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Mrs. Bonnie Lee Butler Gouge, 78, 890 Rock Creek Road, Unit D2, Erwin, Tenn., went home to be with her Lord and Savior Thursday, August 10, 2023, at Johnson City Medical Center where she was being treated for a recent stroke.
Bonnie was born in Buladean, N.C., on July 19, 1945, to the late William Brown and Ethel Clark Butler. She lived most of her adult life on Fiddler’s Branch Road, Hampton, Tenn., and then on Riverside Drive, Unicoi, Tenn., before moving to her current address. She was preceded in death by her husband of 44-1/2 years, Joe Gouge; a son, William Joel Gouge; a brother, Michael Butler; and two sisters, Brenda Cross and Beulah Gardner.
Mrs. Gouge worked for a short period at Red Kap, Erwin, Tenn., but spent most of her time as a homemaker, wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a wonderful cook, gardener, and seamstress, and was devoted to her church family at Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish, Erwin, Tenn., working diligently with the Apple Festival Crafters to raise money for the building fund. She had also loved being an active service volunteer, most notably at God’s Corner in Johnson City and for the last several years at Unicoi County Care & Share, where she made many lovely friends and gained great satisfaction in serving her community.
Survivors include children, Lisa Gouge of Johnson City, Deborah Hill and husband Harry of Unicoi, Bobby Gouge and wife Jennifer of Tucson, Ariz., Michelle Hill and husband Larry of Unicoi, Rachel Nagy and husband Bill of Unicoi, and Sarah Banner and husband Haven of Newbury, S.C.; grandchildren, Jade, Joseph and Jacob Gouge, Adam Hill, Matthew Hill, Joshua Gouge and Luna Banner; great-grandchildren, Jade Jr., Samara and Maela Gouge and Willa Hill; sisters, Betty Hopson of Johnson City, Beverly Woodby and husband Kenneth of Unicoi and Joy of North Carolina; aunt, Mary Ingram; and treasured brother-in-law, Fred Gardner; along with many cherished extended family, neighbors and friends.
The funeral mass will be conducted on Wednesday, August 16, at 2 p.m. at Tetrick Funeral Home, Chapel of Peace, Elizabethton, with Father Kenn Wandera presiding. Visitation will be prior to the mass from noon until 2 p.m. (or anytime at the home of Larry and Michelle Hill at 150 Larry Hill Road, Unicoi, Tenn., in the Limestone Cove community). Interment will follow the service in the Gouge Cemetery on John Gouge Road in Limestone Cove. Active pallbearers will be grandsons, Jacob Gouge, Adam Hill, Matthew Hill and Joshua Gouge, nephew, Jeff Hopson, and honorary son, Shane Clawson. Honorary pallbearers are Fred Gardner, Kenneth Woodby, Jack Gouge, John “Bud” Gouge, Max Simerly, David Woodby, Jerry Wimsatt, Ben Booher, Lance Hanbey and Father Tom Charters. In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Building Fund at Saint Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish, P.O. Box 1009, Erwin, TN 37650; Unicoi County Care & Share, 344 Carolina Avenue, Erwin, TN 37650; The Jericho Shrine Center, 1100 Jericho Drive, P.O. Box 5548, Kingsport, TN 37663; or God’s Corner, 800 East Lakeview Drive, Johnson City, TN 37601. The family wishes to express deep gratitude to all extended family and friends who have spent the past few weeks in constant prayer for Bonnie’s health. We very much appreciate your kind words and deeds at a time when those things mean so much. Words of comfort can be sent to the Gouge family through our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.
Tetrick Funeral Home-Riverside Chapel, 211 North Riverside, Elizabethton, TN 37643 (423) 542-2232. is honored to serve the family of Bonnie Gouge.