Cathern Payne Tucker

Cathern Payne Tucker passed away on September 13, 2019, at Shannondale of Maryville, Assisted Living in Maryville, Tennessee. She was preceded in death by her parents, George Sanford and Hattie Gartland Payne; her husband, Robert Edward Tucker; her son, Michael Edward Tucker; her sister, Ella Payne Delay; her brother, George Alvin Payne; her brother, Herbert Lemuel Payne; her sister, Loretta Payne Christie; her sister, Ruby Payne McFee; niece, Betty Ann Payne Byers; niece, Louise Payne Holmes; nephew, Robert Eugene Payne. She is survived by niece, Patsy Payne Carroll; nephew, James Larry McFee; nephew, Paul Alvin Payne.

Cathern was born in Etowah, Tennessee, on March 21, 1925. She moved with her family to Alcoa, Tennessee, in 1935. She graduated from Alcoa High School in 1943, and she became the first Homecoming Queen at Alcoa High. She was honored as the first Homecoming Queen during the half time at a football game at Alcoa High in 2011. She married Robert Edward Tucker on August 26, 1944,in Tampa, Florida. Bob flew 29 missions as a B-17 pilot over Europe during World War II. Cathern and Bob moved from Blount County to Owensboro, Kentucky, in 1961. After Bob passed away, Cathern moved to Tellico Village in Loudon County, Tennessee, in 1995, and she subsequently moved back to Blount County in 2009.

Appreciation is given to all the Shannondale staff caregivers who capably cared for Cathern in her later years.

A graveside service will be at 11:00 AM, Friday, September 20, 2019,at Grandview Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Smoky Mountain Animal Care Foundation, PO Box 1099, Alcoa, TN. 37701.