JEAN ETTA KEY OLIVE

OLIVE, JEAN ETTA KEY - 83, of Maryville, Tennessee, passed away Monday, August 12, 2013. She was born March 27, 1930, to the late Samuel William and Henrietta Nixon Key, and grew up on Key Farm in Monoville, a community near Carthage, Tennessee. She attended and graduated from George Peabody College for Teachers where she met and fell in love with her future husband, Howard. After college, she taught school in Spring City, Tennessee, and Waverly, Tennessee, prior to marrying and starting a family. Later in life, she substitute taught in Maryville, operated the Executive Lodge in Alcoa, Tennessee, and before retiring owned and operated The Gathering Christian Bookstore in Maryville. She was a loving wife and mother who devoted her life to her family and serving others. She was a member of Monte Vista Baptist Church in Maryville, where she gracefully and lovingly fulfilled a helpmate role to her husband who served as pastor for 30 years. She led a women's Bible study weekly, actively participated in Woman's Missionary Union, sang in the choir, and was the consummate hostess in entertaining and preparing meals for hundreds, if not thousands, of guests in her home over her lifetime. In addition to church ministries, she was a member of the Chilhowee Club and served as president (1990-1991) during the Club's centennial year. She also was a breast cancer survivor, and she sacrificially volunteered with Reach for Recovery at Blount Memorial Hospital for years following her recovery to assist and encourage others who suffered from this disease. Her special interests and talents included gardening, especially flowers, cooking, sewing, teaching and loving others. Including her parents, she is preceded in death by her sister, Mildred Woodson Key Thomas; brother, Samuel William Key, Jr.; and brother, John Logan Key. She is survived by her husband of 59 years, Howard Goodlett Olive; children and spouses, Lynn and Tom Orms of Calera, Alabama, John and Cherié Olive of Tullahoma, Tennessee, David and Kathryn Olive of Bluefield, Virginia, Allison and Dodd Townsend of Evans, Georgia, and Angela and Barry Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama; grandchildren, Alicia (Mayes) and George Bateman of Troy, Alabama, Jared Olive of Peru, Nebraska, Caitlin and Caleb Olive of Tullahoma, Tennessee, Kayla and Will Olive of Bluefield, Virginia, Katie, Jon and Madison Townsend of Evans, Georgia, and Matthew and Ashley Johnson of Birmingham, Alabama; sisters, Frances Katherine Key Taylor of Nashville, Tennessee, and Mary Charlotte Key Stein of Carmel, Indiana; and two special people, one like-a-sister, Dorothy "Dot" Kohen of Dahlonega, Georgia, and one like-a-son, John Palincia of Cali, Columbia. The family will receive friends from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. Wednesday, August 14, at Monte Vista Baptist Church, 1735 Old Niles Ferry, Maryville, TN 37803. A service of celebration will follow at 11:00 a.m., with Rev. Jerry Mantooth and Rev. Bob Dalton officiating. Interment will follow the service at Grandview Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to: Building Fund, Monte Vista Baptist Church, 1735 Old Niles Ferry Road, Maryville, TN 37803, or The Pat Summitt Foundation, c/o East Tennessee Foundation, 625 Market Street, Suite 1400, Knoxville, TN 37902.
McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home Maryville, 865-982-6812 www.mccammonammonsclick.com.