Kathleen Choat

Kathleen Choat

Oak Ridge, TN

Kathleen L. Choat, 92, passed away Thursday, August 27, at her home in Oak Ridge. She was born January 2, 1923 to Abraham and Ova Long of Palmer, Tennessee. Mrs. Choat lived a full and remarkable life. Shortly after her high school graduation, she joined the war effort at Tampa Air Force Base and worked as a riveter on damaged B-52 bombers. After the war, she moved back to Tennessee and met her future husband, Ernest Choat; they were married in 1947 in Maryville, Tennessee, and settled in Oak Ridge. Mrs. Choat was an excellent cook, home-maker, and mother. She also became a capable business associate, helping Ernest run the family engineering firm, Environmental Engineering Consultants. She contributed to the Oak Ridge community as a Boy Scout den mother and member of the PTA. She nurtured a lifelong interest in health and wellness, beginning with playing on her high school women's basketball team and continuing with frequent exercise and nutrition research projects. Later in her life, she became a skilled yoga practitioner and one of the first yoga teachers in Oak Ridge. She was a devoted member of Royce Baptist Church for twenty-seven years and served as church clerk for twenty years, earning a certificate for her service from the Tennessee Baptist Association. In her free time, she enjoyed bird-watching and cultivating her impressive flower garden, which was featured in the Oak Ridger. She also enjoyed playing the mandolin and piano, singing in the church choir, quilting, crafting, and scrapbooking. She loved to visit with friends, to make music, and to laugh.

Kathleen is preceded in death by her parents; her siblings, Jack Long, Stanley Long, Charles Long, Ted Long, Sherwood Long, Bill Long, Jim Long, and Geraldine Morgan; her husband, Ernest Choat, Sr.; and her son, Ronald Choat. She is survived by her sisters, Lenora Hinke, Dorothy Clawson and husband, Jimmy; and her brother, Lawrence "Rocky" Long and wife, Willie; her son, Ernest Choat, Jr.; and her daughter, Margaret Oden; her grandchildren, Tyrone Choat, Tony Choat, Ronald Choat, Jr., Travis Choat, Misty Cox, and Allison Choat; and her great-grandchildren, Steven Choat, Tony Choat, Jr., Joshua Choat, Joseph Choat, Keagon Choat, Melanie Kathleen Vinson and Caleb Cox. The family would like to thank Amedisys Hospice Care, nurse Jordyn, and special friend Danny Winningham for their love and support.

The family will friends on Sunday, August 30, 2015, from 1:30 - 3:30 PM at Royce Baptist Church, 131 La Salle Road, Oak Ridge, TN; a funeral service will follow at 3:30 p.m. Family and friends will meet on Monday, August 31, at 11:00 AM at Anderson Memorial Gardens, 640 Oliver Springs Highway, Clinton, TN, for a graveside service. Flowers are welcome. Contributions may also be made in memory of Kathleen L. Choat to the Tennessee Baptist Children's Homes, in care of Royce Baptist Church. Weatherford Mortuary is in charge of the arrangements. An on-line guest book can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.