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- Delores (Dee) Cable Tester, age 95, Lakeview Drive, Butler, passed away peacefully at Lakebridge Healthcare Center, Johnson City on March 14, 2010, at 11:30AM.
Dee was a native and life-long resident of Butler until January 2009 when she became a resident at Lakebridge. She was born October 10, 1914, and spent her youth in the Sugar Grove community and had lived in the Midway community since 1936. She was a daughter of the late William and Ella Anderson Cable.
Dee was devoted to her family throughout her life. Her greatest joy came when the family 'got-together' on her birthday and at Christmas. One of those memorial occasions came on her 80th birthday when every member of her family was present at a surprise birthday party. In return her family was totally devoted to her. She did not spend a single day in the fourteen months at Lakebridge without at least one family member present. She will be greatly missed by her entire family and her many friends.
Dee was a homemaker and worked at various jobs. Additionally she was a mother to her children and a second mother to many other community children. Dee was a loyal member of Midway Baptist Church for over seventy years. She loved and supported many programs in the church including missions. She supported her community and beyond. She loved people, animals and flowers. She gave homes to dogs, cats and goats and worked among her pretty flowers as long as she could. Just recently, Dee said, "I believe God allowed me to live this long because deep in my heart I have a great love for every person."
Dee was proudest of being a Christian woman and of her membership in Midway Baptist Church. A sad part of her life happened in 1948 when the TVA permanently flooded her home place along the Watauga River. Her father's family had lived there for over one hundred and fifty years. Dee was extremely fond of her pioneering ancestors and throughout her life she exhibited pioneer spirit. She remembered and told vividly many stories of her childhood in the river valley and on the hills surrounding it.
Dee was predeceased by her husband, the love of her life, Luke Tester in 1967, her father, William, in 1930, her mother, Ella, in 1940, an infant son, Robert Lee Tester in 1942 and her seven siblings: Nettie Main, Dewey Cable, Annie Irick Conway, Verdie Potter, Ordie Potter, Alma Ward and Alta Triplett, by a special son-in-law, Chalmas Laws.
Dee is survived by her children and their spouses: daughter, Charlene Laws Moretz, Dry Hill; son, Charles Herman Tester and wife Nancy, Sulphur Springs; daughter, Juanita Wilson and husband Jack, Hunter; daughter, Carolyn Wagner and husband Bob, Bluffton, SC; daughter, Pat Icenhour, Mountain City; son, Steven Tester, Midway; and by grandchildren and spouses, Doug and wife Peggy Laws, Brent and wife Jeri Laws, Randall and wife Denise Laws, Rob and wife Diana Tester, Roland Tester, Mike Wilson, Danny and wife Jennifer Wilson, Todd and wife Jeanette Wagner, Tammy and husband Jim Mellott, Tracy and husband Mark Jones, Kim and husband Kevin Hayworth, Sam and wife Deena Icenhour, Billy and wife Jennifer Icenhour and Taylor Tester; and by great grandchildren, Tim, Greg, Cristi, Misty, Louise, Emma, Leah, Lukas, Wyeth, Eli, Abby, Nick, Megan, Zack, Conner, Samuel, Bud, Rhiannon and Ryleigh; and by great-great grandchildren, Amber and Abby; and by brothers-in-law, Howard Tester, Morristown and Turner Triplett, Johnson City; sisters-in-law, Ruth Jones and Marjorie Tester, Johnson City; and by fifteen nieces and nephews; and by lifetime friend and neighbor, Ruby Wagner and special friends, Lorene Tester, Jesse Wagner, Rhonda Michini and Trenton and Kay Davis.
Dee and her family express very special appreciation to Lakebridge Healthcare Center staff for their dedicated care and the residents for their friendships over the past year and to the Antioch Baptist Church ministry, Danny and Dot, for the love expressed to residents and their families, to "Preacher Mac" for his faithful encouragement and music, to Debbie for her special songs. Thanks to family and friends for all the love and support and prayers throughout the years.
Memorials in lieu of flowers are requested to the Midway Baptist Church, Little Dry Run Road, Butler, TN 37640, The Butler Museum, P.O. Box 261, Butler TN 37640, Bradley Cemetery, c/o Juanita Wilson, 137 Arrow Drive, Elizabethton, TN 37643, or to the charity of your choice. Thank you.
Ms. Tester will lie in state Tuesday afternoon at 1:30 p.m. — Wednesday morning 10:00 a.m. in the East Side Chapel of Hux~Lipford~Teague Funeral Home.
Funeral and Burial Services are scheduled on Wednesday March 17, 2010, at Midway Baptist Church with the receiving of friends beginning at Noon until 2 PM. Sam Icenhour will conduct the funeral service at 2PM. Pallbearers will be grandsons. Music will be provided by the choir and Debbie with a special song. Burial will follow in the Bradley Cemetery with service conducted by Pastor Greg Thompson.
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Abt 1915 - 2010 (~ 95 years)
