Joe Eldridge Moates, 85 of Etowah went to be with his Lord and Savior on January 11, 2015 at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. He was born on Sept 14, 1929 in Etowah to the late James D. Moates and Nina Browder Moates. He graduated in 1947 from Etowah High School the same year he joined the Air Force where he trained as a surgical technician and medical corpsman, serving 5 years. After leaving the Air Force he attended Tennessee Polytechnic Institute in Cookville. He later graduated from the University of Chattanooga with a degree in Business Management. He moved to Chattanooga in 1956, while in Chattanooga he was with Real estate Management Inc. and Herman Walldorf and Co. He was a member of the Board of Realtors. Jaycees, Assistant Scoutmaster Boy Scouts of America, Big Brothers, and Chattanooga Scottish Rites. Moving Back to Etowah in 1989 he served as Mayor of Etowah from 1996 to 2004. He was an avid outdoorsman, loved to hunt, fish, hike, camp and golf. In 1994, he road across the state of Tennessee with a bicycle club. He was a member of Wesley Memorial Methodist Church.

Joe was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife, Joan Waldrop Moates; son, Myron Moates; grandson; Mickey Moates, infant brother, Jack; and brother, Dan Moates.

Left to cherish his loving memory is his wife Elizabeth Yarbrough Moates; sister Katherine Elkins of Riceville; brother, James Moates of Johnson City; sister-in-law, Thelma Moates of Knoxville; step-daughter and husband, Carolyn and Tom Johnson of Etowah; step-granddaughter and husband, Jamie and Kevin McConkey; step-grandson, Chris Byrum of Etowah and Clay Byrum of Knoxville; step-great-grandchildren, Thomas and McKenzie Kedel of Etowah.

The family will receive friends Saturday, January 17, 2015 from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., in the South Chapel of Bordwine Funeral Home. Celebration of Joe's life will be held at 3:00 p.m. with Rev. Ted Painter and Durant Tullock officiating.

In lieu of flowers donations may be made to the Food Pantry, Wesley Memorial Methodist Church, P.O. Box 306, Etowah, TN 37331.