R.I.P.: WNML Knoxville Sports Host Jeff Jacoby

Jeff Jacoby, a familiar voice in Knoxville radio since 1983, passed away Sunday after a more than two-year valiant battle with pancreatic cancer.

Jacoby's daughter, Angie Merrick, posted the news on her Facebook page.

Jacoby, Mickey Dearstone and Heather Harrington have taken the pulse of Knoxville sports fans on "Doc, Jeff and Heather in the Morning" from 6-10 a.m. on Sports Animal WNML 900 AM since January 2000.

Merrick wrote the following:

My daddy gained his angel wings this morning! Over the last 2 plus years he faught the biggest battle of his life and He had a goal for Christmas and he made it!!! He taught all of us how to be courageous and live life to its fullest. May we celebrate his wonderful life and precious memories we have with him!! Please keep our family in your prayers in the coming days! Merry Christmas to ALL and know that my daddy is celebrating with Jesus in heaven and having the biggest celebration we can imagine!!! Make sure to hug on your loved ones a little closer today!! Thank you so much for all your love, kind words and prayers during this battle! You will never know how much it has meant to my daddy and our family!! My daddy lived life to its fullest!! Raise a glass to him as we celebrate his beautiful life!! #jacobystrong Jeff David Jacoby #blessed

Jacoby underwent the first of four rounds of chemotherapy in November of 2014. He had been open about his cancer battle, posting updates on his Facebook page.

In a December 2014 interview with the News Sentinel, Jacoby was positive about his progress.

“I just want to thank all the listeners, my family and friends,’’ Jacoby said. “The Facebook stuff has been unbelievable.

“I’ve got people praying for me from coast to coast.’’