DR. LARRY PROFFITT
November 27, 1943 – June 20, 2026
Isaiah 40:31 in the New International Version (NIV)
“but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Dr. Larry Proffitt, age 82, of Elizabethton, Tennessee, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, June 20, 2026, at the Johnson City Medical Center following a lengthy illness with Parkinson’s disease.
Born in Bluff City, Tennessee, on November 27, 1943, Larry was the son of the late Jim and Grace Proffitt. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his only brother, Terry Proffitt.
Larry was a 1969 graduate of the University of Tennessee School of Pharmacy in Memphis and devoted his life to serving his community. He owned and operated Burgie Drug Store in Elizabethton from 1975 until his retirement and was also the second-generation owner of Ridgewood Barbecue in Elizabethton.
A faithful Christian, Larry was a member of Memorial Presbyterian Church, where he served as both an elder and a deacon. He was an avid hunter and especially enjoyed wild turkey hunting. Larry was a respected member of the National Wild Turkey Federation and authored the best-selling book, ‘Letters to My Grandsons,’ published in 2018.
Larry’s greatest joy was his family. He is survived by his loving wife of 60 years, Norma Proffitt; two devoted daughters, Lisa Paige Peters and Rebecca Lea Wilkins and husband, Chuck; grandchildren Jacob Peters (Cassidy), Amanda Peters Andrews (Craig), Casey Wilkins and Matthew Wilkins; a niece, Julie Proffitt Buchanan; and several other nieces and nephews.
The family will receive friends between the hours of 2:00 PM and 4:00 PM on Sunday, June 28, 2026 in the Chapel of Peace at Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton.
The graveside service will be conducted at 10:00 Am on Monday, June 29, 2026, at Happy Valley Memorial Park with Reverend Tim Mindemann officiating. Music will be provided by Jon Shell. Active pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. Honorary pallbearers will be Steve Hubbard, Joe Munsey, Tyler Hyder, Mike Matthews, Dr. Craig Matherne, Dr. Harold Allison, and Dr. Steven May. Those wishing to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at the cemetery at 9:50 AM on Monday.
Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to Memorial Presbyterian Church, 100 East F Street, Elizabethton, TN 37643 or to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, Tn 38105 or by visiting their website at www.stjude.org.
Words of comfort may be shared with the family by visiting our website at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com. Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton is honored to serve the Proffitt family. Office phone: (423) 542-2232.
Larry first started reading Blind Pig & the Acorn back in 2010. I always enjoyed his comments. Here’s some of my favorites.
- Tipper, I didn’t know I talked funny until 1961 at my freshman year at UT in Knoxville until I made friends with some young men from Indiana. I often wondered where these words come from that I learned from my parents and grandparents. One particular phrase lately that another friend noticed was “I am going a hunting.” I study and memorize from the King James. One day I was reading and read that “Peter and John went A fishing.” Voila, a light came on for me. Since so many of our ancestors were Scotch-Irish my thesis is that many of our colloquialisms come from the Bible they used. Looking in Strong’s concordance for the usage of World and Worldly I estimate no less than 200 times where world is used therein. One particular use of worldly is found in Titus 2-12. We mountain folks obviously learned from our parents and their parents before the days of TV. It is an interesting search. Thanks for your work. Our family enjoys it.
- That’s a wasper Tipper, don’t let them fool you, ask Pap.
- Tipper, We use these phrases commonly here in east tennessee. Also some years ago an old friend who grew up and lived his life in Enid, Oklahoma waxed poetic one evening on one of our fall turkey hunts, and told me “I guess you thought I was mighty STAND OFFISH at first but a man’s got to be careful there’s a lot of dadburned fools out there. I told him that the Okies were like us mountain folks who keep strangers at a long arms length until we see what they will do and what they won’t do.
- Tipper, I often lose right hand gloves in the woods. They are camo so seldom are they seen again. This past spring I lost my favorite pocket knife that has butchered a multitude of wild turkeys for Norma’s big black skillet as well as other things old men do with pocket knives. It had been gone for over 6 months. One morning I pulled a different pair of boots from under the edge of the table where I lay my pocket hunting items. I stuck my foot in the right boot and felt a strange object. There it was. What a warm feeling like meeting an old friend from years ago. I had obviously knocked the knife off the edge of the table in haste. Probably in the morning at 3 AM before the tank of coffee had awakened me sufficiently. I am more careful with that ancient old friend now but I still have an abundance of left hand gloves.
