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ELIZABETHTON – Juanita Deloach Hathaway, 96, of Elizabethton and Johnson City, died peacefully on Monday afternoon, October 9, 2023, with family at her bedside.
She was born March 1, 1927, in Carter County, Tenn., to James Thomas Deloach and Floy Lena Britt Deloach. She grew up in Chambers Hollow and attended Valley Forge schools. After attending Elizabethton High School, where she played on the basketball team, she worked in the mailing department at Beaunit Fibers and later worked at Kress and Thrifty Shop. She worked for 28 years in the shipping department at East Tennessee Undergarment, Elizabethton.
Juanita married Jack R. Hathaway, also of Chambers Hollow, on March 21, 1946. He had served in the U.S. Army Air Force during World War II. They raised three daughters at their home in Elizabethton and were married for 55 years. Mr. Hathaway died April 24, 2001.
Afterwards, Juanita began living part-time with her daughter Melinda in Peoria, Ariz., and they traveled far and wide. She loved Arizona’s beautiful winters, fresh citrus fruit, and walking in the neighborhood. They moved to Johnson City in 2015, and she lived with Melinda and her husband, Harry, from that time.
Juanita was always active and a hard worker. She loved growing her vegetable garden, and she was a talented seamstress and a wonderful cook. She always had a meal on the table or cake and coffee ready when visitors dropped by, and she opened her home to many relatives and friends throughout her lifetime, including her daughters’ friends, who loved to come and stay. She had a big heart and loved animals and birds, especially her favorite little dog, Bailey. She attended Valley Forge Freewill Baptist Church and sang in a gospel quartet when she was a young woman.
Juanita was preceded in death by her husband and parents; three brothers, Johnny, Carl, and Harold Deloach; two sisters, Ruby Simerly and Marie Johnson; brothers-in-law, Raymond, Toney, Terry, Earl, Burl, and Jimmy Hathaway; and a sister-in-law, Margaret Hathaway; as well as a number of nieces and nephews.
She is survived by her daughters, Ann Shurgin (and former son-in-law Alan), of Elizabethton, Sue Zebrowski (Michael), of Evergreen, Colo., and Melinda Farthing (Harry L.), of Johnson City. Also surviving are four grandchildren, Miriam Stevens (Matt), of Evergreen, Colo., Rachael Zebrowski-McAloon (Shane), of Sandford, Tasmania, Australia, Sarah Shurgin, of Melbourne, Australia, and Joshua Shurgin, of Johnson City. Great-grandchildren are Claire and Elliot Stevens and Penelope “Penny” and River Zebrowski-McAloon. Juanita is also survived by nieces and nephews and by dear friends, who will miss her.
The family will hold a private graveside service at 1 p.m. Saturday, October 14, at Happy Valley Memorial Park, Johnson City. A celebration of life will be held at a later date. Family and friends may leave messages of condolence, photos, and memories on the Hathaway-Percy Funeral Home website at www.hathawaypercy.com/obituaries.
Hathaway-Percy Funeral and Cremation Services are honored to serve the family of Juanita Hathaway. Office (423) 543-5544.