Kelly Wade Hearn, 52, of Hainan, China, formerly of Dyersburg, TN, passed away on Friday, March 3, 2023 in Hainan, China.

He was born on July 20, 1970, in Union City, TN, to Willard Wade Hearn and Teresa Ladd Willis. Kelly taught English and Economics at Hainan College of Business and was presented an award for Outstanding Foreign Teacher. He was a freelance journalist for several years when he lived in Argentina and was a staff writer for the Washington Times, which was funded by Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. Kelly's freelance articles have appeared in the Washington Post, The Nation Yale 360, National Geographic News, The Christian Science Monitor and the Virginia Quarterly Review. He also published a book of short stories under a pen name, Sick and Tired of it All by Karl Henley. Kelly received the Reed Community Award for Whuhan Military Games for teaching English to volunteers of military games.

Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, March 17, 2023 at First Baptist Church in Dyersburg, TN, with Rev. Mike Hickman officiating. Dyersburg Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

The family will receive visitors from 5-8 p.m. Thursday, March 16, 2023 at Dyersburg Funeral Home.

Survivors include his wife, Huizi Zhang Hearn of Hainan, China; a son, Liam Ladd Hearn of Hainan, China; his mother and step-father, Teresa and Danny Willis of Dyersburg, TN; his father and step-mother, W.W. "Wick" and Amy Hearn; his brother, Chris (Kristen) Willis and son, Wyatt Willis, all of Dyersburg, TN; his sister, Carrie Hearn Vaughn (Loren) of Ripley, TN; a nephew, Hunter Lowery of Dyersburg, TN; two nieces, Pearson Vaughn and Peyton Vaughn, both of Ripley, TN; and many aunts, uncles and cousins.