Hontas Elizabeth Ruble Bailey

Hontas Elizabeth Ruble Bailey, 91, of Jonesborough, passed away peacefully at home on June 15, 2024. She was born in Washington County, Tennessee, on April 27, 1933, the only child of Robert and Blossom Moore Ruble. At a young age, she and her parents moved to the farm on Highway 107 which she would call home for the rest of her life. She married Roy Lee Bailey on December 22, 1951, and they built their home on her family farm. There they raised three daughters, Jennifer (Steve) Henley, Robin (Bob) Beals, and Candace (Jeff) Kelley.

Hontas graduated from ETSU in 1953 with a degree in Chemistry. She then worked at the Iron Mines in Bumpass Cove as a chemist, and moved into teaching, working at South Central School, Sulphur Springs and Jonesborough High Schools. In 1961, Hontas began a 50+ year career at Nuclear Fuel Services in Erwin. Her career with NFS took her from Erwin to Cincinnati, Ohio and finally Oak Ridge National Labs. After NFS, she retired to spend time with her husband, children and grandchildren.

Hontas was very involved in community service in the South Central area. She and her husband were longtime members of South Central Ruritan, where she served many years as president and later treasurer of the club. Her work with the Ruritan led to her chairing the Washington County Disaster Relief Co-op formed after the 2011 tornadoes. This group provided extensive assistance to many families impacted by the storms, including building several new homes for those who lost theirs. Hontas also served four years on the Washington County School Board, working to enhance Washington County student’s educational opportunities.

She was active in Daughters of the American Revolution and a 60-year member of Chapter 262 Order of the Eastern Star in Limestone. She served the chapter in many roles including Worthy Matron. She and her family were members of Liberty Freewill Baptist Church in Chuckey.

Hontas was preceded in death by her parents and her husband, along with several brothers- and sisters-in-law.

She is survived by her daughters, their spouses, and six grandchildren, Dustin (Aimee) Henley, Savannah, Sawyer and Saxton Beals, all of Jonesborough, Tyler and Conner Kelley of Dallas, Texas and Kansas City, Missouri respectively. Additionally, she is survived by many members of her extended family.

The family will receive friends 4-7pm Wednesday, June 19, 2024 at Liberty FWB Church in the South Central Community, 91 Guy Brown Rd, Chuckey, TN.

An Order of the Eastern Star Service will be conducted by Limestone Chapter #262 at 7pm, followed by the funeral service, conducted by Rev. Terry Bailey and Rev. John Buchanan.

Interment will be 9am Thursday, June 20 in the Liberty FWB Church Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to South Central Ruritan Club to Debbie Hoss at 102 Gillis Lane, Chuckey, TN 37641, or to the Order of the Eastern Star, Attention Wayne Mefford at P.O. Box 72, Limestone, TN 37681.

Kiser-Rose Hill Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.kiserrosehillfuneralhome.com

The funeral service will be livestreamed on the Liberty FWB Church Facebook page.