Patricia Rugg

Patricia Rugg, age 90, died October 9, 2022. She was preceded in death by her dear

husband of 63 years, Philip Rugg; parents Dock and Carrie Smith; five sisters Tennga

Conner, Fairy Smith, Louise Watson, Pauline Smith, Nancy Gerrald; and one brother,

Dockie Smith.

She is survived by her four daughters, Betsy Jagels, Cathy Rugg, Elaine Nicol, and

Christine Curtis and six grandchildren, Amanda Brea, Tucker Munns, Christopher

Jagels, Diane Jagels, Jared Nicol and Evan Nicol. She was also very happy to

welcome 4 great grandchildren, Carson Munns and Lúa, Lago, and Lidia Brea.

Patricia was born in Rhea Springs,Tennessee and graduated from Spring City High

School. She attended Carson Newman College, George Peabody College for Teachers

(now Vanderbilt University) and then received her Master’s in Library Science from the

University of North Carolina Chapel Hill. She began her library career in Cleveland,

Ohio and later returned to Tennessee to the Lawson McGhee Public Library in

Knoxville, where she retired as Head of the Reference Department after more than 33

years of service. She remarked that some of her very best friends during her lifetime

were her fellow staff members at the library.

Pat and her husband, Phil, later retired to Maryville, Tennessee where she continued to

enjoy books, gardening, bridge, cooking, and hosting many friends and family over the

years in their home. She was especially proud of serving Thanksgiving dinner to her

large, extended family at their Knoxville home for more than 20 years.

A celebration of life service will be held at 2pm on October 20, 2022, at Saint Andrews

Episcopal Church in Maryville, Tennessee.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to St. Andrews Episcopal Church, 314 W.

Broadway, Maryville, TN 37801 or to a favorite charity.