Helen Johnson Vannoy of Elizabethton went home to be with her Lord and join her family, on Sunday, October 1, 2017, at Hermitage Health Care Center of Elizabethton. Helen was born in Piney Flats, Tenn., to the late Robert Charles Nidiffer and Rhoda Ann Dial Nidiffer.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her first husband, Paul W. Johnson; one brother, Jim Nidiffer; and four sisters, Elizabeth Nidiffer, Alice Odom, Mary Ketchum and Ruth Gross.
Helen retired from the healthcare field and was of the Baptist faith. She enjoyed being a mother and a caregiver, gardening, sewing, cooking, and being with her family and her animals.
Those left to cherish her memory include her husband, John Vannoy, of the home; her daughter, Paula Johnson, Elizabethton; three sons, Malcolm Johnson, Arthur Moore and wife Sharon and Jimmy Moore and wife Ruby, all of Elizabethton; and three sisters, Evelyn Guinn, Westland, Mich., Dorothy Sells, Piney Flats, Tenn., and Phyllis Brewer and husband Kay, Johnson City, Tenn. Several nieces and nephews and her dog, “Baby Boy-Rudy,” also survive.
A service to honor the life of Helen Johnson Vannoy will be conducted at 7:15 p.m. Wednesday, October 4, in the Chapel of Peace of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with a eulogy provided by her friend, Raymond Perkinson. Music will be provided by Teresa Range, soloist, and David Arney, pianist. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 5 until 7 p.m. Wednesday, prior to the service. The graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Thursday, October 5, at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Paula Johnson, Lynn Johnson, Arthur Moore, Sabrina Vannoy, Sharon Moore, Beverly Vannoy, Scott Scalf and Raymond Perkinson. Honorary pallbearers will be Malcolm Johnson, Jimmy Moore and Jim Guinn. Those wishing to attend the service are asked to meet at the funeral home at 10:15 a.m. Thursday to go in procession. Special thanks to the Vannoy family for all the love and special care extended to Helen. Also to Dr. Vivian Clark and staff, Caris Health Care, Carolyn Slaughter, Norma Johnson, Raymond Perkinson and David Arney. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers, may make donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, 2335 Knob Creek Road, #101, Johnson City, TN 37604. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guest book.
Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the Johnson-Vannoy family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.