John Denney Coarsey, 64, passed away on May 29th 2019. He was the loving husband of Brenda Coarsey and shared 33 years of marriage.

Denney was born in Fountain Head Tn. and was the son of Robert and Erminia Coarsey. Denney graduated with a BS from Cumberland University and a Masters from Bethel University in Criminal Justice. He served over 40 years of law enforcement serving the last eight years as a sergeant in criminal investigation at the Hendersonville Police Department. He was currently serving on the board for Hendersonville Crime Stoppers and served on the board for the Sumner County Drug Coalition. Over the years he was the first certified K-9 handler for the 18th Judicial Drug Taskforce of Sumner County and served on many teams as a hostage negotiator, firearms instructor and dive team. Denney was also a founding Board Member of the Jason Foundation.

He enjoyed spending time as the past assistant coach for the Hendersonville High School's bowling team, teaching as a criminal justice instructor to the Impact Education and Union University, working on his farm and spending time with family and pets. He will be remembered for his warm smile, generous and kind soul and compassion for animals. He will be loved and missed by his family and everyone that knew him.

Denney was survived by wife, Brenda Coarsey; son, Jason (Danielle) McElhaney; daughter, Heather Coarsey and fiancée, Rick Schwartz; grandchildren, Justin (Amber) Etheridge, Cole Pulley, Alexis McElhaney, Madeline Robertson; and great-grandchildren, Waylon and Weston Etheridge.

Service will be held at Austin and Bell Funeral Home in Hendersonville Tn. Visitation will be held on Friday, May 31, 2019 from 4pm to 8pm and again on Saturday, June 1 from 11am until 1:30pm. A Celebration of Life Service will begin at 2pm. Burial will follow at Spring Hill Cemetery. Serving pall bearers are Commander Scott Ryan, Sgt. Neal Harris, Det. Steve Malach, Det. Andy Harrell, Det. Jim Bachman, and Det. Jason Steffy.

Memorial Contributions may be made to Hendersonville Crime Stoppers, PO Box 1348, Hendersonville, Tn 37077. Services have been entrusted to Austin and Bell Funeral Home, Hendersonville. 615-822-4442.

Published in Tennessean on May 31, 2019