Quesenberry, James Frederick
James “Fred” Frederick Quesenberry, 81, of Sevierville, TN, entered the gates of Heaven on November 24, 2024, just a few hours shy of his 82nd birthday. Fred was born to Carl and Erma Quesenberry on November 25, 1942, in Floyd County, Virginia’s community of Indian Valley.
Fred graduated from Floyd High School in 1961 and immediately joined the United States Navy, serving his country on the USS Uvalde.
During his four year tour of duty, Fred studied Electrical Engineering and earned the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal for Cuban Operations and a Good Conduct Medal before receiving an Honorable Discharge in 1968. Remarks found by his superiors state “Quesenberry’s performance is of the highest quality. He is completely confident and thorough in the performance of his job, whether it be military or professional.”
Fred married his sweetheart, Lorene Graham on Valentine’s Day 1969, in which they were married for 35 years. Lorene worked for The Floyd Press, while Fred worked at General Electric and the United States Postal Service. Together, they attended craft fairs with their handmade wooden art, paintings and quilts, raised a garden and bees, canned, volunteered within the community and lived a beautiful lifestyle of the Blue Ridge Mountains.
Fred joined the International Union of Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers, Local 161 in 1969 and, in 1974, received an Associate of Applied Science Degree in Management from Virginia Western Community College. In 1978, he became a clerk for the Floyd Post Office, where he worked for 25 years, tending to the needs of the residents of Floyd.
Fred retired from Civil Service in 2003 and dedicated his life to Lorene’s care until her passing in late 2004. He didn’t like being home by himself, so he bought a camper and started attending Bluegrass Music Festivals all over the country. He went on several Music cruises, as well as working directly with several bands through the years as a merchandise manager. In 2010, Fred left Floyd County and moved to Kentucky, finally settling in Sevierville, TN. There he enjoyed fishing, reading, raising a garden alongside the mountain stream, tending to his dogs, Ruby, Dipstick, and Gus, traveling to Bluegrass music shows, and studying the word of his Lord and Savior, peacefully meeting Him face to face on the evening of November 24, 2024.
Fred is known for his generosity, his forgiving demeanor, his kind heart, his gentle soul, his witty sense of humor, his compassionate for his people, his love of music and his dedication to his Lord.
James Frederick Quesenberry is proceeded in death by his wife, Lorene Quesenberry; parents, Algin Carlis (Carl) Quesenberry and Erma H Quesenberry; sisters, Gertrude Q Cox (Elmer), Verna Q Dalton (Harry) and Etta Maud Quesenberry; brothers, Davy Eugene (Gene) Quesenberry and Bernard Quesenberry; stepmother, Eula Martin; stepsister, Jane Shank; stepbrothers, Robert Blackwell and Kenneth Blackwell.
James Frederick Quesenberry is survived by his nieces, Kathy Young (Darrell) and JoAnn White (Paul); nephews, Donnie Cox (Sharon), Timothy Cox (Elizabeth) and Stephen Quesenberry (Maria); sister-in-law, Sue W Quesenberry; stepsisters, Ileda Shelor, Louise Hall and Mary Nolen Many; special great and great-great nieces and nephews; “son he never had,” C.J. Lewandowski, along with a lifetime full of friends all over the world.
A Celebration of Life will be held on Saturday January 11, 2025, from 5 to 6 p.m., at The Floyd Country Store with a musical celebration after. A private graveside ceremony will happen at later date at the Red Oak Grove Cemetery.
