Violet Jean Ritchie Friend, wife of William Friend, 73, of Elizabethton, went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, November 18, 2017, with her family and best friend by her side, from Johnson City Medical Center. Violet was born in Elizabethton to the late Curtis B. Ritchie and Mary Lyons Ritchie. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a husband, David White; one son, Billy Hambric; one brother, J.C. Ritchie; and one sister, Shirley Ashley.
Violet retired as a seamstress at Levi Strauss & Company and attended Grace Freewill Baptist Church. She enjoyed scrapbooking, making cards, shopping with her daughter and spending time with her granddaughter, grandson and her son.
Those left to cherish her memory include a son, Shane Watson, of Elizabethton; a daughter, Kimberly Hambric Hoefling, of Johnson City; a granddaughter, Allison “A.J.” Hoefling; a grandson, Cory Watson; several step-grandchildren; two step-sons, David Friend and Billy Friend, both of Michigan; and two step-daughters, Jenny and Barb Friend, both of Michigan. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
A service to celebrate the life of Violet Jean Ritchie Friend will be conducted at 7 p.m. Tuesday, November 21, in the Chapel of Peace at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Rev. Curtis Hurt and Rev. Nathan Jennings officiating. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 5 until 7 p.m. Tuesday, prior to the service. The graveside service will be conducted at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, November 22, at Monte Vista Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Ronald Ritchie, Ricky Deloach, Jimmy Burrow, Michael Burrow, Cory Watson and Lee Gay. Honorary pallbearers will be Kenny Potter, Bud Hambric, Mike Ritchie, Lance Ritchie, Don Hoefling and Don Ritchie. Those wishing to attend the service are asked to meet at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday to go in procession. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to the Susan G. Komen Foundation at Susan G. Komen, Dept. 41831, P.O. Box 650309, Dallas, TX 75265; or to St. Jude Children’s Hospital, 2335 Knob Creek Road, #101, Johnson City, TN 37604. Online condolences may be shared with the family online at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.
Mrs. Friend and her family are in the care of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.