Mary Sue Ford

Mary Sue Ford, age 92, of Johnson City, passed away on Monday, January 24, 2011 at NHC Health Care of Johnson City. Ms. Ford was born in Greene County, Tennessee, a daughter of the late Benjamin Harrison Ellenburg and Lora Olive Shelton Ellenburg. She was a lifelong resident of Northeast Tennessee, retired from the Bemberg Corporation in Elizabethton after 20 years and was a charter member of Pinecrest Christian Church. Ms. Ford was a member of the Pinecrest Ladies Circle and was very active at the Senior Citizens Center. She was preceded in death by her husbands, Hugh Ford and J.C. Pierce, two brothers, Ralph Ellenburg and Guy Ellenburg, and two sisters, Beulah Cloyd and Reba Hensley. She is survived by her four children, Jean Bowers and husband Rondal 'Shorty'?, Wanda Hankal and husband Jim, Ruth Mitchell and husband Robert, and Charles Jackson 'Stoney'? Pierce; one special nephew, Paul Ellenburg; one special friend, June Dutton; two sisters, Alice Smith, of Elizabethton, TN and Bonnie Ford, of Jonesborough, TN; four grandchildren, Randy Bowers and wife Toni, of Piney Flats, TN, Pam Hurd and husband Ben, of Gray, TN, David Hankal and wife Karen, of Mountain City, TN, and Jammie Pierce Cole, of Johnson City, TN; eight great-grandchildren, Brandi Hurd, Ella Grace Cole, Eric and Ashley Hankal Sparks, Michael and Amanda Hankal Burleson, Briona and Brook McCall; and several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends Friday, January 28, 2011 from 6:00 pm until 8:00 pm in the Morris-Baker Funeral Home South Chapel. The funeral service will follow at 8:00 pm Friday in the Morris-Baker Funeral Home South Chapel with Rev. David Hankal, Rev. Randall Johnson and Rev. Randall Carrier officiating. Graveside service will be held at 11:00 am in the Monte Vista Memorial Park. Pallbearers will be Stoney Pierce, Greg Fellers, Brian Fellers, Jimmy Fellers, Michael Burleson, and Eric Sparks. Honorary pallbearers will be Ben Hurd, Robert Mitchell, Randy Bowers, Ben Dutton, Dr. Joe May, Travis Chesser, Kevin Chesser, David Hankal, Steve Smith, Jerry Ford, Larry Ford, Don Ford, and Bud Ellenburg. A funeral procession will leave the funeral home at 10:40 am. The family would like to say a special thanks to all the NHC Nursing Home staff in Johnson City and Caris Hospice. At other times friends may visit Jean Bowers, 101 Crockett Court, Gray, TN or Wanda Hankal, 253 Fairridge Road, Johnson City, TN.