Grace Estelle Ownby, 96, of Cleveland, passed away on May 19, 2019, at the Garden Plaza Senior Living Center where she had resided for over 12 years.

She was the daughter of the late Frank and Etta Tate of Ducktown, Tn., and was born on Dec. 31, 1922.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husband, Ashley L. Ownby, Jr.; sisters, Irene Shinpaugh (Joe), Carrie Million (Olin); brothers, Wayne Tate (Pauline), and Wilbur Tate.

She was reared in Polk County, Tennessee and often reminisced of summers as a child skating with her friends from her father’s dry goods store to Copperhill to watch the copper mill pour slag at the end of a day. After high school, she was a “Rosie the Riveter,” during WWII working as an electric welder in Brunswick, Georgia, and later moved with her family to Cleveland in the 1940’s. She had a very quick wit, loved to laugh with others, and enjoyed flowers all her life. She was a member of Valley View Baptist Church and was retired from American Uniform.

She is survived by her son, Ashley L. Ownby III,  and wife Patricia Marie and their son Mark Banks, wife, Jodie; grandchildren, Samuel, Vaughn, and Greta of Nashville Tennessee. She is further survived by her nephews, Steve Johnson and Joe Shinpaugh, niece, Sharon Kay Kipp of Tunnel Hill, Georgia and numerous nephews and nieces from the Ownby Family.

The family wishes to thank the amazingly passionate care received in her final days from the Garden Plaza Assisted Facility of Cleveland Tennessee.

A celebration of life ceremony will be held at 6 p.m. on Wednesday,  May 22, in the chapel of Fike-Randolph & Son Funeral Home with Pastor Debbie Stokes of Christ United Methodist Church of Chattanooga officiating. A private interment will be held at Hilcrest Memorial Gardens.

The family will receive friends from 4–6 p.m. at the funeral home prior to the service. 

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Ownby family guestbook at www.fikefh.com.