Ruth Brown Hannah passed away September 27, 2014 at the age of 83. Ruth was born June 15, 1931 in Piney Flats, Tennessee to Worley and Virginia Brown, both of whom preceded her in death. She had an older brother, Charles, and an older sister, Edith, both of whom passed away many years ago. Ruth was a loving mother and grandmother. She will be missed by her children Mark and David Hannah, and by her grandchildren Collin and Nicholas Hannah. Her daughter, Ellen, preceded her in death. Ruth said many times that after she passed you could find her in heaven rocking her little girl.

Ruth valued education and spent her life learning and teaching. She received her Bachelor of Arts in music and history from Milligan College in 1952 and her Master of Arts in early childhood education from East Tennessee State University in 1973. She never stopped her education, attending many specialized training courses over the years, notably at the Geselle Institute and Montessori Institute. In her early career she taught high school music, but most of her career was spent as a kindergarten teacher. She taught kindergarten at several schools, including at Mary Hughes Elementary school in Piney Flats for many, many years. In the last year before her retirement from teaching in 1993, she tore her anterior cruciate ligament doing the “Bunny Hop” with her students �" a typical activity for her style of teaching. Leave it to Ruth to get a sports injury dancing with her students! Even after her retirement she continued to contribute to early childhood education by doing assessments of CDA candidates for the Council for Early Childhood Professional Recognition, serving as an advisory board member for the Tennessee Early Childhood Training Alliance, teaching at Walters State Community College and participating in area early childhood education workshops and activities.

Ruth played piano for several of the churches she attended. In later years, while she was able, she attended both Piney Flats United Methodist Church and Poplar Ridge Christian Church. She was grateful for her many friends at both churches.

Mark and David would like to extend heartfelt thanks to Frank Hannah, their father, for spending more than a year as their mom’s caregiver during her final illness. Thanks also go out to Ruth’s many former students, who gave her much of her happiness in life.

The family will receive friends from 6:00-8:00 pm Tuesday, September 30, 2014 at the Dillow-Taylor Funeral Home.

The family will also receive guests at Poplar Ridge Christian Church in Piney Flats from 2:00-3:00 pm, on Wednesday, October 1, 2014, followed by a celebration of her life at the church at 3:00 pm with Pastor Roland Whittemore officiating. Graveside service to follow at Poplar Ridge Cemetery.

Family will serve at pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers will be Frank Hannah and Glenn Smith.

Donations may be made to Mary Hughes School PTA c/o Mary Hughes School Piney Flats, TN 37686 or the Alzheimer’s Association 207 N. Boone St. Suite 1500 Johnson City, TN 37604.