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Sandra Thomas Nave Stout, 84, of Elizabethton, Tenn., passed away peacefully on Monday, June 19, 2023, surrounded by her family and holding the hand of Jesus, following an extended illness. She was born in Wheeling, W.Va., on April 22, 1939. She was the daughter of the late Albert Thomas Sr. and Vera Bradley Thomas.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her late husband, William “Bill” Stout, the father of her children, Richard Nave Sr., and her fiancé, Willard Huskins; two brothers, Albert Thomas Sr. and his wife Susie and Carl Clifford Thomas; one sister, Barbara Jean Sherlock and her husband Richard; and one brother-in-law, Henry Voss.
Survivors include her four beloved children, Donna Nave Smith of Johnson City, Hal Nave of Hampton, Janet Giles and husband Jeff of Elizabethton, and Mark Nave and wife Karen of Australia; four grandchildren, Josh Nave and Jess, Emily Akers and husband Brandon, Evan Nave and Casey Nave; two great-granddaughters, Amelia Stone Nave and Ella Shae Schreiber; one sister, Ruth Voss of Florida; and several nieces and nephews.
The family moved to Fort Lauderdale, Fla., in 1947. After graduation from Fort Lauderdale High School in 1957, she moved to Orlando sporting her 1957 Chevy, where she worked as a telephone operator and met her late husband, Richard Nave Sr. They moved to Hampton, Tenn., in 1962. She was also the owner of Butler General Store for 25 years.
Shortly after moving to Hampton, she began riding the bus to Union Baptist. Later, she taught third grade Sunday school and was the co-captain of the bus ministry for 23 years at Braemar Baptist, Zion Baptist, East Side Baptist and Pleasant Beach Baptist Church. Many Saturdays, Sandra would be out visiting children to remind them to be ready for church “tomorrow.” Rarely would she go out without being greeted by one of her “bus kids” as an adult – the latest being a therapist at Hillview. He remembered her taking him to Sunday school many years ago.
In her later years, she joined “J.C. and Friends” singing group and ministered through song at many nursing homes. She was actively involved in the visitation program at Pleasant Beach Baptist Church. She also helped her late husband, William “Bill” Stout, with the janitorial operations there.
Every stranger became her friend. She loved everyone and was loved by many. Loving others was her hobby.
The Celebration of Life Service will be held at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, Tenn., on Thursday, June 22. Visitation will be from 5:30 to 7 p.m., prior to the service. Pastor Mark Fowler will be officiating. Friends and family are welcome to share memories and stories. Interment will be Friday at 10 a.m. at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Friends and family will meet at the cemetery. Pallbearers will be Hal Nave, Josh Nave, Jeff Giles, Brandon Akers, Jerry Bowers and Shannon Burchett. In lieu of flowers, she requested donations to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and/or Pleasant Beach Baptist Church building fund. Words of comfort and sympathy can be shared with the family by visiting our website at www.tetrickfuneralhome.com.
Tetrick Funeral Home of Elizabethton is serving the family of Mrs. Sharon Stout. Office Phone: (423) 542-2232; Obituary Line: (423) 542-9499.