Bessie Gray Arney

Bessie Gray Arney, 83, 1431 Harmony Road, Jonesborough, died Sunday, July 30, 2006 at her residence following a lengthy illness. She was a lifelong resident of Washington County, and was a daughter of the late Tolbert M. and Martha Ross Collins Ferguson. Mrs. Arney was a retired Licensed Practical Nurse from the Johnson City Memorial Hospital. She was member of University Parkway Baptist Church. Mrs. Arney was preceded in death by husbands, Oran Gray, in 1968 and James Orville Arney, in 1998, two brothers, Robert and Ray Ferguson, a sister, Hazel Mitchell, and a step-son, James Arney. Survivors include one brother, R.C. 'Clay' Ferguson and his wife, Tommy, Kingsport, step daughter-in-law, Norma Pate and her husband, Neal, De Land, FL; two step grandchildren, Sharon West and her husband, Mark and Jimmy Arney and his wife, Pam, all of De Land, FL; two step great grand children; one, sister-in-law, Grace Ferguson, Kingsport and several nieces and nephews. A funeral service for Bessie Gray Arney, will be conducted at 7 PM Wednesday, August 2, 2006 from the Morris-Baker Funeral Home North Chapel. Reverend Blaine Shoun and Reverend Steve Pate will officiate. Special music will be provided by Blaine Shoun and David Earles. Graveside services will be held at 10 AM Thursday, August 3, 2006 at Monte Vista Memorial Park. Family and friends are asked to assemble at the funeral home at 9:30 AM Thursday and travel in procession to the cemetery. Active pallbearers will be the following nephews, Jimmy Joe Mitchell, Brian Mitchell, Kelly Mitchell, Larry Ferguson, Todd Rhine, Don Goodman, , David, Richard, and Evan Earles. For those who prefer, Mrs. Arney requested memorial contributions be given to University Parkway Baptist Church, 219 University Parkway, Johnson City, TN 37604. The family will receive friends from 5-7 PM, Wednesday at the funeral home and at other times at the home of her brother, Clay Ferguson, 186 Eastern Star Road, Kingsport, TN.