Lee D. Ketchersid, 68, of Dayton, TN, died on Friday, October 19, 2012.
She was born in Boston, MA on July 31, 1944. She also lived in Barre, VT, South Hill, VA, Memphis, TN and Red Bank, TN, where she graduated from Red Bank High School in 1962.
Following graduation, she attended Tennessee Wesleyan College, graduating with a B.A. degree in English in 1967. There she met her husband, William Ketchersid of Spring City, TN and they were married on September 3, 1966 in Athens, TN at Keith Memorial United Methodist Church. Lee was very active in the United Methodist Women of First United Methodist Church in Dayton. Several years, she served as an officer of the mission organization. She was also a member of the Administrative Council of the First United Methodist Church. She was active in the 1970’s in teaching school and in the early 1990’s, during the summers she operated a day care service for the church.
Lee loved children, having four of her own whom she loved deeply. When they were young she stayed home to help train them for later life. From 1967 – 1969, she taught English at Rhea Central High School in Dayton. When she and her husband moved to the Athens, GA area for him to pursue his PhD, she taught third grade in Madison County for one year and seventh grade in Clarke County for three years.
She returned to teaching in 1985 with one year as an English teacher at Sale Creek High School and in 1986 she taught kindergarten at Walden’s Ridge Elementary School. In 1986, she transferred to Graysville Elementary School and taught kindergarten until she was involuntarily transferred to Rhea County Middle School where she taught for 2/3 of one year.
Lee is survived by her husband, Dr. William Ketchersid of Dayton; sons, William Lee Ketchersid of Destin, FL and John Ketchersid of Lehigh Acres, FL; daughters, Elizabeth Rodriguez of Dayton Mountain and Deborah Heath of Fort Stewart, GA; a sister, Michelle Ann Sabine of Pleasant Hill, TN; brothers, Robert of Milton, MA, Peter of Athens, GA, Steve of Crossville, Eric of Hixson, and Neal of Rock Hill, SC; 12 grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service for Lee will be held Saturday, October 27, from 3-5 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church in Dayton, with Rev. Kenneth Pierce and Rev. John C. Anderson officiating.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to the First United Methodist Church of Dayton, Tennessee Global Mission Fund, Bryan College or the Gideon’s International.
The family is being served by the Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton.