Dr. John Franklin Tannehill, Sr.

Dr. John Franklin Tannehill Sr., age 85, of Clyde, North Carolina, passed away peacefully at home surrounded by his loving family on July 28, 2024. He was born and grew up in Hattiesburg, Mississippi, being the youngest of four sons to Antone and Marjorie Wyman Tannehill. After graduating from Vanderbilt University, he attended Tulane University School of Medicine earning his medical degree and beginning a 30+ year career as a physician and surgeon.

In 1965, he fell in love with and began a 59-year marriage to Suzanne Haley of Columbus, Mississippi. They spent the early days of their marriage in Libya and North Africa where he served as a flight surgeon for the US Air Force and flying in F-100F jet fighters. 

After discharge, they moved to New Orleans, Louisiana, where he continued specializing in head and neck surgery at the renowned Ochsner Medical Center. John and Suzanne searched all over the United States for the perfect place to raise their three sons and moved to Waynesville in 1976 after falling in love with the incredible people and mountains of Western North Carolina. 

Dr. Tannehill once estimated he served more than 40,000 patients during his military and private medical career and would often accept trade of vegetables or local crafts instead of money from families in need. He and his wife have always been supporters of many aspects of the WNC community including the arts, nature & wildlife preservation, law enforcement and farmers.

He is survived by his wife, Suzanne, their three sons, Brett, Wyman, John Jr. and wife Josie along with grandson Ian, and granddaughters Wiley Tannehill and Anissa Tannehill-Coetsee and her husband Shaun. Dr. Tannehill encouraged everyone to always be kind and support the hard-working nurses, doctors and medical personnel who are often underappreciated. He also would strongly advise against allowing the privatization of our hospitals and medical facilities who he felt too often puts profit above the healing of people. 

At his request, there will only be a private service for the family. If people wish to honor his memory, then a donation of time or money to their favorite non-profit that serves the needs of their community would be perfect.

The care of Dr. Tannehill has been entrusted to Wells Funeral Home of Waynesville