Elaine “Nanny” Watts McDonnell, 71, of Johnson City, passed away Wednesday, November 28, 2018, at Signature Health Center, Elizabethton, following an extended illness.
A native of Elizabethton, she was a daughter of the late Rhonda H. and Dorothy Edith Price Watts.
Elaine was a 1965 graduate of Elizabethton High School and attended East Tennessee State University. She was an employee of Wal-Mart for a few years. She was a member of Rich Acres Free Will Baptist Church but had attended Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church for a number of years. She loved arts and crafts.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Jimmy Watts.
Survivors include her husband of 50 years, John McDonnell; three children, David McDonnell and wife Kim, Elizabethton, Lori Kelly and husband Kris, Knoxville, and Jessica McDonnell Baumgardner and boyfriend Scott Hammett, Elizabethton; four grandchildren, Ashley Collins and fiancé George Williams, Lauren Collins, Andy Baumgardner and wife Johna and Hannah McDonnell; and her great-grandson, Thomas Williams.
Funeral services for Elaine “Nanny” Watts McDonnell will be conducted at 8 p.m. Friday, November 30, at Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church with the Rev. Randy Johnson and the Rev. Mark Potter officiating. The graveside service and interment will be at noon Saturday, December 1, in the Price Cemetery, Butler. Active pallbearers, who are requested to assemble at the church at 7:55 p.m. Friday and also at 11 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home, will be David McDonnell, George Williams, Scott Hammett, Andy Baumgardner, Ethan Hammett and Jeremy Campbell. Honorary pallbearers will be Kris Kelly, Larry Abel, Reese McDonnell, Warren Price, Josh Hayward, Carl Roberson, Carl Harrison and her church family. The family would like to express a special “Thank You” to Dr. Paul Brown, the staff of Signature Health and the staff of Franklin Woods Hospital. The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at Valley Forge Free Will Baptist Church. Family and friends will assemble at the funeral home at 11 a.m. Saturday to go to the cemetery. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website at www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the McDonnell family.