Mr. Arlie J. “AJ” (aka, M arty Shayne) Sartin, age 79, of Knoxville, Tennessee, departed this life Wednesday, April 22, 2026, at the Tennessee Veterans Home in Cleveland, Tennessee.

A.J. was born July 9, 1946, in Knoxville, Tennessee, a son of the late Charles E. and Ruby Margaret Jenkins Sartin. He was also preceded in death by the love of his life, his beloved wife of thirty-nine years, Gloria Franks Sartin, who died November 7, 2023, and his brother, Charles A. “Butch” Sartin, and his sister, Joyce Burleson Turner.

He was a graduate of William Fleming High School in Roanoke, Virginia. In the immortal words of the Egyptian Mummy Maker, “This Wraps Up Another One” These were the last words you heard at the A. J.’s radio show for over 30 years, when he used the Radio Name of Marty Shayne “The Shayne Thing”, so fitting when he finishes his final day on Earth. A. J. was born in Knoxville, TN at the Old General Hospital. He always, said that A.J. stood for Always Joking, which he always did.

A PROUD U. S. Army Veteran, he spent 1968 & 1969 in Vietnam as a Medic with 94th Med Det, 119th Assault Helicopter Company in Pleiku. After returning home, to Roanoke, VA at that time, He continued working for WNOX & WKGN in Knoxville, TN WELK & WXAM and WVIR TV in Charlottesville, VA-Video Catalog Channel (TV) and Rarities Exchange (TV) in Knoxville and WRIS & WPXI in Roanoke.

In 2000, A. J. went to work for Mobile Satellite Connection/ PGA TOUR Productions, and built their Digital Satellite Uplink Earth Station in St. Augustine, FL. He loved that Chief Engineering job and the location. He lived on Vilano Beach on a Barrier Island, East of St. Augustine, FL. He was forced to move back to Knoxville, TN when Hurricane Matthew destroyed his home on Vilano Beach in 2016. While down there, he was Commander of the Civil Air Patrol, Vilano Beach Veterans of Foreign War Post, Commander of the Disabled American Veterans, an Officer in the Vietnam Veterans of America and a member of the Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association. He was also a National member if the National Association of Military Medics and Corpsmen.

A.J. is survived by his sisters-in-law and brother-in-law, Julia B. Sartin of Florence, MS, Darlene and James Bearden of Dalton, GA, and Gennell Arnold of Resaca, GA; several nieces and nephews.

Inurnment services will be held Monday, May 18, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, with Reverend Lyn Oakley officiating. Military honors will be provided by the Knoxville V.F.W. Post #1733.

Arrangements are entrusted to Ponders Melrose Chapel, Dalton, Georgia. “Your Selected Independent Funeral Home”