Obituary of JoAnne Nelson

JoAnne Merriman Nelson, age 70, of Sewanee, TN., went home to be with the Lord and to reunite with her beloved husband George on Sunday, October 25, 2015. Born December 4th, 1944, to Nannimae and William Kelly Merriman, JoAnne lived an interesting and full life. She worked as a professional secretary, a License Examiner for the Tennessee Highway Patrol, and a Certified Nursing Assistant, as well as other jobs. But her passion was her family and working outside in her flowers and plants. She was vibrant, funny, never lacking for something to say and always the center of attention. She will be greatly missed. She was preceded in death by her parents and her husband of 38 years, George Edward Nelson. She is survived by her brother Jim Kelly Merriman and wife Frances, son Rathburn "Sandy" Ray and his wife Ginger, daughter Kelly Elizabeth Langford and her husband Rusty, son Gregory E. Nelson and special daughter Mandie Myers, grandchildren and great grandchildren Jesse Caleb Ray, Roxanne Elizabeth Ray, Tristan Bailey Langford, Ryder Caleb Aderhold and Waylon James McKinney. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 11:00 A.M. Saturday, November 7, 2015, at Gillam Cemetery on Battle Creek, which will be preceded by military honors for her late husband George. Online condolences may be made at: www.cumberlandfuneralhome.net. Arrangements are by Cumberland Funeral Home, 207 Mabee Avenue, Monteagle, Tennessee.