Ruth Jamerson Obituary

Ruth Norris Jamerson August 27, 2024

JOHNSON CITY - Ruth Norris Jamerson, 87, passed away peacefully on August 27, 2024, at Abundant Christian Living Community in Johnson City after a long illness.

Ruth was born to the late Avery and Carrie Norris in Elizabethton, Tenn., and lived in Old Butler and Lynn Vally, Tenn., until 1947. At that time, the family moved to Washington County to what would become the family home for multiple generations. She graduated from Jonesboro High School in 1954. She attended East Tennessee State University and worked at Cooper's Office Supply in Johnson City. She was a member of Midway Baptist Church and helped lead worship through song. She loved organizing church dinners and decorating the fellowship hall every Sunday. At her passing, she was the oldest member of the church.

She met the love of her life, Reece Jamerson, through a mutual church friend, and they were married in 1962. They had three children, and she was an active PTA parent and homemaker. She returned to work as a payroll administrator in her brother's family business, Nor-Well Company, for several years.

She and Reece traveled extensively after retirement, but her favorite place was her back porch sunroom, where she hosted many, many Sunday School, choir, and family parties. She loved to cook for any occasion, and everyone who came to her home felt her love for hospitality and connections with family and friends. She welcomed her daughters-in-law and son-in-law and friends of her children and grandchildren as if they were her own children. The bigger the crowd for an occasion, the better.

Ruth never passed up an opportunity to shop with her granddaughters, daughter, daughters-in-law and son-in-law. Christmas and Christmas shopping brought her particular joy, and she enveloped her family and friends in her Christmas spirit. Also, Ruth was an avid reader and a sports fan. She cheered on the Atlanta Braves, the Tennessee Volunteers, and most any professional football team.

After Reece passed away, Ruth loved to get in the car and go with family members, whether that meant shopping, going out to eat, or traveling to the beach. She also loved playing word search games and completing jigsaw puzzles, but her favorite part of any day involved a caramel latte from Starbucks.

The family wishes to thank the nurses, nurse practitioners, CNAs, physical and occupational therapists, and staff at Abundant Christian Living Community, who not only cared for Ruth but also grew to love her and cared for her family.

In addition to her parents, Ruth is preceded in death by her husband, Reece; brothers, sister, and in-laws Jay and Helen Norris, Earl and Ruth Norris, Peggy and John Phillips, and Dwight and Elizabeth Norris. She is survived by twin brother and sister-in-law Paul and Mikall Norris of Jackson, Tenn.; two sons, Mark Jamerson and wife Melinda of Minneapolis, Minn., and Russell Jamerson and wife Holly of Johnson City, Tenn.; daughter Sarah Holtz and husband Michael of Knoxville, Tenn.; three granddaughters Mallie, Macy, and Leah Jamerson; mother of granddaughter, Leah, Cheri Jamerson of Jonesborough, Tenn.; sister-in-law Edna Marshall of Johnson City; and special friends Marie Buchanan, Linda Edwards, and Caroline and Eddie Mobley. She is remembered by many loving nieces, nephews, and cousins.

The service for Ruth will be conducted at 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, September 4, 2024, in The Chapel at Washington County Memory Gardens, with Rev. William Taylor officiating. Appalachian Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made in her memory to Midway Baptist Church, 3414 W. Walnut Street, Johnson City, TN, 37604 or Alzheimer's Tennessee, alztennessee.org.