Mary Greer Obituary

Mary Nell (Grindstaff) Greer

December 22, 1936 -

November 10, 2024

JOHNSON CITY - Mary Nell (Grindstaff) Greer, formerly of 2028 Sundale Road in Johnson City, moved from the Johnson City Medical Center Hospital to her new Heavenly Home on Sunday morning, November 10, 2024 following challenges with dementia and a recent injury which led to a very short stay in the American House Senior Living in Johnson City cut short due to a stroke.

Mary Nell was born December 22, 1936 to Stanley and Lina (White) Grindstaff, raised on Stoney Creek, graduated from Unaka High School and the East Tennessee Baptist Hospital School of Nursing in Knoxville, TN. Following Nursing School graduation, Mary Nell "proudly" worked as a Registered Nurse at the VA Hospital, Johnson City Memorial Hospital, and then at the Johnson City Medical Center Hospital where she was a Nursing Supervisor and later the "House Super".

While working at the VA Hospital, Mary Nell met the love of her life, William "Bill" Greer, whom she married on June 2, 1960 and shared many adventures, fun times, and unforgettable experiences together including serving as a pastor's wife following Bill's call to preach in 1971. These churches included New Liberty Freewill Baptist Church (Stoney Creek), Keystone Freewill Baptist Church (Johnson City), Watauga Valley Freewill Baptist Church (Stoney Creek), and on an interim basis at First Freewill Baptist Church (Mountain City) and Riverview Baptist Church (Erwin). She set a standard for other pastor's wives to follow as Bill pastored several area churches over 50 years. Mary Nell taught Sunday School classes, organized Vacation Bible Schools, Ladies Auxiliary groups and church bus trips, conducted Christmas and Easter plays, but most importantly showed love to all and support to her husband Bill. Most of these activities revolved around another love – cooking for anyone and everyone who would enjoy the best in Southern cooking, "Paula Deen thinks she can cook". She cooked for her family daily but also for church family & friends, gospel singing groups, and most recently the "Golden Group" where she thrived on organizing and cooking for crowds of 100+ individuals each month, the bigger the crowd, the happier she was.

Mary Nell is survived by her husband Bill, son Kenny (Vickie) Greer and daughter Kathy (Randy) Greear; 4 grandchildren, Wes (Mandy) Greer, Aaron (Julie) Greer, Jessica (Thomas) Sutherland, and Kim (Allen) Vittetoe; 6 great-grandchildren, Riley Greer, Hadley Greer, Will Greer, Grady Greer, Greear Vittetoe, Grayson Vittetoe, and baby Greer due in May 2025; 2 sisters Erma Barker and Della (Floyd) Nettles; sister-in-laws Eula Grindstaff and Lucy Greer; brother-in-law Ray Scholl; and numerous nieces and nephews. Along with her parents, she is preceded in death by brothers Ernest, J.D., Orville, and Bert; sisters Bernice, Judy Scholl, Nadine Fisher, and Anna Ruth Breland; and a great grandchild Grace Vittetoe.

Mary Nell loved her family and was proud of everything they did, big or small. She loved playing boardgames (she would cheat), watching gameshows (The Price is Right, Wheel of Fortune, & Jeopardy), watching and cheering for the Atlanta Braves and the TN Vols (all sports). Mary Nell enjoyed eating at the Cracker Barrell, loved Gospel Music (Primitive Quartet her favorite), sailing away on "Bible Cruises, playing Putt-Putt golf (she was a miniature golf semi-pro), and supporting her grandkids and great grandkids in all their sporting and school events.

A Celebration of Life service will be conducted at the Keystone Freewill Baptist Church on Tuesday, 11/12/24 beginning at 7:00 p.m. preceded by receiving of friends from 5:00-7:00 p.m.. Rev. Charlie Trivette, Rev. Frank Woods, and family members will speak with music provided by the New Liberty Quartet, Laura Coleman, and family members. The graveside service will be conducted on Wednesday, 11/13/24 at the Monte Vista Memorial Park at 12:00 p.m. conducted by Rev. Wesley Duncan with family and friends assembling at Monte Vista Memorial Park by 11:45 a.m.. Active pallbearers will be Randy Greear, Wes Greer, Aaron Greer, Riley Greer, Allen Vittetoe, and Thomas Sutherland with grandchildren and great grandchildren assisting. Honorary pallbearers include her pastor Rev. Tony Birchfield, Rev. Randy Johnson, Rev. Kenneth Grindstaff, Rev. Steve Hillman, members of the Jack's Creek Minister Association, and the church families of New Liberty FWB, Keystone FWB, Watauga Valley FWB, First FWB (Mountain City), and Riverview Baptist church.

The family would like to extend a special thank you to her caretaker Jen Shoun and American House Memory Care staff. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations are made to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) in memory of Mary Nell.