Zita Jane Keefauver

Notes:

ERWIN – Zita Jane Keefauver Tolley has taken the right hand of her Lord and gone home with her Saviour. Jane was born June 8, 1943, with her identical twin sister, Rita June Ingram. She died, Sunday, September 6, 2009 at 12:30 PM after an extensive stay in the hospital. Jane was 66 years old.

She was the daughter of Lucille Keefauver, of Jonesborough, and the late Billy Joe Keefauver.

Jane was a member of Evergreen Free Will Baptist Church, where she had served as an assistant Sunday school teacher and was a former member of the choir. She had served as treasurer, secretary and president of the Erwin Business and Professional Women's Club. She was secretary of the Unicoi County United Way for 14 years. While in the United Way, she served as the executive chairman of the Unicoi County Relief Fund.

Jane was a certified Red Cross Advanced First Aid instructor and had taught several classes. She was a member of the John Sevier Chapter of the D.A.R., and was past president of the Erwin Get Acquainted Club. Jane served in the Mother's March of Dimes and was a past consumer consultant of the Tennessee Superior Home Health Advisory Board.

She had served on the Washington County Foster Child Care review board and was a past president of the Martin Chapel P.T.A. and a Cub Scout mother. Jane was a past member of the Erwin Band Boosters, and was the past president of the Erwin Circle Left Square Dance Club.

She owned her own business: "Jane's Bear Necessities Gift Shop," at the Sheraton/ Holiday Inn Hotel in Johnson City for 20 years. She was a charter member of the friends of the library in Erwin and was a charter member of the board of directors for 5 years and was president-elect.

Jane was very active in the TFWC/GFWC, where she had been a member for over 40 years.

On the local club level, she had served as Chairman of Arts, Chairman of Conservation, Chairman of International Affairs, Chairman of Public Affairs, Membership Chairman, Program Chairman, 3rd Vice President, 2nd Vice President, 1st Vice President, President and Parliamentarian. On the District Level, she served as: 1st Vice President, 2nd Vice President, Parliamentarian (2 terms), Home Life Chairman, Public Relations/Communication Chairman, President, where under her term, she helped lead District 1 to 1st place in the state, and she also served as Chaplain for 2 years.

On the GF/TFWC State Level, she held the positions of: International Affairs Chairman, Trade and Aid Chairman, Arts & Crafts Division Chairman, Music & Dance Chairman, Very Special Arts Chairman, Arts Department Chairman, Leadership Chairman, Chaplain and Resolutions Chairman. Jane was also a member of the England Society, where she was chosen as the Outstanding Woman for the TFWC and was chosen for the Tribute of Honor.

Other than her father, she was preceded in death by her grandparents: Robert & Fannie Keefauver; and grandmother, Mattie Harshbarger.

She is survived by her mother, Lucille Keefauver, Jonesborough; her husband of 47 years, Edwin W. Tolley, Erwin; her son, Joseph Christopher Tolley (Chris), of Erwin; sister & brother-in-law, Shirley and Bob McCracken, Rogersville, twin sister and brother-in-law, June and Jim Ingram, of Jonesborough; sister-in-law and husband, Janice & D.C. Byrd, of Erwin; nieces: Lisa Hill, Robyn Jones, Candice Elmore, Dawn Hill, Pam Bailey and Sandy Byrd; 3 great nieces and 3 great nephews; 1 great-great niece, and 1 great-great nephew.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Thursday, September 10, 2009, at 8:00 PM in the Sunrise Chapel of Tetrick Funeral Services with Rev. Harold Blankenship, Rev. Larry Tolley and Rev. Steve Hill officiating.

The family will receive friends at the funeral home from 6:00 PM until the service hour.

Interment will be held on Friday, September 11, 2009, at 10:00 AM in Evergreen Cemetery, Erwin, TN. Friends and family are asked to assemble at the cemetery by 9:50 AM. Honorary Pallbearers are Bob McCracken, D.C. Byrd, Steve Hill, Jim Ingram, Tommy Jones and Mike Bailey.

Zita married Living [Group Sheet] [Family Chart]