John Tice

John David Tice, 93, of Rocky Face, GA, passed away peacefully at his home  on Sunday, October 6, 2024. John was born on September 28, 1931, in Anderson, South Carolina, the son of the late Grace Murdock Tice and David Tice. He is preceded in death by his loving wife of fifty (50) years, Ila Jo Daniel Tice. John is survived by his son, John David Tice III of Dalton, and his daughter, Melissa Tice Gill, of Euless, Texas. John has two grandchildren, Ty Gill, of Portland, Oregon, and Lily Gill, of Euless, Texas. He is also survived by his sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Nancy Daniel Mahaffey of LaGrange, GA., Diane Daniel Mahaffey of Avondale Estates, GA., and Marie Daniel Hardy and Dan of Sandy Springs, GA.; nieces and nephews, Ila Jo Mahaffey Worthen and husband, Thacher, Tommy Mahaffey, Jr. and wife, Margarita, Danny Mahaffey, Matthew Mahaffey, Lee Mahaffey Steinour and husband, Sean, Jim Mahaffey and wife, Christina, Dan Hardy, Jr. and wife, Karie, Ann Hardy Marriaga and husband, Charlie, and Laura Hardy Campbell and husband, Clint; and special friend, Joan Brown.

John attended Clemson University on a football scholarship where he lettered as the team’s kicker. John graduated from Clemson in 1955 with a Bachelor of Science in Textiles. He was an active supporter of the Clemson University athletic program through his service on the IPTAY Board, which is the fundraising organization of the Clemson Athletic Department. John served on that Board for a number of years and held many Board positions including the President of the Board. In January 2022, Clemson University honored John with a community-wide celebration at the Farm Golf and Country Club in Dalton for his service to IPTAY and the University. He also served in the United States Navy for two (2) years as a part of the aircraft carrier U. S. Ticonderoga. He was honorably discharged from the Navy. Following his graduation from Clemson, John moved to LaGrange, Georgia, where he began working for Callaway Mills Company—Carpet Division. By the time he left LaGrange, John was serving as Superintendent of Carpet Operations for the Company. It was in LaGrange that John began to develop his expertise in yarn production. John and Ila Jo moved to Dalton in 1967 when the transition from the community’s chenille industry was being made to the carpet industry.

John became a pioneer in the Dalton carpet industry with his expertise in textiles and the heat set filament process of the carpet industry. In conjunction with Crown Cotton Mills, John opened Texture-Tex, the first producer of the heat-set filament process in Dalton. He expanded this process to other plants in Valdosta and Fitzgerald, Georgia. He then opened Tice Yarns in 1970 that became one of the premier yarn manufacturers in the country. John would later sell Tice Yarns to Shaw Industries and begin his time of retirement. Several years later, John was asked to serve as the Manager for The Farm Golf and Country Club, where he would serve more than eight (8) years in that position.

John’s service to his Church—the First Baptist Church of Dalton—was a true reflection of the love that he had for his Lord Jesus Christ. John and Ila Jo joined First Baptist in May of 1967, and both gave themselves sacrificially to the Church and to the Kingdom’s work in Dalton and around the world. He was a valued member of the Pastor’s Sunday School Class. He also served as a Trustee and member of the Executive Committee of The First Foundation. John served faithfully as a deacon of the Church, as well as a valued member of many of the Church’s organizations and committees, often chairing the committees that he served.  He also was a past member of both the Lion’s Club and the Rotary Club of Dalton. No one who met John failed to recognize the deep warmth and the compassion of his heart. John also served on the Board and gave himself unreservedly to the local Salvation Army programs. He was a leader and major force for many years in the local Salvation Army Red Kettle program.

John loved the outdoors! He was an avid and expert waterfowl hunter, enjoying many hunting trips with his son and his friends. He also loved his association and affiliation with Ducks Unlimited. Whether it was simply in his home garden or walking through his pine trees in South Carolina, John loved being able to commune with God in the beauty of His creation.

Knowing that John had many friends in Dalton—too numerous to mention—the family would like to express appreciation to Betty Brown, Maurice and Betty Sponcler, Fred Mayfield, Robert E. and Dottie Shaw, Ron and Loretta Harris, Billie Little, and Charlie and Sarah Miller for the special bond that John had with these individuals. John Tice’s life’s witness spoke loudly and with clarity to all who knew him. And whether we called him Daddy, Granddaddy, or our friend, we will all miss him tremendously.

A memorial service to celebrate the life of John David Tice will be held at First Baptist Church of Dalton on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, at 1:00 p.m. in the Church’s Sanctuary. Dr. Jonathan Barlow and Reverend Phillip Cannon will officiate. The family will receive friends in the Atrium of the Church prior to the memorial service from 11:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, John's family humbly asks that donations be made in his honor to either the Salvation Army ( www.salvationarmyusa.org ; 1109 N Thornton Ave, Dalton GA 30720) or to the American Parkinson Disease Association ( www.apdaparkinson.org ; P.O. Box 61420, Staten Island, NY 10306).