Melba Ruth Gatlin Parker, 92, of Cleveland, Tennessee, went to be with her Lord on Friday, December 2, 2016.
Ruth “Granny”, loved spending time with her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren, often having sleepovers, going to ballgames and school programs. Her amazing spirit, love of life and having fun touched many.
Ruth was the daughter of the late Walter and Pearl Carson; and was also preceded in death by her husband J.T. Gatlin; her brothers Earl and G.W. “Short” Carson; and her sisters Mary Mason and Ortha Kersey.
Ruth is survived by her sister Velma Boyd; her sons Gale Gatlin and his wife Trula, Dale Gatlin and his wife Linda; her daughters Linda Lawson, Margie Castelow and Debbie Sparks; grandchildren Melissa Lawson Harris and her husband Mike, Randall Gatlin and his wife April, Rhonda Rymer and her husband Larry, Michael Gatlin and his wife Chandra, Jacob Sparks, Sonya Maddux, Jeremy Castelow and his wife Nicole, Erika Lawson Cooke, Jeremiah Sparks, Lindsey Castelow Woods and her husband Zachary; great-grandchildren Madison, Mckenzie, Mitchell, Infiniti, Sid, Junior, Chandon, Brae, Anthony, Natalie, Molly, Melody, Chayse, Jayden, Chloe, Tori Beth, Maelea, Sienna, Sophia, Tyler, Nathan, Joseph and Kevin.
A Remembrance of Life Service will be held Monday, Dec. 5 at 7 p.m. at Jim Rush Funeral and Cremation Services Wildwood Ave. Chapel with Rev. Ronnie Bishop officiating.
The interment will be held at 11 a.m. on Tuesday, Dec. 6 at Chestuee Community Cemetery, on Chestuee Rd. Cleveland TN, with Jeremy Castelow, Jeremiah Sparks, Michael Gatlin, Randall Gatlin, Zachary Woods and Chayse Wooten serving as casket bearers.
The family will receive friends Monday evening from 4-7 p.m. at the Jim Rush Funeral Home, who has charge of the arrangements.