Lorraine Estelle Ratledge

Lorraine Estelle Ratledge lived a long and remarkable life. She passed away peacefully on April 28, 2024, in Maryville, TN, at the age of 99. She was born to Arthur and Sadie Scott—both of Scottish descent, a fact that Lorraine took much interest and pride in—on November 18, 1924, in a North Georgia lumber camp. Her father ran a large logging operation in the Blue Ridge Mountains that harvested timber from North Georgia to Virginia.

Lorraine had six siblings: Robert, Juanita, Thelma, Jack, Charles and Betty. All are now deceased, with the exception of Charles, 92. She was mostly home-schooled until her teens, when she went to high school, graduating at 16 as her class valedictorian. Lorraine was offered a full scholarship to Berry College in Georgia, which she attended for two years before being recruited by Alcoa Aluminum in 1942 at the peak of World War II.

Like many American women at the time, Lorraine did her part for the war effort by working in a factory. In Rosie the Riveter fashion, she operated a crane at an Alcoa plant, where she met a handsome young millwright (a.k.a. master-mechanic) named Lon Clayton Ratledge, who was destined to be the love of her life.

Lorraine and Lon were married for 57 years, and had four children together: Jerry (Suzanne), Danny (Tina), Michael (deceased; Sandy), and Cynthia (deceased, Charlie). They gave her eight grandchildren: Jeff (Shea), Julie (Tim, deceased), Ingela (Anders), Scott (deceased), Clay (Laura), Dusty (Becca), Jenny (Will), and Heather (Andrew). Those kids, in turn, added to the collection of framed photos on the mantel by having eleven great-grandchildren: Summer, George, Annika, Emma Grace, Camille, Audrey, Elliot, Riley, Scotty, Petey, and Ethan. The branches of the family tree spread, and can be found all across the country—in Alabama, California, Connecticut, Florida, Tennessee, and beyond.

After the arrival of her first son, Lorraine became a full-time homemaker until her children were grown. She later reentered the workforce, serving as a social worker for the State of Tennessee for over 10 years before enjoying retirement with Lon, who sadly predeceased her in 2001.

Following Lon’s death, Lorraine—independent and still full of surprises at 78—bought an undeveloped lot in Savannah Park, Maryville, and hired a builder to construct a new house for herself. She was delighted by that home, and resided there happily for 19 years. Eventually she required more care, and at the age of 97, she reluctantly relocated to MorningView Village Senior Community, where she spent the next two years politely yet steadfastly refusing the offerings on the weekly activities calendar. (Any perky suggestions that she might enjoy a round of bingo or—heaven forbid—seated volleyball were met with kindly indifference.) She would have turned 100 this November.

Lorraine personified the virtues of honesty, hard work, thrift, and stoicism. She was a longtime member of the Clover Hill Presbyterian Church in Maryville; she made regular donations there and to Berry College. Generous and civic-minded, she also gave her time as a county elections volunteer and as a “Pink Lady” at Blount Memorial Hospital. She believed strongly in the value of education, inspiring two of her children to earn advanced degrees, and rejoiced at all of her family members’ achievements, large and small.

Lorraine was an accomplished southern cook, with a particular talent for fried chicken and yeast rolls; her homemade pies were unsurpassed. Everyone seemed to have a different favorite from Lorraine’s repertoire, and nobody was shy about piping up with requests, which she would grant gladly. (She even cooked vegetables for her husband in the way that only he liked—extra mushy.)

Lorraine was also a master seamstress and quilter, astonishing grandkids with her magical ability to bring whatever pattern they chose to life on her whirring machine. Her exquisite quilts, which she spent countless hours patiently poring over—and gifted to loved ones as a sign of her affection—won multiple blue ribbons and awards. Lorraine’s love and generosity shone through in this expert craftsmanship. She was not overly effusive or talkative—she had a serene, gentle demeanor, and she didn’t shy away from moments of stillness or quiet—but her warmth and adoration were evident in every stitch, just as it was possible to taste the comfort and care that she had for you in each bite of her delicious food.

She was blessed with a long and fruitful life; she will be missed dearly. May she rest in peace.

Lorraine will be laid to rest next to Lon at Clover Hill Presbyterian Church on Saturday, May 4th at 3 p.m. Family and friends are invited to gather for refreshments after in the church pavilion. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in her honor to the Ratledge Family Scholarship, care of the University of Tennessee Foundation: 1525 University Ave., Knoxville, TN, 37921. This fund has helped hundreds of deserving students since its founding over 30 years ago.