Mary K. “Monk” Lewis, 85, of Elizabethton, went home to be with her Lord on Monday, January 26, 2015, at Sycamore Shoals Hospital.
Mary was a native of Carter County and a daughter of the late Robert “Bo” and Tilda Ensor Grindstaff. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters, Bertie Milhorn and Lela Pearl Southerland, and two brothers, Elden Grindstaff and Lloyd Grindstaff.
Mrs. Lewis was a graduate of Unaka High School and attended E.T. State College. She had been employed as a teacher, principal and janitor of Grindstaff School and had been a substitute teacher for many years at Unaka Elementary School, where she was known as Miss Mary to all the students. She was a former employee of City Drug Company, a former hospital pharmacy employee, and a former employee of Quik Laundry. After retirement, she worked as a homemaker and was a member of Dungan Chapel Baptist Church
She was an avid fan of Hunter Basketball and the Atlanta Braves and she enjoyed preparing Sunday dinners for her family. She was known as Mammy to her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Survivors include her husband of 39 years, John Bell Lewis, of the home; a daughter, Joyce Salyer and her husband Roy, Elizabethton; two granddaughters, Jemima Rowland and husband Dustin and Mary Asher and husband Brad, all of Elizabethton; eight great-grandchildren, Cydney and Keiana Forney, Nolan Bradley, Alisha Harrell, Matilda Salyer, Allie and Gage Rowland and Easton Asher; three sisters, Alma “Tops” Kehrli, Lois Carver and Virginia Grindstaff, all of Elizabethton; and two brothers, Owen Grindstaff and Marvin Grindstaff, both of Elizabethton. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
A service to honor the life of Mrs. Mary K. “Monk” Lewis will be conducted at 7 p.m. Thursday, January 29, in the Chapel of Peace at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Rev. Eric Heaton and Rev. Delbert Storie officiating. Music will be under the direction of Vickie Greer and the New Liberty Quartet. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, prior to the service, or at the residence at anytime. The committal and entombment service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Friday, January 30, in the Mausoleum of Peace at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Nolan Bradley, Brad Asher, Dustin Rowland, Lance Estep, Freeman Taylor, Bobby Shelton, Hugh Buckles and Bill Fritz. Honorary pallbearers will be the Deacons of Dungan Chapel Baptist Church, brothers-in-law, Richard Lewis, Roger Carver, C.H. Lewis and Bill Milhorn, and her nephews, Michael Southerland, Aaron Pendergast, Brandon Pendergast and Drew Pierce. Those wishing to attend the service are asked to meet at Tetrick Funeral Home in Elizabethton at 10:15 a.m. Friday to go in procession. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book or by fax (423) 542-9499.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the Lewis family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.