Mary Etheleen Bryan Gass, age 96 of New Middleton, TN, known affectionately as “Granaleen” to her family and friends, passed away on June 3rd, 2021 at the Pavilion Senior Living Center in Carthage, TN.
She was born Mary Etheleen Wooten in Bluff Creek, TN on July 25, 1924, to the late Elmer Dale and Mai Lynch Wooten. She graduated from Gordonsville High School in 1942 and then worked as a bookkeeper throughout her lifetime at various companies in both Smith County and Memphis, Tennessee. Etheleen was a lifelong member of Cedar Point United Methodist church, where she served in various church leadership roles; she was also an active member of the Family Community Education Clubs (FCE). A natural born caregiver, in addition to her hobbies of reading, journal writing, rock collecting, and spending time with her family, she spent much of her adult life taking care of her family and close friends in their time of sickness. Etheleen married her second husband, Douglas F. Gass in 1972, and they resided in Memphis, TN until his death on 03/14/1995. After his death, she returned to reside in Smith County.
Etheleen was also preceded in death by her son Harvey Dale Bryan; her siblings Bernice Dalton B.D. (Ruby) Wooten, Ruth Wooten Hackett, Jack Donald Wooten, Dale Wayne Wooten, two stillborn infant siblings; her daughter-in-law Judy Napier Bryan, and her step-son Richard Gass.
Etheleen is survived by family in both Smith County and Memphis TN. Her Smith County family includes her son Randall Marlin Bryan; daughter-in-law Joan Agee Bryan; grandchildren Melissa Bryan (Jonathon) Clemons, Amanda Bryan (Jeff) Mason, Stacy Bryan (Carl) Reeves, Josh (Rachel) Bryan; great-grandchildren Neel Reeves, Tyler Clemons, Maggie Mason, McKenzie (Lou) Mason, Jax Mason, Clayton Bundy, and Nathaniel Bryan. Other survivors include C.E. Hackett (brother-in-law) and Pat Hughes Wooten (sister-in- law) plus a niece and several nephews. Her Memphis family includes stepdaughters Wanda Gass Kinney, Teresa Gass (Rick) Eldridge, and Tina Gass; step granddaughter Tessa Gass (Paul) Boone and their children Rachel, Carolyn, Lydia, Caleb, and Marcy; step grandsons Brian, Matthew, and Michael Gass.
Funeral Services are scheduled to be conducted from the Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Homes on Sunday, June 6, 2021 at 1PM with Bro. Bill Cowan officiating. Interment will follow in the Gordonsville Cemetery.
Visitation with the family will be at the Gordonsville Chapel of Bass Funeral Homes on Saturday from 3PM until 8PM and again on Sunday from 11AM until service time at 1PM.
If you wish to send an expression of sympathy, the family requests that memorial contributions be sent to the Jordan Hackett Foundation in lieu of flowers. Jordan Hackett Foundation, P.O. Box 45, Carthage, TN 37030.
