Mary Agnes Felts Chester, 90, of Norris, died of congestive heart failure May 17, 2012, at Tennova Hospice in Halls. Born Sept. 18, 1921, in Robertson County, near Springfield, TN, she moved to Norris in 1975 to be closer to her daughters and their families. She moved from the Kingsport area where she and her husband, the late William H. Chester, operated the Kingsport Glass Co. from 1948-1970. Following her move to Norris she was employed at the law firm of Joyce, Anderson and Meredith in Oak Ridge until her retirement in 1987.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by her daughter and son-in-law, the late Felecia and Dr. Jack Mobley of Knoxville. Lovingly called "Granny Friend" by her family, she was so-named by her eldest granddaughter, who when she was about 5, emphatically identified her maternal grandmother as her "Granny and her friend."
Mary is survived by her sister, Emma Lou Felts Ford of Mobile, AL.; by her daughter and son-in-law, Linda and Frederick B. Fields of Norris; and three granddaughters, Susan Fields Bailey of Palo Alto, CA., Samantha Fields Bode of Chalfont, PA., and Maryanne Mobley Shaver of Jackson, TN.; and by six great-grandchildren.
A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Tuesday, June 12, 2012, at Saint Francis Episcopal Church, Norris. The family will receive friends in the church parish hall following the service. Memorials may be made to Saint Francis Episcopal Church, PO Box 29, Norris, TN., 37828, or to a charity or church of choice. Holley-Gamble Funeral Home assisted the family of Mary Chester. www.holleygamblefh.com.