Euna Katherine Ratcliff Holder

Euna Katherine Ratcliff Holder, 90, of Newport, Tennessee passed away Friday, Feb 15, 2008, in Athens, Tennessee. She received her bachelor's degree in Home Economics with teaching certificate from Carson Newman College in 1939. She taught at Cosby Academy for two years, then taught Geometry and Chemistry at Cocke County HS before traveling to the West Coast to be close to her husband who was serving in the Navy in the Pacific during World War II. She later taught Algebra and Geometry at High Point (NC) Central HS until her retirement in 1979. Under her guidance she taught students how to think and find solutions for themselves. After retirement, she and her husband returned to Cocke County in 1991 where they lived until just weeks before their deaths. Cocke County was always home to them. She was a loving wife, mother, sister and grandmother who lived her faith everyday in her interactions with others. She instilled the love of God and family and in her children and grandchildren. Euna touched many lives in her quiet way through her church, school and community. A devoted wife, she supported and assisted her husband in his work with the church and Boy Scouting. At North Main St. Baptist Church in High Point, NC, she was active in the Women's Missionary Union and taught Sunday school most of her church life. After moving to Tennessee, she and her husband were members of First Baptist Church in Newport. Although she was physically unable to attend church in the last few years, she devotedly watched the services through her church's television ministry. She was preceded in death by her husband of 65 years, John Mark Holder on January 26, 2008; parents, Lowry Bascom and Ornan Ponder Ratcliff; sisters, Enid Blazer, Vevette Thomas, Evelyn Freeman; brothers, Byron Ratcliff and Hoyle Ratcliff. Survivors include son and daughter-in-law, Daniel Bascom and Sandra Anderson Holder of Cleveland; daughter Marcia Kay (Holder) Fortson of Lompoc, CA; grandchildren, Mark James Holder of Cleveland, and Jennifer Kathleen Pritchard and husband Jeremiah of Benton; great-grandchildren, Zachary Holder of Cleveland, Jennah Pritchard, Miah Pritchard, and McKennah Pritchard of Benton; sister and her husband Agnes and Bill Lowe of Telford; sister-in-law Leta Helm Ratcliff of Newport, and numerous special nieces and nephews. The funeral will be held at 2:00 Monday February 18, 2008 in the chapel of Manes Funeral Homes in Newport with Dr. Richard Lloyd officiating. Interment alongside her husband will follow in Union Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 12:30 to 2:00 at the funeral home prior to the services. Memorials may be made to First Baptist Church, 261 E. Broadway Newport, TN 37821.

Euna Katherine Ratcliff Holder

December 6, 1917 - February 15, 2008