Around 1900, R. Ross Donnelly opened an undertaking parlor in the rear of his post office at Shouns, Tennessee, just outside Mountain City. W. Y. "Bill" Hill, who was married to Donnelly's niece, Edith Donnelly, came to Johnson County from West Tennessee in 1927 and started working for Mr. Donnelly. Bill and Ross went into business together as Donnelly-Hill Funeral Home shortly after Bill started working for Ross.
Around 1930, Mr. Hill purchased a house on Murphy Street in Mountain City, renovated the structure, and opened Hill Funeral Home. In 1954, Mr. Hill's son, W. D. "Bill" Hill, graduated from Cincinnati College of Embalming and returned to Johnson County to work with his father. Mr. Gentry purchased Hill Funeral Home in 1962 and merged it with his funeral home at the Main
Street location. Mr. W. Y. Hill retired at that time and later died in 1978. His son, W. D. Hill became the manager of a local building supply company and later served as Johnson County Executive.
Charlie Hux had spent many years serving the families of Johnson and Carter Counties, starting his career in funeral service in 1958. During the early 1970's Charlie came to work for Mr. Hill. After Mr. Hill's passing in 1978, Bob Percy and Charlie Hux purchased the funeral home and changed the name to Percy-Hux Funeral Home. Charlie had been a supporter and an active member of the Mountain City Community for many years. Charlie was a good friend to all and has been greatly missed by the families of Johnson County since his passing in January of 2001.
Dan Lipford, a native of Johnson County and graduate of Johnson County High School, began working at Percy-Hux Funeral Home in 1981 while still in high school. Dan graduated college in 1988 and came back home to Percy-Hux Funeral Home as a licensed Funeral Director and Embalmer.
The funeral home was later purchased by Tetrick Funeral Home in Johnson City, at which time the name changed to Hux-Lipford Funeral Home. In the years since becoming Hux-Lipford Funeral Home, the business has changed hands several times. Through it all, Dan Lipford has been a constant presence serving the Johnson County and surrounding area with care, compassion, love, and understanding.
In late 2004, the building on the west side of the funeral home was purchased and remodeled into the Charles B. Hux Memorial Chapel.
In July 2017 Mr. Dan Lipford became the new owner of Hux & Lipford Funeral Home, bringing ownership back to Johnson County.
