Sara Frances Walker

September 14, 1921 - May 6, 2018

Sara was born in Morristown, TN in 1921 and lived in Greeneville, TN. She was the daughter of Miah and Minnie Collette of Greeneville, TN. She is preceded in death by her husband, Cloyd M. Walker, one brother, Mayford Collette, one sister, Carolyn Jaynes and two infant sisters, Ruby and Margaret Collette. She graduated from Greeneville High School in 1939, where she was a cheerleader and class photographer. She attended Tusculum College and was also a cheerleader. She met and married  Cloyd Walker in 1942 and they set up housekeeping in Johnson City, Sara stayed busy as a homemaker, raising two children. She was an excellent seamstress, a leader of a Brownie and Girl Scout troop and a very active member in the PTA. She made all her children’s clothes and other people’s as well. Sara was very skilled at monogramming, making drapes for hospitals and making various crafts. Much to the delight of her family, she was an excellent cook. She also loved working in her flower garden. Sara was a volunteer at the Red Cross Blood Mobile for several years, joined a senior group at Northside Hospital and spent a week helping out at the Summer Special Olympics at Notre Dame in the 1980’s. For five consecutive years, she spent two weeks at Fontana, NC at a camp for high school students – teaching and sharing with others. Always busy with volunteer work for the community, she still had time to teach a primary group at Central Baptist Church and be active in her Sunday School class. Sara was acting director and treasurer for Good Samaritan Ministries, which involved getting and preparing lunches for homeless, distributing baskets of food at Thanksgiving and giving gifts and food at Christmas. She also held the office of President for the Women’s Missionary Society for 2 yrs. Sara was a volunteer at Northside Hospital for 18 yrs, with her husband Cloyd, greeting people and assisting with admissions. She worked in the skilled nursing facility baking cookies and delivering snacks to patients and also participated each year in fundraising projects such as uniform, book and jewelry sales. Sara got to showcase her acting skills when she participated in two television documentaries for MSHA, which aired on WJHL-TV. She was very active in International Civitan Club and even held the office of President of Civinettes for 4 yrs. She received back to back Frist Humanitarian Awards and was recognized for raising money for Special Olympics. She was an avid reader and loved Perry Mason and Tom Selleck movies, and the Andy Griffith Shows. She was also a member of the Sycamore Hot Hat Shakers Red hat group. Sara will be greatly missed by many, but she will always be remembered by her winning smile, great sense of humor and love of people. She was a wonderful wife, Mom, mammaw/granny and great-mammaw/granny. She was always making special things for her friends and family. Each of her family will always have special memories of her. Family was very important to her and she loved the time she spent with each one of them. Sara is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Sally and Harmon Duncan of Johnson City; son, Mike “Travis” Walker of Knoxville; grandsons, Bryan & wife Mandy and great grandchild, Ari Grace; Preston (Knoxville);  step granddaughter Terri Jaggers, step great grandsons, Colton and Jett (Florida), granddaughter, Sherri and husband Derrick (Texas). Good Friends, Doug & Kim Thompson, and all the Doug Thompson Fan Club; The Group (Patricia, Martha, Billie, Phyllis, Phil,) Her Red Hat Group; and Special caregivers, Christy, Jessica, and Dianna (couldn’t have made it without them) and several nieces and nephews and lots of friends. Special thanks to Amedysis Hospice:  Lori, Samantha, Chris, Scott, Debbie, Megan Long (Dr. Hutchins).  They were awesome. The family will receive friends at Appalachian Funeral Home Thursday, May 10th from 11:30 to 1:30 pm ; service to follow at 1:30 pm with Rev. Tim Tapp of Central Baptist Church, and Chaplain Chris Hughes of Amedysis Hospice officiating. Graveside services will be at Mountain Home Veterans Cemetery following the service at 2:30pm, where she will be buried with her husband, Cloyd. Pallbearers to serve will be: Preston & Bryan Walker, Harry Harmon, Jim Bussen, Doug Thompson, Derrick Berg. Sara was very fond of flowers if you wish to send them. She was very fond of the animal shelters (Elizabethton, Johnson City or Unicoi) if you wish to send a contribution in her name. Another organization she supported was The Shephard’s Inn (domestic violence shelter for women and children) in Elizabethton, P.O. Box 2214, Elizabethton, TN 37644. Memories and condolences may be shared with the family at www.appfh.net.  Appalachian Funeral Home and Cremation Services, 800 E. Watauga Ave., Johnson City is serving the Walker family.  (423) 928-6111