Operating Engineers Local 917

Operating Engineers Local 917 IUOE Local 917
Business Manager=David Rhea, BA’s=John Taylor & Dustin Cole

03/18/2026

Up coming training:
3-28-2026 7:30 am fork lift and telehandler class.

03/18/2026

John Joseph Tipton

John Joseph Tipton, Sr. (Joe), went to be with his Lord and Savior on March 13, 2026, at the age of 79. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, brother, and cherished friend to all who knew him.

Born on November 7, 1946, in Kingston, TN, Joe grew up surrounded by family, love, and the values that would shape the remarkable man he became. He was a long-time member of IUOE local 917 and spent most of his career at Watts Bar nuclear plant. He later became a well-respected auto mechanic with his own business, then became an educator teaching students the craft of automotive mechanics. After retiring from teaching, he returned to local 917 to finish out his passion as a heavy equipment operator. His dedication, integrity, and work ethic inspired all those around him.

Above all, Joe was a family man. Preceded in death by his parents, Tip and Madie, brother Jack. He is survived by his loving wife, Sherry Tipton; children, Tammy Taylor, Amy Adams (Steve), Jody Tipton (Candi), Steven Murphy (Holly), Jennifer Westover (Michael); grandchildren, Paul (Erin), Eli, Abbey (Wakon), Chase, Trevor, Jake (Kerrigan), Joe, and Cole; great-grandchildren, River, Sawyer, Everly, Jolee Alan, Maddie, and boy #3 coming soon to round out the crew; brothers, Jim Tipton (Bobbie), Junior Tipton (Jo), Casey Tipton (Linda); and a large extended family who will forever treasure the precious memories. He taught us the importance of kindness, honesty, and resilience. His sense of humor, generosity, and unwavering support enriched our lives in ways words cannot express.

We invite all to join us in celebrating his life on Wednesday, March 18, at 6:00 PM at Southwest Point Baptist Church, Kingston, TN. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Shoes for Souls, a non-profit in memory of his late son-in-law, Alan Taylor, that provides shoes and backpacks to children in our community. Make checks payable to Shoes for Souls, PO Box 462, Kingston, TN 37763 or online at atshoesforsouls.com

01/23/2026

Hazwoper 8 hr refresher class:
Please contact John Higgins @ 875-567-2600 if you are planning on attending class on 1-24-2026

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12/22/2025

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The first major electricity demand of the winter season arrived this morning, with system demand reaching nearly 32,600 megawatts amid frigid temperatures across the region. Advanced preparation at our generation sites and our demand response portfolio helped ensure strong system performance.

12/04/2025
Josh Beloate getting a job done in Kingston
10/16/2025

Josh Beloate getting a job done in Kingston

Address

Knoxville, TN

Opening Hours

Monday 8am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8am - 4:30pm
Friday 8am - 4:30pm

Telephone

(865) 675-2000

Website

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