Annie Ruth Howard

Annie Ruth Howard, age 84, long-time resident of Mt. Pleasant, passed away peacefully on Thursday, November 6, 2014 at Parkridge East Hospital in East Ridge, Tennessee. She had been living with her daughter Mary for the last four years in Ringgold, Georgia.

Annie Ruth was born in the Mynders Community, Tennessee to the late Herbert Farris and Mary Elizabeth Johnson Farris on January 13, 1930. Annie Ruth was a graduate of Columbia Central High School and retired from Mt. Pleasant Manufacturing where she worked all her life making shirts as a “serger”. She was the widow of Garland Howard. Annie was witty, a spitfire and always straight to the point. She enjoyed going to her camp on the Tennessee River at Deer Creek and had a fondness for crossword puzzles, reading, and working jigsaw puzzles. Annie Ruth spent every day with Mary and Eddie’s dog Gracie – she was always by her side. She loved her church friends at Beech Hill Church of Christ where she was a member. She had a special place in her heart for friends Ann and Alice, and in the last few months, her caregivers, Pat and Rennette.

Mrs. Howard is survived by her daughter: Mary (Ed) Ellis Carpenter of Ringgold, Georgia; grandchildren: Amy (Britt) Erwin of St. Cloud, Florida and Carey Carpenter of Prague, Czech Republic; great-granddaughter: Reece Erwin of St. Cloud, Florida; and her Lap Dog “Gracie”. She is preceded in death by her parents Herbert and Elizabeth Farris; her brother: “Doc” Howard Farris and sister: Polly Holden.

The family will visit with friends on Sunday, November 9, 2014 from 4:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. in the Chapel of Williams Funeral Home in Mt. Pleasant, Tennessee. Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 10, 2014 at 2:00 p.m. with Hueston Marshall officiating, also at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Cedar Hill Cemetery in Hampshire, Tennessee.

William Farris, Steve Farris, Randy Holden, Darryl Shuff, David Cook, Oscar Clark and David Travis will serve as pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Beech Hill Church of Christ Friends.

Williams Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements. Condolences may be shared with the family at www.williamsfh.com .