Ruetta Howell Bryant

Ruetta Howell Bryant, 89, formerly of Unicoi, died Tuesday, August 1, 2006, at Erwin Memorial Hospital. She was a native of Yancey County, NC, but had lived in Unicoi for most of her life. She was a daughter of the late James Curtis and Hezzie Burdella McCoury Howell. She had worked for Industrial Garment and Casket Company in Erwin, before retiring. She was a good Christian woman and was a member of the Unicoi Christian Church, where she was a Sunday School teacher, and served Christ for many years. She was a fifty year member of The Unicoi County Order of the Eastern Star. She was preceded in death by her husband of 63 years, Harley Furman Bryant, Sr., one daughter, Faith Bryant, seven brothers, Ralph, Bayard, Foltsome, John, Coy, Raleigh and Curtis Howell; two sisters, Naomi Howell Bryant and Agnes Howell Peterson and one grandson, Mark Shipley. Survivors include one son, Harley Furman Bryant, Jr. and his wife, Lois Fain Bryant, Unicoi, one daughter, Hope Rose, Johnson City, one sister, Ruth Howell Adkins, Greenmountain, NC, four grandchildren, Renee? Garland, Ashley Bryant, and Constance Fairchild, Unicoi, and Gary Rose, Jonesborough, three great grandsons, Airman 1st Class Robert D. Gibson, FL, Brandon Stewart Garland and John Benjamin Fairchild, Unicoi, and two great-granddaughters, Audrey Marie Fairchild, Unicoi, and Leah Michelle Rose, Jonesborough, and forty seven nieces and nephews. A funeral service for Ruetta Bryant will be conducted at 8 PM Friday, August 4, 2006 from the Morris-Baker Funeral Home North Chapel. Mr. Roy Poling, Mr. Ed Hayes and Mr. Wayne Mottern will officiate. Graveside services will be held at 11 AM Saturday at Roselawn Memory Gardens. Family and friends are asked to assemble at the funeral home at 10:30 AM and travel in procession to the cemetery. Honorary pallbearers will be Doug Garland, Hunter Fairchild, Gary Rose, Dr. Henry Webb, Dr. Bill Gwaltney, Gene Miller and Roy Miller. The family will receive friends from 6 PM until service time Friday at the funeral home.