Wayne Wesley Hixon

Wayne Wesley Hixon He was the youngest child of the late John and Kathleen Hixon, Jr.

Wayne grew up in Rossville and attended the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga to earn a degree in education/coaching where he wrestled on the team and later officiated games. Wayne served his country in the National Guard in the early 1970s. He then met his true love, Judy Phillips James. They married in 1975 and had two children, Jonathan Blaze and Brooke Allison.

Later in the 1970s, Wayne started a mobile truck washing business which he later grew into Choo Choo Truck Wash in Ringgold, in 1982. Business acumen, leadership, work ethic and courage of Wayne have grown Choo Choo Truck Wash into a successful 42 year old business which he sold in the summer of 2024. Wayne has poured his blood, sweat and tears into truck washing, into its success and into the to provide for the needs of his family. Wayne and our family will be forever grateful to the people who became family (Susan Combs and the late Gary Drake) and the many wonderful employees over the years who contributed to the success of the company.

Wayne was an exceptional athlete and loved playing, watching and coaching sports, especially when his children were involved. He loved competition in all its forms and his favorite activities were wrestling, fishing, foosball, baseball, bowling, soccer, ice hockey, church softball and his greatest game: golf. But his true passion was coaching and seeing his own children succeed in athletics. He coached Blaze and Brooke in high school and both enjoyed tremendous success in their sports, baseball and golf, respectively.

Wayne leaves behind many loved ones, extended family members and friends, who were like family to him. He truly loved family reunions, traveling to see his family all over the country and especially spending the holidays together. Some of his favorite times involved telling each other old stories. There are many family memories of go-kart rides to mother’s house, hayrides in the fall, four-wheelers in the woods, trying to beat Grandma at bowling, sledding in the snow, swimming at home, playing in the yard and more.

Wayne was an avid golfer himself, but he often joked that he had to keep his game up to compete with his daughter. He was a student of the game and enjoyed the many games he played with friends and family. The strongest part of his game was his putting and he often said, “It’s not how you drive, it’s how you arrive.” » He loved nothing more than to line up and make a long putt to save par!

Wayne lived a good life, had a family he loved and who loved him dearly. He felt truly blessed. Wayne was a beloved father, son and brother, uncle, businessman, golfer and friend. He worked hard and played harder. He will be remembered as an intelligent, hard-working, athletic and successful Southerner.

Wayne was a member of Ridgedale Baptist Church and greatly loved Pastor Doug Plumlee and the other members.

Surviving are his children: Jonathan Blaze Hixon of Chattanooga and Brooke Hixon Pribble of Augusta, Georgia.

He is survived by his sister, Brenda Wiggins of Huntsville; Judy James and family of Chattanooga, along with many other friends and family.

He was preceded in death by his loving parents, Mary Kathleen Hixon and John Wesley Hixon, Jr.; and his brother-in-law James Edward Wiggins.

Our family is incredibly grateful to the angels on Wayne’s care team at Remember Me Senior Care, Hearth Hospice and Senior Helpers. Their faith-based, family-centered care program is simply incredible. We are so grateful for the love and care given to Wayne over the past seven weeks. Thank you, Trish, Kaitlyn, Ashley, Cindy, Lauryn and Haley from Remember Me, Rachel from Hearth Hospice and Rachel and Crystal from Senior Helpers.

A celebration of life will be held on Friday, November 22 at noon at Heritage Funeral Home with Pastor Doug Plumley officiating. Burial will follow at Lakewood Memory Gardens South.

Visitation will be held Friday from 10 a.m. until service time at Heritage Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to Ridgedale Baptist Church, 1831 Hickory Valley Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee. 37421, in memory of Wayne.

View the obituary online www.heritagechattanooga.com to post tributes and share memories.

Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Chapel.