NICHOLAS “WAYNE” DREWRY, SR., 94, of Knoxville, Tennessee, passed away in Park West Hospital Sunday, October 23, 2011.

Wayne was born to William and Lutie Drewry in Ivor, Virginia on January 29, 1917. After spending his youth in Virginia, he moved to Shreveport, Louisiana in 1952. He retired from the mortgage banking business in 1976 and moved to Kingston, Tennessee in 1977. He stayed there until 2003 when he moved to independent and assistant living facilities in Knoxville and Lenoir City. Wayne became a member of First Baptist Church, Kingston, shortly after moving to Tennessee. Prior to that he had been a member of Broadmoor Methodist Church for many years in Shreveport.

He met and married his wife, Signa Hines, in 1941. They were married 53 years at her death. Prior to his marriage and War War II, he served several years in the Civilian Conservation Corps. Wayne served in the Army Air Corp during War War II, as did three of his brothers. He was honorably discharged February 14, 1946. He was a member of Broadmoor Masonic Lodge #432 F&AM for over 50 years in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Wayne will be remember by many as the “Peanut Man,” as he spent years making trips to his home state of Virginia to buy 50# bags of jumbo peanuts, which he brought back to Tennessee, roasted them, in and out of the shell, and bagged as gifts and to sell at cost to numerous friends.

Wayne was preceded in death by his wife, Signa Drewry; father, William Drewry; mother, Lutie Branch Drewry; his sister Elizabeth Butterworth of Virginia; and 5 brothers: William, West, Forrest and Richard of Virginia, and James (Gus) of Texas. He is survived by his 2 sisters, Jean Drewry Rawls, of Franklin, Virginia and Virginia Drewry Lyon, of Newport News, Virginia; son, Nick W. Drewry and wife Kay, of Farragut, Tennessee, 3 grandchildren, 1 step-grandchild, and 4 great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends Thursday, October 27, 2011, from 4:00 to 6:00 pm at First Baptist Church, Kingston, followed by a short memorial service at the church. In lieu of flowers, the family has asked that donations be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund in Kingston (215 N. Kentucky St., Kingston, TN 37763).