Emmer Maness Frost

Emmer Ruth Maness Frost, 91, Gray Community, died at her home on Sunday morning November 25, 2007.

Emmer was born December 17, 1915, in Lee County, Va., to Arthur Haskew ?Hack? and Bertha Mae Johnson Maness. The family moved to Buffalo, S.C., in 1921 and settled in the Borden Village, Kingsport, Tenn., in 1926.

A 1935 graduate of Dobyns-Bennett High School, Emmer received the Borden award for most outstanding female athlete. She bowled and participated in other competitive sports for most of her life. She was also an avid reader and enjoyed working crossword puzzles.

Emmer worked in the payroll department of Holston Ordnance Works during World War II while her husband served overseas. In 1947 they moved to her present home in the Gray community. In later years they also resided for a time at the Steele Creek Manor and Wellington Place assisted living facilities.

A former member of Calvary Baptist Church in Kingsport, Emmer joined Fordtown Baptist Church in 1949, where she served as Sunday School teacher and clerk for many years. She also took an active role in the Women?s Missionary Union in her church and in the Holston Baptist Association.

Emmer was pre-deceased by her husband of 65 years, Dana Harmon Frost, in 2003; infant daughters Janette and Janelle Frost; and granddaughter-in-law Leigh Strickler. She was the last surviving sibling of Ethel Maness, infants Ralph and Thurman Maness, Edith Sutherland, Henrietta Bussell, Hiram Maness, and Edna Cloninger.

Emmer is survived by daughter Dana Ruth Strickler and husband Jerry of Eastern Star community; son , Thomas Frost and wife Meg of Murfreesboro; grandson, Michael Strickler and wife Constantina Boudouvas and great-grandchildren Anastasia and Nicholas Strickler of Houston, Texas; and grandson Mark Strickler and partner Frank Flanigan of the home.

The family is especially grateful to Mark Strickler and Frank Flanigan for their loving and devoted care to Emmer during the last years of her life.

The family will receive friends on Friday, November 30, from 5 to 7 p.m. at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Home, downtown Kingsport.

A memorial service in celebration of Emmer?s life will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Fordtown Baptist Church, followed by burial in Fordtown Baptist Church Cemetery, with the Rev. Bryan Moore officiating.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Fordtown Baptist Church Cemetery Fund c/o Edith Maden, 616 Proffitt Lane, Kingsport, TN 37663.