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It is with heavy hearts that our family shares the news that our beloved mother went to her heavenly home on January 14, 2024. Native Nadine was born at home at the head of Peters Hollow in Carter County. She was the second of seven children born to Ambers and Maggie Peters Pierce. She was raised in Peters Hollow and attended Lane Hill School, going on to graduate from Unaka High School in 1955. She met the love of her life and married Aubrey Smith on Valentine’s Day 1958. The young couple moved to Lorain, Ohio and started their family consisting of Tonya, Bryan, and Ricky. Due to the untimely passing of Aubrey, Nadine and her children returned home to Elizabethton.
Nadine found her passion for gardening, canning, and caring for her disabled sister. Several years later she met and married Joseph Crews and they shared a beautiful daughter, Tara. Joe and Nadine made their home in Elizabethton as well. Nadine attended Herman Robinson Vocational School and became a certified nursing assistant. She began her career at Range Hall in Johnson City and retired from Johnson City Medical Center after 30 years of faithful service. She was absolutely the best caregiver anyone could ask for.
She found joy in the presence of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She passed on her love of gardening, music, and outdoors to her daughter, Tonya, and sons, Bryan and Rick. Tara and her mom shared a passion for shopping, trying new restaurants, and their girl-time of having their nails done.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Ambers and Maggie Pearce; two sisters, Christine Nave and Willa Pierce; one brother, Carroll Pierce; two grandsons, Jordan and Logan Riddle; and special nephew, Gregory Nave.
She is survived by her children, Tonya Riddle (Eryc), Bryan Smith (Angie), Rick Smith (Merrill) and Tara Deal (Derek); grandsons, Matthew Smith (Beth), Christopher Smith (Stephanie), Trevor Guy, Caleb, Allen, Dakota Gallimore, Austin Smith; her only granddaughter, Callie Smith; special nieces, Kim Pierce, Tammy Miller, Madison Pierce, Jennifer Pierce, Cynthia Schontz, Ashleigh Riddle and Heather Renae, Marsha Berthold; and special nephews, David Pierce and Carroll Pierce. She is also survived by her brothers, Paul Mack Wayne Pierce, William George Pierce and Walter Pierce (Loretta). She leaves behind her beloved fur baby, Lucy.
Nadine never met a stranger and was loved by all who met her. She loved attending ladies Bible study with her friends at Union Hill Free Will Baptist Church. She considered Buelah Peters and Phyllis Keezer as her sisters. Rita Jenkins, Joyce Peters, the late Shirley Verran, and Pansy Smith were lifetime friends.
A Service to Celebrate the Life of Nadine will be conducted at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 21, at Memorial Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Matt Smith and the Rev. Rusty Verran officiating. Music will be provided by Dennis Laws. Interment will follow in the Davis Cemetery. Active pallbearers will be her grandsons and nephews. Honorary pallbearers will be her church family. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Union Hill Ladies Auxiliary, % Joyce Peters, 125 Lane Hill Road, Elizabethton, TN 37643 or the Believers Church Youth, 6110 Kingsport Highway, Johnson City, TN 37615. Special thanks to Life Care for their courtesy and kind attention not only to our mother, but to our family as well. The family will receive friends from 1 until 2 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home, prior to the service. Condolences may be sent to the family at our website, www.memorialfcelizabethton.com.
Memorial Funeral Chapel is serving the Crews family.