Jeffrey Noel Livingston

Jeffrey Noel Livingston was born August 7,1967, in Chester, Pennsylvania, moved to Jefferson City, TN in 1980, and passed away January 27,2021 in Alcoa, TN at the age of 53. He was a lifelong fan of the Philadelphia Eagles, Phillies, and Flyers. Jeff was in the service industry for 29 years and helped open and run countless restaurants and bars all over Knoxville, making him very well known and respected as a professional whose craft was making everyone else to feel comfortable. He was witty and sharp, kind and compassionate, skilled and smart, and stood on his principles with conviction and confidence. When he wasn't making people laugh from the other side of the bar, he would likely be found encouraging others to chase their passion as he chased his. Music was Jeff’s greatest passion and long-term relationship for over 38 years. He started out on guitar and quickly moved to bass, which he considered his primary instrument. He began playing in bands in high school, starting with Trixx, then Rough Justice, The Voice, My Cousin Healy, Heavy Buzz, and his current baby, 3 Mile Smile. After years of playing bass in metal bands he switched to acoustic guitar, but more recently claimed, “I’m just a bass player faking it on guitar." He also sat in with other musicians on various projects over the years to lend his talent to support their passions. Anyone who was ever lucky enough to see Jeff perform on stage could feel the contagion of his joy when he created live music. Music was his language to the world and how he strived to make it a better place for the rest of us. He had a God-given talent, and we were so very fortunate to be able to share it with him. Jeff supported his addiction to seeing live music by working on grassroots concert promotion projects to draw more attention to upcoming shows in Knoxville and surrounding areas and going to hundreds of concerts a year. He was a regular at record stores. He was a walking encyclopedia of music fact and history. He spread his love and excitement for good music to anyone who would listen, finding himself working in a few different music stores in the area over the years. He turned a lot of people on to a lot of music they would have never known without him. He encouraged a lot of people to keep pushing their music, to keep playing, or to get back to playing. He lifted others up and inspired. Jeff was very intentional in life, living each day as if it was his last. He left nothing unsaid. He left nothing undone, except dreams for his future. Jeffs sense of urgency in life is what brings peace to those who were close to him, helping them to know exactly where they stand and what he wished for them. His faith, which is also a comfort through this time of our loss, was also evident in his actions, as he lived faith, hope, and love. He was patient, kind, he did not envy, boast, he was not proud, rude, or self-seeking, he was not easily angered, kept no record of wrongs. Jeff did not delight in evil but rejoiced with the truth. Jeff always protected, always trusted, always hoped, always persevered. His actions did not lie. The greatest gift he gave to his family and friends was how hard he loved. It is the family's request that he be honored with efforts to be more like him and to put more good into this world for the sake of us left behind. Jeff very much loved his family, and his heart beat for them. He is preceded in death by parents, George & Peggy Livingston of Jefferson City, TN, sister, Sandy Bolden and brother Michael "Wally" Bolden of Jefferson City, TN. Jeff is survived by his ever-loving wife, Becki Grace Livingston of Alcoa, TN, sons, Randy Livingston of Knoxville, TN and Matt Livingston and grandsons, Brayden and Oliver Livingston of Rogersville, TN, sister, Debbie Spencer of New Market, TN, niece, Amanda Raines of New Market, TN, great niece, Sydney Raines and great, great niece, Isabella Granados of Twenty-Nine Palms, CA, great nephew, Landon Raines and great nieces, Jersey Raines and Ryleigh Ford of New Market, nephew, John Brooks, niece, Olivia Brooks, and niece, Abigail Brooks of Dandridge, TN, nephew, Gabriel Robison and niece, Nevada Robison of Cookson, OK. A celebration of Jeff’s life and love will be scheduled at a later time, which will be announced by the family.