- Tipper Just wait till you get grandchildren they make grandparents PLUMB silly.
- My granny USED tobacco as they often said. She kept a little green twig frayed on the business end and stuck it in the can of Bruton snuff. She also USED DAYS WORK plug tobacco. It smelled so good. She would cut off a luttle piece about the size of half of a dime and hold it in her mouth. I never remember her spitting. On Sundays after dinner she would cover the table with a pretty table cloth and leave the food on the table for an early supper. All the grown-ups would go sit on the front porch in the summer. That Days Work smelled so good to a 6 or 7 yr old. One afternoon I slipped in the back door, got the little paring knife she used, reached in the cupboard and got the plug of tobacco and cut off the appropriate size chew that she used. Silently I put everything back in place and slipped back out the door. I hurried out behind the smoke house and went to chewing on that fine smelling stuff. You know of course the rest of the story. The chew was hot, strong and any other foul word you can think of. Yep, I gagged some, spit it out and hurried to water bucket and dipper. I was cured of any desire for tobacco.
- Tipper, Thanks for your time and devotion to share with us. The Blind Pig is my first order of the day.
Larry was a true friend of Blind Pig & the Acorn. I will miss his insightful comments.
Last night’s video: Boiled Chocolate Icing Like Granny Made.
Tipper
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Thanks for sharing those remembrances. I had not heard of Larry’s death. He was a great man who did a 15 minute spot on WJCW, a local radio station in Washington County TN during which he talked about his businesses but,even more so, spoke of life and life experiences. Both Burgie Drug in Elizabethton and Ridgewood Barbeque in
Bluff City are still going strong and both would be an excellent destination for those visiting this beautiful area of northeast TN.
My condolences for the loss of a great man. Like him the Blind Pig is one of the first things I read most days. It’s my morning ritual. This upcoming school year is my daughter’s senior year and I’m usually up waiting on it to appear in my emails. All of you are part of my life now.
Miss Tipper, Dr. Proffitt Seemed a very remarkable person. Prayers to his lovely wife and his entire family and friends. God bless everyone today, tomorrow and always. That beautiful blueberry/blackberry pie you made had my mouth a watering. Sure would liked to have shared some of it with y’all. Prayers for Mr. (Papaw) Tony and for all his support team and family too. Hoping and praying the good Lord gets him through all this. Amen and amen.
I am sorry for the loss of Larry for his family and those who knew and loved him. May they feel God’s presence especially close to them. I enjoyed reading his comments, thank you for sharing those Tipper.
I just hate losing the people around here that are born and raised So sad………
Probably like a lot of others on the BP&A I am on the downside of that big mountain of life that we climb. So sorry for the loss of Larry. Condolences to his family. We too have a big ‘ol black skillet. We rescued ours from the mountains and when found it was more than half buried in dirt and a collapsed building. We brought it home, cleaned it up and seasoned it. I have been using that skillet for 54 years and other than becoming my daily weight lifting exercise I love it. I used to use it for my family but now can cook two or three little things in it for the two of us.
I, like Larry, go to BP&A first thing each morning to start my day. I feel like I found my tribe.
Rest peacefully Larry. Hope everyone in the holler is doing well. Praying for papaw Tony
Tipper, I really enjoyed the writings of Mr. Profitt that you shared. He must have been such a jewel. It’s good to think of him now free of Parkinsons and dancing with the Lord.
Prayers for Larry’s family. He sure sounded like a mighty fine man.
God comfort all that love and cared about him in Jesus name
What a lovely tribute for what sounds like a lovely person . What a beautiful legacy he left by the way he lived his life . Thank you for sharing his story . Love & prayers for all .
Tipper, Jim Cassida, and the Proffitt family.
I am sorry for everyone’s loss. It seems like he was a wonderful and interesting person. I will say a prayer for everyone..
Condolences to those who loved and knew Larry Proffit. He sounds like someone I would have enjoyed knowing. Thank you for sharing this tribute and his comments, Tipper. I had to chuckles at his tale about the tobacco and having 2 boys myself I could just picture him doing this. As the saying goes: “Boys will be boys’ as they seem to find more mischief to get into than girls do. Regarding tobacco/snuff/’baccy or whatever one calls it in their area – does Matt/Austin or any of you family use such? It was popular where I grew up for many years, though my daddy never used but he did smoke cigarettes for a few years. As many others have commented: I too make the BP&A my first read each morning. I may not always comment but you all are important part of my days beginning. Hugs and blessings to you and yours.
