Thelma Hatcher Keith, 84, of Chattanooga, Tenn., passed away in her sleep Friday, Feb. 11, 2022.
Thelma was born May 25, 1937, to William Robert Hatcher and Bertha Everhart Hatcher and raised in Wears Valley, Tenn. She was the eighth of 10 children.
She graduated from Sevier County High School in 1955, and it was in Sevierville, where she met the love of her life, Donald Keith. Donald and Thelma were married in 1959 and raised two sons, who were truly blessed to have the best parents imaginable.
Thelma was a loving wife and mother, a meticulous homemaker, and an accomplished maker of country-style breakfasts. She adored children and worked for two decades as a teacher’s aide at Murphy Elementary School in Murphy.
Don and Thelma retired in 1993 to Cleveland, Tenn., where Don restored antique tractors and Thelma enjoyed feeding and watching the many songbirds and geese that frequented their duck pond. She was also an avid quilter. Above all, she was a doting grandmother. Both Don and Thelma were active members of Macedonia Baptist Church in Cleveland.
In addition to her parents, Thelma was preceded in death by her husband, Donald Million Keith; brothers, McKinley, Lynn, Hoy, Marion and Robert Hatcher; sisters, Rebecca Husky, Florence Autrey, and Ada Ruth Hatcher.
Left behind to treasure her memories are her two sons, Greg (Janet) Keith of Chattanooga, and Chris (Jackie) Keith of Newport News, Va.; one grandson, Alex Keith of High Point, N.C.; her sister, Loraine LaHaie of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.; several special nieces and nephews; as well as many friends.
A celebration of her life was held at 6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14, in the chapel of Ralph Buckner Funeral Home, Cleveland, Tenn., with the Rev. Joe Brooks officiating.
The family received friends from 4-6 p.m. Monday, Feb. 14, at the funeral home prior to the service.
Interment was held at noon Tuesday, Feb. 15, at Valley View Baptist Church in Sevierville, Tenn.
The family would like to thank the staff at Morning Point of Hixson, Tenn., and all of her nurses at Kindred Hospice.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be sent to the Alzheimer’s Association (visit https://act.alz.org).
We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Keith family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.