, and he was a proud member of the Danny Thomas - St. Jude Society. He was an extraordinary talented photographer who shared his knowledge with hundreds of students at the University of Alaska, University of Tennessee, and Smoky Mountain Field School. He was preceded in death by his parents, James T. Mottern, Sr., and Bess L. Mottern. He is survived by his loving wife, Madonna Martin, who has been his partner in life, best friend, and traveling companion for over 33 years. The family appreciates his care provided by University of Tennessee Medical Center''s Cancer Institute and hospice services staff, also the Tennova Residential Hospice facility. Memorial donations may be sent to St. Jude Children''s Research Hospital. http://www.stjude.org/SJFile/MemHonorForm.pdf
https://shop.stjude.org/GiftCatalog/donation.do?cID=14262&pID=24671&frequency_selected=2 Services will be private. Woodhaven Funeral Home & Memorial Gardens are honored to serve the family.