Minnie Belle Watson Peery

PEERY, Minnie Belle Watson, age 91 of Maryville, passed away Thursday, December 1, 2005, at Colonial Hills Nursing Home. Minnie Belle (Watson) Peery was an educator and “caring” person. She touched those around her as well as appreciating their personalities. She had a strong constitution (as did all her family) but blended it with smiles and humor. She remained friends with her students throughout their lives. Minnie Belle was born in Rural Vale, Monroe County, on September 16, 1914. She left Monroe County with her parents, Nathaniel J. and Esther Watson in the 1920's for Maryville and job opportunity with ALCOA. She lived at 1223 E. Harper Street and attended Everett schools. By then her sister and brothers, Ida Mae Wells, Bill, Jim, Esco and Bowman, had left home to start their own families. She helped her mother with the boarding house they operated in their home on Harper. She graduated from Everett High and attended Maryville College. With help from her family, she became the first of her family to get a college degree. In college, she became an accomplished seamstress, while earning extra money, and sewing was an art and a hobby of hers for the rest of her life. She and her sister, Ida Mae, spent hours together sewing and discussing the family. Her best friend was Viola Herrick. Vi and Minnie were both athletic and mother said Vi had a little mean streak on the courts. After college she and Vi shared the freedom of young womanhood. Minnie began teaching in Blount County schools about 1936, mostly at Everett. On August 1, 1942, she married Robert W. Peery and had one boy, Robert W. Peery, Jr. (Bill) and a daughter that died soon after birth. She transferred to Alcoa Schools in the 1940's and taught at Bassell until consolidation with Springbrook. She was a leader during integration, embracing all students. She retired about 1970 then she and Bob traveled, golfed, played bridge with their friends and cared for her children and grandchildren. She lived with dignity and will be welcomed in heaven by Bob. They loved each other dearly. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; her parents; brothers and sister, as well as Viola, and her dear friend and cousin, Ruby Jenkins; nieces, Esther Stephens and Edith Shirley. She is survived by Bill and Lynn Peery and her grandchildren, Leslie and John, who she loved so much, as well as her great grandson, Eli Hamm; her nephews and nieces, John L. and Emma Watson, Betty Yoast, Natha Lynn Black, Bobby and Ann Watson, Gail Cagle and Jimmie Lee Hatley. She also has many great nieces and great nephews, including David Shirley, Kathryn Tallent, Claudia Lee Cagle, Bill Cagle, Ronnie and Tommy Stephens, Judy Humphries, Ronnie Jenkins and others. The family will be at McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home at 9:00 a.m. Monday to receive friends. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday in McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home Chapel with Pastors Brenda and Larry Carroll officiating. The interment will follow in Grandview Cemetery. Friends may also call at their convenience at McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home, Maryville. Memorials may be made to Maryville First United Methodist Church, 804 Montvale Station Road, Maryville, TN 37803. McCammon-Ammons-Click Funeral Home, Maryville 982-6812 www.mccammonammonsclick.com