01/20/2026
Billy Joe Tester
June 21, 1967 — January 11, 2026
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On Sunday, January 11, 2026, a heart of gold stopped beating when Billy Joe Tester, passed away unexpectedly at the age of 58.
He was born June 21, 1967, to Billy Joe Tester Sr. and Peggy Forrester Tester.
He was a man of God, of the Church of Christ faith and pastored a church in Maryland for several years before moving back home to Mountain City in 2019.
Billy loved the outdoors and anything to do with nature. He was a member of the Doe Valley Hunting Association, where he enjoyed the company of many good friends. He enjoyed sitting on his porch especially with his friends and family sharing stories or imparting words of wisdom that were often profound. It was important for him to keep safe and guard the old ways of his ancestors. He loved his dogs all 11 whom were all treated like children, most of who were rescues. He was a master at the art of laughter, and you never saw him without a smile. He never met a stranger, always helping someone in need, whether he knew them or not. His motto was “if you can’t help someone don’t hurt them.” If he knew you, you were family.
Bill had profound bonds with his nephews Matt and Tony and Jerry and his cousin Jamey Guy and often spent hours on his porch with them pondering the meaning of life. It was often overheard by him telling them life is for the living, get busy living. Bill especially loved his time with his best friend Howard Stout either sitting on the porch or riding back roads recounting talks of their youth.
He was preceded in death by his father, Billy Joe Tester, Sr., brother John Morefield, his brother-in-law, Carlos Sanchez; grandparents, Alec and May Tester who he fondly called Dad and Mom; grandparents, Crete and Harold Forrester; father-in-law, Lawrence (Larry) Potter who he called Pop and mother-in-law Ruby who he called Mom and several aunts, uncles and friends.
Those left to cherish his memories are his soulmate, wife, Trish Guy Tester of the home; mother Peggy Wallace and husband Tim of Mountain City; brother David Tester of Boone NC and Charlie Morefield of Mountain City; sisters, Susan Sanchez of Trade and Crystal Tester of Ohio; nephews, Matt Tester (Brooklyn) of Trade, Carlos Antonio (Tony) Sanchez (Jennifer) of Mountain City, Jerry Tester (Allison) of Laurel Bloomery; nieces, Kristi Sanchez of Trade and Jessica Azcencio of Boone, NC; several great nieces and nephews, especially Ethan Tester and Carla Sanchez.; many cousins, including Michael Cross and David Smith, Gary Tester (Becky) Eddie Tester (Evelyn); his ex-wife, Shirley Potter Tester of Elkton, MD that he maintained a heartfelt relationship with until his death; step-son, who he considered a brother, Lawrence (Larry) Sizemore Sr. (Amy); step-daughter, Tonya Buchanan (Jerry); step grandchildren that were his heart and soul that he nicknamed every one of them Brittney (Annie) Thompson (Joshua), Mikayla (Tater Bug) Rowe (Shane), Madison (Lil Bit) Bennett and Lawrence (Bear) Sizemore Jr.; great step-son, Wesley Rowe. He was extremely proud of his Maryland family.
Bill had many friends and family but the ones he called brothers and sisters were his heart; his heart sisters, Linda Davis and husband Earl, Margaret Cross, Verna Smith (Everett); his cousins, Greg Tester, Adam Forrester, Bryan, Cassie and Keira Filius, Brad Filius; his soul brother, Jett Arnold and best friend and brother of his heart, Howard Stout; cousins, Betty and Penny Timbs, Lucille Brown, friends, Dan Lipford, Rick May, Terry Harmon, Butler Potter, Doris Stout, Keith Wilson and so many more too numerous to name; brother-in-law, David, Jim, Jack and Dennis Guy all of whom were like his brothers.
Active pallbearers will be Larry Sizemore Sr., Jamey Guy, Matt Tester, Tony Sanchez, Jerry Tester, Bryan Filius, and Brad Filius.
Honorary pallbearers are Howard Stout, Jett Arnold, Adam Forrester, David Tester, David, Jim, Jack and Dennis Guy.
Billy Joe will lie in state at Hux & Lipford Funeral Home.
The family will receive visitors on Saturday, January 17, 2026, from 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM at Hux & Lipford Funeral Home. A celebration of life will be conducted at 1:00 PM officiated by Jett Arnold followed by a graveside prayer by Pastor Mike Penley and interment at his residence at the New Tester Family Cemetery, original homeplace of Tennessee Lester Tester, 575 Laurel Road, Mountain City. All friends and family are invited to the home for and Irish Wake, where grief will be cast aside at the door and all enter in a celebration of life to share memories, joy and laughter of a life well lived.
Any gifts of food would be asked to deliver at the home on Saturday between the hours of 9:00 AM -11:00 AM or after the interment.
In lieu of flowers please consider donating to Rescue Dog and End of Life Sanctuary in Mountain City, Tennessee as it was Bills passion and belief that all dogs deserve to have the best care and love. He called them “better humans wearing a fur suit.”
The family would like to thank Hux Lipford Funeral Home, Dan and Ann Lipford and employees for their excellent care in this time of need.
Online condolences and memories may be sent to the family at our website at www.huxlipfordfh.com.
Hux & Lipford Funeral Home 300 W. Main St. Mountain City, Tennessee is honored to serve the family of Billy Joe Tester
