Edith Yantis
Edith Crisman Yantis, 96, passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 17, 2018.
Born in the family’s home in Red Bank, she lived in the Chattanooga area most of her life. She was the daughter of the late B. A. Crisman and Edith B. Crisman and step-daughter to her late aunt, Eva B. Crisman. During World War II, she enlisted and served in the Navy in Washington, D.C., as Lieutenant JG (after having to put weights in her pocket to weigh enough to get in). She graduated from Chattanooga High School and attended the University of Tennessee at Knoxville where she received her Bachelors and Masters Degree in Home Economics. She was a member of the Zeta Tau Alpha Sorority. She taught Home Economics for a period of time in Ohio and Crossville, Tn.
She was married to the late C. Greg Yantis for over 50 years and is survived by her four children, John (Diana) Yantis, Patricia (Steven Rose) Clark, Steven (Jane) Yantis, and Mary (Jim) Parnell, seven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister, Maryadell Brown, and her two brothers, Bryan and John Crisman.
Throughout her life she served and volunteered in many organizations in the Chattanooga area including the Florence Crittenden Home (now Partnership For Families and Children), CONTACT, Senior Neighbors, Mocassin Bend Mental Institute, the Nancy Ward Chapter of the DAR, and Interfaith Ministries, where even into her 90s she was transporting “senior citizens” to their medical appointments.
However, her greatest passion for service was with the Chattanooga Community Kitchen where she worked tirelessly for many years serving meals to the hungry, again into her 90s. In honor of her many years of service, in 2003 the Kitchen at the Community Kitchen was named in her honor.
She was a devout Christian and a member of First Baptist Church of Chattanooga for almost 70 years. She was active in many activities at the church and belonged to the Seekers and Mary class.
The family would like to especially thank Katie, her Hospice nurse, Hospice of Chattanooga, and her good friend and companion, Willa Dean Henderson, for the care they provided over the last several years.
The family will receive friends on Friday, Feb. 23, from 4-7 p.m. at the North Chapel of the Chattanooga Funeral Home on Highway 153. The funeral service will be conducted at First Baptist Church of Chattanooga Chapel at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 24. The family will receive friends for visitation one hour prior to the funeral service.
In lieu of flowers, please make any memorial contributions to the Chattanooga Community Kitchen.
Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson. Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com