Eugene Sherman Waycaster, known to most people as Gene or Ray, was born on Roan Mountain in East Tennessee on August 27, 1941. He passed on April 10, 2026, at his home in Ashland City, TN with his wife Donna and his dog, Daisy by his side. They had made a life together there for 30 plus years.
This East TN mountain boy joined the Air Force and went to Bunker Hill Air Force Base in IN, while there he met his first wife and had 3 children. Then the family moved to middle TN and had another child. He joined the TN National Guard and that career ultimately led to his 40 plus year career as a Surgical First Assistant.
He worked at Saint Thomas West and Saint Thomas Ambulatory Surgery Center for over 40 years.
He proudly told stories of working with Dr. Allen Anderson when he was a resident and helping to pioneer new surgical techniques.
Anyone who knew Gene, knew he lived to go to the woods! It didn’t matter the weather or even if there was a hunting season open, he just wanted to go to the woods.
He loved spending time on “the property”, literally thousands of hours, just walking through the woods, or sitting in a tree stand or riding on the tractor, or riding in the truck, or checking the fields, or, sitting in a tree stand and reading a book. When he couldn’t get to the woods, he would sit on his back deck, with the woods just behind him. He loved being outside.
Gene was very proud of his military career and proud that all 4 of his children followed him into the military. He was especially proud that 4 of his grandchildren also followed in his footsteps and joined the military.
Gene is survived by his 4 children, Eugene L. Waycaster (Sharon), Lorraine R. Taylor (Terrance), Raymond H. Miller (Cathy) and William T. Miller (Lindsay). 14 grandchildren, Jessicia, Amber, Brittany (deceased), Leslie, Zachary, DJ, Shon, Curtis, Taryn, Megan, Kalyna, Leah, Will and John Ross and 17 great grandchildren. Also survived by his South Carolina family and God children; Brittany, Rachel, and Laura Beth.
The family will receive relatives and friends on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, from four o’clock in the afternoon until eight o’clock in the evening at West Harpeth Funeral Home and Crematory in the West Hall, 6962 Charlotte Pike in Nashville. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, April 16, 2026, at one o’clock in the afternoon with visiting an hour prior to the service in the Chapel at West Harpeth Funeral Home and Crematory. Pastor Randy Hester will be officiating.
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This obituary was published by West Harpeth Funeral Home & Crematory.
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