Evelyn Graves Minnis

Evelyn "Tootsie" Graves Minnis, age 76, of Decatur, TN went home to be with her Lord and Savior, Monday, January 24, 2011 at NHC Health Care Center in Athens, TN. A native of McMinn she was a lifelong resident of Meigs Co. She was the daughter of the late William A. and Lily Mae Henry King. She was a member of Clear Springs Baptist Church. She was retired from Shaw Industries in Decatur. She was preceded in death by her first husband the late Haul Graves and by her husband of 5 yrs Kenneth Minnis. Her parents, William A. and Lillie Mae (Henry) King; one brother Herbert King, one sister Betty Jean Wattenbarger and one brother-in-law Owen Newman all of Athens. She is survived by one son and daughter-in-law, Earl and Vivian Graves of Decatur, TN; one daughter and son-in-law, Patty and Jackie Melton of Decatur, TN; four grand daughters and their spouses Angel and Brian Burrows of Benton, Farrah and Russ Burrows of Delano, Amber and Michael Malone and Tara and Jeremy Jones all of Decatur; four great grandchildren Luke Burrows of Delano, Behr Burrows of Benton, Gavin Malone and Tegan Jones of Decatur; two sisters and one brother-in-law Geneva and Robert Pierce of Cleveland, Ohio and Joyce Newman of Athens; one brother and sister-in-law Kenneth and Billie King of Decatur. One sister-in-law Carolyn King and one brother-in-law Ray Wattenbarger both of Athens. The family would like to thank the staff of NHC for the love and care they gave our mother. Funeral service will be held at 8pm on Tuesday January 25th in the Bowers Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. James Dink Harris Officiating. Interment will be in the Oak Grove Cemetery, Athens, TN. The family will receive friends from 5 - 8 p.m., Tuesday at the funeral home. Pall Bearers are Eddie Rynes, Earl Wright, Michael Malone, Jeremy Jones, Brian, Russ and Luke Burrows. In lieu of flowers please make contributions to the Arthritis Foundation, Tennessee Chapter 421 Great Circle Rd Suite 104 Nashville, TN 37228 or The Gideons Memorial Bible P. O. Box 250 Decatur, TN 37322.