Ellin Stedman Gentry

Ellin Stedman Gentry, 92, of Jefferson City, passed away Sunday, February 25, 2018, at Jefferson City Health and Rehab Center, following a brief illness. The daughter of Edgar and Mayme Stedman, she grew up in Fountain City, graduating from Central High School. She went on to the University of Tennessee, completing a degree in Home Economics, and later adding a masters degree in Education. In-between, she received teacher certification training at Peabody College in Nashville. Her teaching career began in Sullivan County, where she taught home economics. After marrying and moving to Cookeville, she taught in a one-room school covering grades 1-8. Several years later, after raising her children, she returned to teaching in Jefferson County, spending one year at Jefferson High School, and the rest of her career at Jefferson Elementary, first in fifth grade and the remainder of her career as a Chapter 1 reading specialist. She and her husband, the late Thomas T. Gentry, moved to Jefferson City in 1956, when they purchased the Jefferson Standard and the Dandridge Banner. Later, they combined the two into one newspaper, The Standard Banner. Mrs. Gentry was an active member of First Baptist Church of Jefferson City, where she taught Sunday School, Training Union and Vacation Bible School classes for many years. She continued to help with VBS until she was close to 90. After retirement, she volunteered for many years as a pink lady at Jefferson Memorial Hospital; led tours and volunteered at Glenmore Mansion; and was active in Retired Teachers, the Jefferson County Historical and Genealogical societies, New Market FCE Club, and other community organizations. She and her husband also enjoyed traveling. She had a life-long interest in crafts, becoming skilled in painting, sewing, crocheting, knitting and other disciplines. She enjoyed selling her creations at area shows. She was preceded in death by her husband, Tom, to whom she was married for 60 years; her sister, Virginia Petree; and two brothers, Edgar Wood Stedman and Herb Stedman. Survivors include her daughter, Bethann, and husband, Dennis Gowan; son, Dale, and wife, Teresa Gentry; grandchildren, Erin (Rob) Alexander, Sarah (Dustin) Kosak, David (Stacey) Gentry, and Ann (Justin) Gowan-Smith; great-grandchildren, Aiden, Rylee and Emersyn Gentry, and Kailey and Taryn Kosak; two sisters-in-law; several nieces and nephews. Funeral services will be held Thursday, March 1 at 2 p.m. at Farrar Funeral Home in Jefferson City, with Dr. Bill Rosser and Dr. Sonny Strange officiating. Interment will follow at Jefferson Memorial Gardens. The family will receive friends from 12 noon until 2 p.m. prior to the service. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made either to the American Cancer Society or First Baptist Church of Jefferson City. The family would like to thank the staffs of Darby House, Jefferson City Health and Rehab, and Jefferson Memorial Hospital, who provided her with wonderful care.