Rita Ramey

Rita Speer Ramey, 89, of Church Hill, passed away Friday, May 3, 2019, at Holston Valley Medical Center. She was born on July 4, 1929, the sixth of nine children of Jefferson Floyd and Susie Merica (Bloomer) Speer. She was born and raised on the farm where her family lived and worked for John and Ora Steele in the Fairview area of Scott County, VA. Rita left school during her Junior year to work on the farm. She has shared many stories of life as a young girl growing up during the depression. Rita loved the Lord, her family, and church family and friends. She was a member of Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church, Mt. Carmel Senior Center, and a charter member of the Red Hat Society, “Fluff ‘n Feathers” Chapter. Rita gave of her time and talents in many ways being the “Hands & Feet” of our Lord through the mission efforts of these organizations. She loved working in the garden, her flowers, and doing crafts. Rita worked briefly at Eastman after her marriage and devoted the remainder of her life to her family. Her passion for loving and caring for others will live forever in our hearts.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of sixty-one years, George E. Ramey (Gene); infant grandson, Matthew Jarrett; sisters, Edna Speer and Golda (Peach) Walters; and brothers, Curtis, Jim, Bennie, and Harold.

Rita is survived by her daughters and their husbands, Sue and Steve Jarrett and Carol and Terry Anderson; grandsons, Rusty Anderson and wife Allison, Jared Anderson and wife Kellye, and Steven Jarrett; great grandsons, Braxtyn, Brody, and Bryant Anderson; sisters, Kathleen Ramey and Frances Feagins; several very special nieces and nephews; and many dear friends including Beverly Rogers, Bessie Clawson, Tucker and Tina Davis, and Edna Arnold, all of whom are just like family.

The family will receive friends from 1 to 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, 2019, at Hamlett-Dobson Funeral Homes, Kingsport. The funeral service will follow at 3 p.m. with Pastor Craig Needham officiating.

Burial will follow at Liberty Hill Cemetery.

Pallbearers will be Rusty Anderson, Jared Anderson, Steven Jarrett, Rob Davis, Tucker Davis, and Steve Walters. Honorary pallbearers will be Braxtyn Anderson, Brody Anderson, Bryant Anderson, Josh Harless, David Harless, Jim Leach, and Bill Clawson.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mt. Carmel United Methodist Church, P.O. Box, 1668, Mt. Carmel, TN 37645.