John Philip Bourne "Papa Phil" died peacefully in his sleep on June 12 around midnight on his Cumberland Plateau farm in a night full of stars and lightening bugs.

Born July 23, 1931 and r aised in Charles ton , West Virginia, he graduated from Duke University as a mathematics major and married Anna Clark "Clarkie" Plyer of Chester, South Carolina.  He was a veteran of the Korean War and was a career executive at IBM for over 25 years and travelled internationally.  In 1984, he retired and moved with his artist wife to Tennessee where they had purchased an 1800's farmhouse.  His passions included off road motorcycle raci ng ( Florida Senior Champion) as well as cooking and baking. He was the beloved chef at Grandview Mountain Cottages (family run vacation rentals) on his farm most recently.

A Celebration of Life ceremony at the family farmhouse will be held on Friday, June 22 from 12pm to 2pm ET.  Please bring a dish for the pot luck and RSVP so we will have a count. We'll have some local musicians and share Papa Phil stories.  His ashes will be taken to South Carolina to be laid beside the grave of Clarkie his wife of 54 years with military honors .

He is preceded in death by his wife Anna Clark Plyer Bourne, his mother Alpha Omega Conley (Har ry ) Darden, his father Edgar Carl (Virginia) Bourne , his aunts Ruth (Robert) Bullock and Hazel (William) Snyder and his uncle Kenneth (Mary) Bourne.

He is survived by daughters Brenda Leah (Mike Burns) Bourne , California and Ilaeka Cheryl Villa , Tennessee , grandsons Dylan Christopher Watts , Italy and Wesley Graham (Savana Roselli) Watts , Oregon , sister Carole (Fred) Woeber , Texas, nephews Andy Woeber , Florida and Daniel (Carolyn ) Woeber , Texas, niece Martha (Jim) Colby, Texas, cousins Dan (Carlene) S ny der , Florida, George Bullock, Pennsylvania , Barbara (Jerry) Gallaher , Texas, Leisa (Bobby) Atha , Virginia, Tyler Bullock , Georgia and many great-nephews/nieces and cousins.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cumberland Trail Association (Piney Falls Fund ) , 409 Thurman Avenue #102, Crossville, TN  38555 (Papa wants improvements on safety and access on his favorite local trail) or to the Grandview Fire Department , 332 Hemlock Drive, Grandview, TN  37337, who he admired highly for the great services they provide to our tiny rural area.  Thanks to all who have supported us in our time of sorrow.

Vaughn Funeral Home, Spring City, Tennessee, is in charge of arrangements.  Please share your condolences and memories of Papa Phil on our website www.vaughn-funeral-home.com.