Knoxville attorney Roy Lewis Aaron died Oct. 6, 2025, at age 78. He received his degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Tennessee in 1969, and his law degree from the University of Tennessee College of Law (now Winston College of Law) in 1972. Licensed to practice in both Florida and Tennessee, Aaron joined the law firm of Hodges, Doughty & Carson in 1976 with a focus on estate planning and tax law, becoming a partner in 1980. He retired in 2017 but continued in an “of counsel” capacity with the firm. He was a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation and the Knoxville Bar Foundation.

Chattanooga attorney Robert Lee Brown died Nov. 9, 2025, at age 86. Brown earned his law degree from Vanderbilt University Law School in 1964 and served in the U.S. Army as a judge advocate attorney. He began his legal career in Atlanta before relocating to Chattanooga, where he became president and owner of Legal Title and Escrow Inc. According to his obituary, Brown served as a past chair of the TBA’s Real Estate Section and as a past president of the Tennessee Land Title Association. Throughout his career, he was an instructor for the Tennessee Bar Association, Chattanooga Bar Association, Georgia Bar Association, Tennessee Association of Realtors and the National Business Institute. A celebration of life was held Nov. 16 at the Heritage Landing Community Clubhouse on Heritage Landing Drive in North Chattanooga.

Former Nashville judge and attorney Stanley A. Kweller, died Oct. 27, 2025. Services were held Oct. 29 and shiva minyans took place Oct. 29 and 30. Kweller presided over Davidson County’s 4th Circuit Court from January 2023 to August 2024 following the passage of Judge Phil Smith. He also was a prosecutor in upper East Tennessee and practiced family law in Nashville at Kweller Law. In lieu of flowers, the family requested donations to Nashville Wine Auction nashvillewineauction.com/donate; Park Center Nashville parkcenternashville.org/donate; or The Temple, 5015 Harding Pike, Nashville, TN 37205.

Murfreesboro attorney John “Jock” Richardson Rucker died Oct. 8, 2025, at age 72. After earning his law degree from then-Memphis State University, Rucker returned to his hometown to join his family’s law practice, first established in 1860. For 43 years, Rucker practiced law alongside several family members, including his father and son. He served as president of the local bar association and was honored as a fellow of the Tennessee Bar Foundation. Donations in Rucker’s honor may be made to Alive Hospice, 1629 Williams Drive, Murfreesboro, TN 37129 or One Church Calvary, 431 Dejarnette Lane, Murfreesboro, TN 37130.

Knoxville attorney Dalton Lynn Townsend died Sept. 27, 2025, at age 82. He attended the University of Tennessee College of Law (now Winston College of Law), where he served as an editor of the Tennessee Law Review and graduated with top honors as a member of the Order of the Coif. Townsend was a member of the ROTC in college and, after his admission to the bar in 1968, served as an Army captain on active duty, including a tour in Vietnam. After returning home, he began practicing law and joined Hodges Doughty & Carson in 1973, where he worked for more than 40 years. Townsend was a member of the Knoxville Bar Association Board of Governors, the Tennessee Bar Association Committee for the Study of Standards of Professional Conduct and the American Board of Trial Advocates. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Parkinson’s Foundation or Church of the Ascension, 800 S Northshore Drive, Knoxville, TN 37919. |||