Sara " Joan" Wilson,81 , of Riceville, died early Wednesday morning October 3, 2018 at Morning Pointe of Athens.
Joan was a lifelong resident of McMinn County and was the daughter of the late Clyde and Sara Lee Elder Wilson. She was also preceded in death by two brothers Kenneth and Darrell Wilson and a very special dedicated companion Gene Copeland.
She was a member of the Church of Christ and attended Spring Creek Church of Christ. She was very active in the McMinn County Historical Society. She had attended Tennessee Wesleyan University and was associated with USDA-ASCS for 40 years until her retirement and was an active cattle farmer as long as her health permitted.
She is survived by one brother and two sister-in-law, Don and Ann Wilson and Connie Wilson;, nephews, Alan (Tammy) Wilson, Tyler Wilson, Shane (Sarah) Williams; and very special great nephew and niece, Kenneth and Savannah Wilson all of Riceville.
A funeral service will be conducted, 7:00 pm, Thursday, October 4, 2018 in the chapel of Smith Funeral Home with Minister Terry Gunnells officiating. The family and friends will meet at 1:00 pm, Friday, October 5, 2015 at Riceville Cemetery for the committal service. The family will receive friends from 4:00-6:30 pm Thursday at the funeral home prior to the service.
Pallbearers will be Jake Jones, Ryan Watson, Dennis Shell, Rex Blassingame, J.C. Nipper, and Randy Shelton. Honorary pallbearers will be Frankie Rowland and Eric Jones.
The family suggests memorials be made to Riceville Cemetery, c/o South East Bank, P.O. Box 1806, Athens, TN 37303.