Condolences to all his family and friends.
Tipper what a beautiful way to pay tribute to and show your appreciation for one of your devoted followers. May you think of him often as you create your content.
I wonder now if Larry could have been related to Frank Proffitt of Tom Dooley fame. Frank was born in as far Northeastern in Tennessee as you can get, Laurel Bloomery. Laurel Bloomery is about 30 miles from Bluff City where Larry was born.
I remember well the words of Larry Proffitt but have missed them of late. I do wish well his family, friends and all the folks he has helped over the years.
My prayers to Dr. Larry’s family. As always praying for Papaw Tony.
I just read Larry Proffitt’s obit. He and I undoubtedly crossed paths through the National Wild Turkey Federation, my employer for almost 20 years. I just don’t remember ever having met him. My loss.
My prayers are with the Proffitt family, I never got to meet Larry, but corresponded will him several times over the years via mail, email and text. I know Mr. Proffitt liked to turkey hunt and I’ve asked him many questions on trumpet turkey calls. He was always very nice to me. I had him sign a turkey hunting book “Letters To My Grandsons” a few years ago, this book is now a treasure to me. If you like to turkey hunt, I would highly recommend getting a copy of his book.
I didn’t know Larry Profitt but I know the name, probably through some mutual friend in the turkey-hunting fraternity. I believe Jim Casada has written about him, or perhaps he was featured in a book about call makers. I’ll have to check. In any event, this a nice tribute, Tipper. Thanks.
It seems that Larry lived a rich and meaningful life with a deep religious commitment while serving both the community and the Lord. God bless his friends and family left to mourn their loss.
Thank you for sharing with us, Tipper. I enjoyed reading his comments you compiled from the years. I am sorry for his family and friends. He sounded like a wonderful man.
Last night I made a blackberry cobbler as I’ve been craving once ever since you posted about it. I didn’t have quite enough blackberries for it so I rounded it out with blueberries. It was delicious!
My condolences on this loss. God Bless.
The comments you shared from Larry this morning were all so interesting. You can tell he was a good man from reading them. I will keep his wife and family in my prayers. It is always sad when one person from the blind pig leaves us—like Debbie said—we are family here.
I still speak so many of those old phrases and words like my son’s John and Steven went a fishing and I have said dadburn it before too. My DNA shows I have a lot of Scotch-Irish in me (actually more Scotch:). I would say Dr. Proffitt could paint a very beautiful and sometimes funny picture of his growing up years. I do think he could have been a successful author too. May the Lord hold his family close as they go through this time of grief even though they know they will see him again.
Thanks for the comments from Larry. I consider myself lucky to have known him. it was he who introduced me to your posts.
The world is a lesser place without him.
Over the last weeks, some members have mentioned Cherokee Purple Tomato sandwiches. I picked my first of the year Cherokee Purple tomatoes late yesterday afternoon and have got my Dukes mayonnaise, bread and sweet ice tea ready for my today’s dinner -not supper.
What a loss for his family and community. Since I’m fairly new to the BP&A crew, (full-time in the past year♡or so) I don’t remember him but blessings to his family. I wholeheartedly agree with him that coming here is my first order of the day. That is after I plug in my tiny prepared the night before coffee pot & feed/fresh water the kitties. They would not allow me the peace to sip & read if I didn’t take care of them first!! Prayers to Papaw Tony and Nana Janet. Norman, Little B, Barb & Ed and everyone else out there in BPA land♡
Tipper–I was proud to call Larry a dear friend and a turkey hunting buddy. We spent some wonderful time in the spring woods and I was fortunate enough, on multiple occasions, to stay in the house on the ridge above Ridgewood BBQ as his guest for hunting longbeards. Of course there would be a scrumptious meal or two at the restaurant (a local institution and the subject of a book) in the mix, and in addition to the fine foodstuffs Barbara mentions I would add a blue cheese dipping sauce that was pure delight.
