Helen “Jean” Renfro, 81, of Johnson City, died Monday, May 11, 2015, at her residence following a lengthy illness. She was a native of Kansas City, Mo., and a daughter of the late Luther W. and Pearl Ruth Hutchison Lowrey.
Jean was a bookkeeper for several pharmacies and was a co-founder of Corner Drug Store in 1967 along with her husband, Paul Renfro. They were also co-owners of West Towne Pharmacy and Princeton Drug.
Jean was a longtime member and pianist at Grace Baptist Church. She was a church pianist for almost 70 years starting at the age of nine.
Survivors include her husband of 58 years, Paul D. Renfro, of the home; two sons and daughters-in-law, Larry and Sherri Renfro of Jonesborough and Scott and Martha Renfro of Johnson City; four granddaughters and a grandson-in-law, Hannah Ruth and Nicholas Moore of Johnson City, Sarah Grace Renfro of Johnson City, Megan Alyse Renfro and Alyson Renee Renfro, both of Jonesborough; a sister and brother-in-law, Edna Pearl and Joe Lake of Vacaville, Calif.; and several nieces and nephews. Special thanks from the family to her loving caregivers, Joyce Gillette and Megan Ferguson.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, May 14, in the Dogwood Chapel of Morris-Baker Funeral Home. A funeral service will be conducted at 8 p.m. under the direction of Rev. Mike Pelham and Rev. Ed Scarborough. Special music will be provided for the service by her niece, Kristin Harmon, Martha Jones, Monty Brown and Brenda Pelham. A committal service will be held at Roselawn Memorial Gardens on Friday, May 15, at 11 a.m. Active pallbearers will be selected from family and friends. Honorary pallbearers will be the men of Grace Baptist Church. Family and friends are asked to assemble at the funeral home by 10:30 a.m. Friday to join the procession. In lieu of flowers, the family would like memorials be made to the Gideons of Elizabethton, P.O. Box 1951, Elizabethton, TN 37644 or Grace Baptist Church, 612 Collins Drive, Johnson City, TN 37604. Memories and condolences may be made via: www.morrisbaker.com.
Morris-Baker Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 2001 E. Oakland Avenue, Johnson City, Tenn., (423) 282-1521, will be serving the Renfro family.