Clara Belle Endsley Rathbone

Clara Belle Endsley Rathbone, 93, passed away at Blount Memorial Hospital on Thursday, February 23, 2017. She was born to Allen Stalker Endsley and Martha Belle Hord Endsley on October 6, 1923, and grew up in Friendsville. In her younger years, she worked at Williams Cleaners and at ALCOA during World War II. She later became a homemaker and an accomplished seamstress. After the death of her husband in 1976, she worked in food service at Fort Craig Elementary and Maryville High School, from which she retired as the cafeteria manager. Clara was a member of Maryville First Church of the Nazarene for many years. She was known for her quick and mischievous wit and always had a funny story to share. She often showed her love for others by spoiling them with home-cooked food. She loved to travel, but more than anything, she was passionate about her family members, who were the lights of her life. Clara was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Ray Rathbone; stepdaughters Margaret Rathbone Walker, Betty Rathbone Marcum, and Billie Rathbone Stinnett; stepson, Jimmy Rathbone; grandson, Marvin Walker; brothers Chester Endsley, Lester Endsley, and D.H. Dunlap; and sisters Mary Endsley Amburn and Ila Endsley McKenzie. She is survived by son, Allen Rathbone and his wife, Alisa Mason; grandsons Corey Rathbone (fiance, Sarah Edwards), Dylan Rathbone, Phillip Mason, Berkley Mason, Mike Walker (wife, Barbara), Steve Stinnett (wife, Shirley), David Marcum (wife, Rebecca), Billy Ray Rathbone (wife, Rosezitta), and Jim Rathbone; granddaughters Sue Graves (husband, Larry), Jenny Baird (husband, Phillip), and Anne Pearson (husband, Paul); sisters Gladys McKinsey and Barbara Rusterholz; special niece Stella Garner; many other nieces, nephews, great-grandchildren, great-great grandchildren and friends. Receiving of friends will be held at McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home from 5-7 PM on Sunday, February 26, 2017. A service will follow with Raymond Couey officiating. Family and friends will gather on Monday morning at 9:00 at McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home for a funeral procession to Bethel Baptist Church in Townsend, Tennessee, where she will be laid to rest. Memorial donations may be made to Maryville First Church of the Nazarene, 1610 East Broadway, Maryville, Tennessee 37804.