Larry was well known in the close-knit world of turkey hunters as a call collector and was quite possible the most devoted chaser of the big birds I’ve ever known. I’ll add two book-related thoughts and then close my e-mail pie hole. Along with many other things, Larry wrote a well-recieved book on turkey hunting titled “Letters to My Grandsons” that I edited and was privileged to write the Introduction for. It’s a dandy collection of common sense mountain wisdom focused on lessons from the turkey hunter’s world.
Years ago I wrote another book related to turkey hunting, a collection of 27 essays on icons of the sport with the title “Remembering the Greats.” Larry, who helped me with the book through sharing reminisences of some of the greats I profiled, now joins their ranks. He was a great turkey hunter but more than that, a great man.
I am in that life season of having friends and acquaintances pass on ahead. And some of us here, I think,are in that season to. I did not know about Burgie Drug but I know there is a Burgie St. in Elizabethton. And we have been to Ridgewood BBQ but there was no place to park so we had to leave. I’d like to have known Mr. Proffit but I know some similar folks. As he did, I write our one grandson stories he may come to appreciate more as time goes by. It is truly a case of the thought that counts, not the polish.
I fully understand your first sentence, it seems like there is hardly a day that goes by that another friend, many of them coworkers does not die. Last night I read of another worker from Michelin. I think of something my father in law once said to me after the death of one of his friends “you know you are old when you have as many or more friends underground as you do above ground.” Many of them are in my age group, kinda makes me wonder am I next.
Prayers for Larry’s family, his comments were great to read. I had a great grandmother from down in Ashland, Kentucky who chewed tobacco. That was something I never tried, cigarettes, yes, but not chewing or doing snuff. And like Larry, I enjoy reading what you post and seeing everyone’s comment here.
I hate to hear of anyone’s passing and Larry certainly seemed to be a feller filled with life, compassion, caring and fun. I enjoyed reading his comments this morning and I liked the one about his knife. He even wrote a very nice and popular book too! Prayers for his family and may he rest in peace.
He sounds like a true southern gentleman and a most interesting man. I am so sorry for the loss of your friend. I’m praying for his family and friends (online friends included).
Thank you for telling us about Larry. What a special tribute! I’m sure he’s smiling and thinking about how he would comment.
I look forward to BP&A every morning. Even though I don’t often comment, please know I have been reading very single word for at least 15 years.
Hi Tipper. I knew Larry from going to Burgie Drugstore on Main Street in Elizabethton and later when he became owner at Ridgewood BBQ on the Elizabethton HWY in Bulff City just outside of Elizabethton. Larry was a great guy. Always a kind word and big smile. He loved people. He was a big part of Elizabethton and the businesses he owned. If any of y’all come to the almost far northeast part of Tennessee Ridgewood BBQ is famous and that sauce is well worth the trip. Almost everyone buys a jar to take home before they leave. It makes a mean bbq chicken pizza too. Larry has always been in my life. It is like losing an uncle. TY for Sharing this. I keep his friends and family in my prayers.
I am so sorry for your loss, Barbara! He sounded like such a special man. How special that you knew him personally.
What a nice Tribute. Thankyou for sharing. May his wife, family, and friends find comfort in knowing that he has heard the words, “well done my good and faithful servant”.
May the Lord comfort his family. We truly are like family here. You give us the opportunity to be ourselves and share our troubles. Thank you for sharing about Larry. God bless
I can’t say I remember a lot about Larry, but I enjoyed reading these comments he wrote. The one about his granny chewing tobacco brought back several memories, my grandmother didn’t chew tobacco, but I well remember her covering her Sunday dinners with a white table cloth and then everyone going and sitting on the large front porch during the warm weather months. I remember a very close neighbor chewing Blood Hound plug tobacco and teasing my uncle that chewed Redman pouch tobacco, teasing and telling him it took a man to chew plug tobacco. One other memory is of me trying to smoke cigarettes, my paternal granddaddy smoked non filtered Chesterfield King cigarettes and when I was about 12 years old I would slip and get some of the butts he had thrown away and try smoking them between being afraid I was going to get caught and them burning my throat and making me cough, i never had a desire to smoke when I was older. I only did this for a short period of time.
Tipper, I too look forward to the BP&A each morning and if you noticed the time of my first comment you will see it will often be around 4-5 o’clock a lot of mornings when I am laying here awake in bed and not being able to go back to sleep.