Allie Jane Anderson Raulston, 93, of South Pittsburg, Tennessee, died Saturday, December 10, 2016, in a Chattanooga hospital, following a sudden illness.
Born in South Pittsburg on May 14, 1923, a descendant of several pioneer Marion County families, she was the daughter of David Crockett Anderson and his wife, the former Ava Margaurite Kelly, and was named for her mother's twin sister, Allie Kelly. Ava Kelly Anderson died when Allie Jane was only four days old, and Allie Jane then made her home with her father's sister and brother-in-law, Jane Anderson, known as 'Muh," and Elisha Duncan Martin. When Crockett Anderson later married Allie Lappin, she became Allie Jane's mother, and their family was complete with the birth of Allie Jane's only sister, Daisy Elizabeth "Libba" Anderson, whom Allie Jane always called "Sista."
After graduating from South Pittsburg High School, Allie Jane attended Stephens College, in Columbia, Missouri. She then worked for Eastern Airlines in Miami for two years, going to school in New York for a period of time in her training for Eastern. She married Joseph Mancel "Chick" Raulston at Holly Avenue Methodist Church on November 2, 1946, and spent the next years as a wife and a mother to her three daughters, before returning to college to earn her teaching degree from the University of Chattanooga. She taught school at South Pittsburg Elementary School for 23 years, while also working as a substitute rural mail carrier for her husband, Chick. She was a member of Delta Kappa Gamma Society and the Marion County Retired Teachers Association.
Allie Jane was a life-long member of Holly Avenue United Methodist Church, where she taught Sunday School and actively participated for many years in their youth programs and as director of Camp Avery, Holly Avenue's church camp. She also volunteered in many Girl Scout programs, serving for several years with Scout Camps for 9-12 year olds during one week every summer.
Allie Jane and Chick Raulston's home was, according to one family friend, the place where everyone was welcomed and encouraged to visit -- a revolving door for all of their friends and all of the friends of their three daughters, and of their daughters' childhood sweethearts who became their husbands. "From elementary school years, through high school and college, and on through the rest of your life, you could go by Allie Jane's to see who was where, how they were, and to feel completely at home and loved. It was everybody's second home, because Allie Jane and Chick were so much fun and they always made you feel happy and loved! Allie Jane was one of the most life-affirming people you could ever know."
A while after Chick's unexpected death in the summer of 1986, Allie Jane married a friend of theirs, Dallas Duggar, whose wife had also died, and his three sons became members of her family as well. Throughout her life, to the very last day, Allie Jane continued her interest and involvement as a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin, and friend to countless "favorites."
Allie Jane was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 40 years, Joseph Mancel “Chick” Raulston; as well as her second husband, Dallas Duggar; her sister, Elizabeth “Libba” Anderson Hammond Murray; her sister-in-law and brother-in-law, Margaret & Paul Braden; and one nephew, Grant Hammond.
She is survived by her three daughters, Lynn (Rusty) Adcock, Jody (Lew) Loyd, and Dava (Mike) Quarles; eight grandchildren, Dr. Rustan (Sarah) Adcock, Dr. Brandan (Heather) Adcock, and Allyn Adcock; Jocelyn Loyd Gill, Lew Wilson (Katy) Loyd III, and Jana Loyd (Rob) Barnett; and Brook Quarles (David) LaRoche, and Bailey Quarles (Walker) Henley; sixteen great-grandchildren: Mancel Caldwell Adcock, Nolan James Adcock, and Dahlia Jane Adcock; Rowan O'Neal Adcock and Goldie Caldwell Adcock; Davis Raulston Gill, Curtis Anderson Gill, and Louisa Loyd Gill; Lew Wilson “Wil” Loyd IV, and Addison Louise "Addie" Loyd; Charles Raulston Barnett and Catherine Kelly Barnett; Anderson Bennett LaRoche and Ayla Jane LaRoche; and Charles Allen Henley and Hollan Jane Henley; her step-sons, Shannon, Douglas and Brian Duggar and their families; her brother-in-law, Jack (Ginna) Raulston; and her nieces and nephews: Marsha Raulston and Marge Boric, Margaret Ann (Benny) Rollins, Paula Sue Braden, Patricia Richards, Crockett Hammond, Gary Hammond, and Chris Hammond.
A service to celebrate Allie Jane's life took place on Friday, Dec. 16, at 1 p.m., Central Time, at Holly Avenue United Methodist Church in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, with the Reverend Lyle White and the Reverend David Tullock officiating. Interment was at Cumberland View Cemetery in Kimball, Tn.
The family will received friends for visitation on Friday, December 16th at the American Legion Hall in South Pittsburg, Tennessee, a special place for Allie Jane and her husband, Chick, who served as the State Commander of the American Legion.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that memorial contributions be made to Holly Avenue United Methodist Church, PO Box 189, South Pittsburg, TN 37380 or to the American Legion Hall, PO Box 384, South Pittsburg, TN 37380.
Condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.rogersfuneralhome.com.