Etta Lee (Raulston) Kastens

Etta Lee (Raulston) Kastens passed away peacefully at home on August 22 at the age of 77. Her family was by her side. She is at peace and at rest and at home with the Lord. Etta was born and raised in Maryville. She was married 57 years to Bob Kastens, preaching minister with the Louisville Christian Church, Louisville, TN. They served together in the Christian ministry for 52 years – with churches in Hot Springs, North Carolina; Knoxville, Kingsport, Chattanooga, Crossville and Louisville, Tennessee; Winter Haven, Florida; and Louisville, Kentucky. Etta and Bob have 4 children, 8 grandchildren, and 2 great-grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Earl and Ethel (Crowder) Raulston.

She is survived by her husband, Bob Kastens, Maryville; 2 sons - Rob Kastens and his wife, Kelly, and their children, Kylie, and Blaine, West Chicago, Illinois; Ron Kastens and his wife, Stacey, and their children, Brennan, Dallas, and Marlee, Johnson City, TN; 2 daughters - Sherry Reszka and her husband, Kenny, their son, Tyler, Mitchell, Indiana; their daughter, Whitney Perry, and her husband Aaron, and their children, Ethan and LayLa, Ekron, KY; and Judy Swafford and her husband, Darren, and their daughter, Brooke, Maryville; a sister, Ann Hunt and her husband, Raymond, Maryville; along with a host of other family members and friends.

Etta began work as a beautician in Maryville; served as a teacher’s aide in Kingsport, TN; worked with the U.S. Department of Agriculture in Winter Haven, Florida; before going to work in the mortgage loan business in Florida, Tennessee, and Kentucky. She retired as Vice President with Banker’s Mortgage Corporation in Louisville, Kentucky.

The family will receive friends at the Mountain View Church of Christ (Christian), 3102 Six Mile Road, Maryville on Saturday, August 24, from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m., with the funeral at 3:00 p.m., and burial to follow in the church cemetery. Bob, Rob, and Ron will be conducting the services.

We would like to express our special thanks to Blount Memorial Home Health Services and Blount Memorial Hospice and Palliative Care for the care they provided for Etta off and on over the past two years.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that contributions can be made to Johnson University in Knoxville or Milligan College in Johnson City, TN.