Donald Lee Braden, Age 77 of Rocky Top

Donald Lee Braden, Age 77 of Rocky Top, Tennessee formerly of McLeansboro, IL passed away on Saturday, February 14, 2026 at the Morning Pointe Memory Facility in Clinton, TN. He was born on December 12, 1948 to the late Sherman J. and Mattie Lee Henderson Braden in Charleston, Illinois. Don was a veteran of the US Army and served during the Vietnam era from 1968 until 1971 as a MP. Several of the medals he earned included the National Defense Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, Two Overseas Bars, Sharpshooter (M-14), Expert (M-16), and was also awarded the Bronze Star.

Don retired in 2011 from The International Union of Operating Engineers Local 212 in Livingston, TX, where he had worked on construction projects across the country operating heavy equipment.

In 2011 Don came to Rocky Top, TN with a couple of his friends on a vacation trip camping at Mountain Lake Marina and Campground. They moved on, he decided to stay. He fell in love with Norris Lake and loved fishing. Everyone in the campground was excited when they heard he was cooking up a batch of striper, potato wedges and the best hush puppies ever. Besides fishing he loved playing his guitars and his two doggie Cocoa and Stumpy.

He will be missed by his fellow fishermen and friends at Mountain Lake Marina and Campground, where is he a bit of a legend because of some of his shenanigans.

In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by his sister Georgia (Penny) Sanders of McLeansboro, IL.

He is survived by his daughter Gwen Braden Sweeten (Rodney) and brother Ed Braden of McLeansboro, IL, sister, Jean Atchison of Boyd, IL, sister Rhonda Lester of Kentucky.

It was Don’s wish to be cremated.

No services are planned at this time but may be announced later. The staff of Leach Family Funeral Home is honored to serve the Braden family www.leachfamilyfuneralhome.com.