Doris Helton Neese

Doris Helton Neese, age 92, of Bristol, Va., went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, September 11, 2018, surrounded by her family.  She was born May 5, 1926, to the late Thomas B. Helton, Sr. and Fannie B. Young Helton in Bristol, Va.  Doris was a charter member of Beaverview Baptist Church where she taught Sunday school for many years.  As a young lady she worked alongside Tennessee Ernie Ford at WOPI and later retired from the Washington County School System.         

In addition to her parents, Doris was also preceded in death by her step-mother, Mae Blankenship Helton, affectionately remembered as “Aunt Mae”; her beloved husband of 42 years, Everett Mason Neese, Sr.; four siblings: Earl J. Helton and wife, Mary Sue; Thomas B. Helton, Jr.; Marie Helton; and Carl B. Helton; two sons-in-law, Kim Cannon and Ernie Arnold.  

She is survived by her son, Everett Mason Neese, Jr. and wife, Nan, of Marion, Va.; three daughters:  Jean Arnold Silcox and husband, Tommy, of Piney Flats, Tenn.; Becky Cannon of Bristol, Va.; and Frances Gerhardt and husband, Brad, of Morristown, Tenn.;  five grandchildren:  Amy Tobey and husband, Aaron, of Bristol, Va.; Morgan Neese of Marion, Va.; Matthew Neese of Marion, Va.; Ashley Cannon of Bristol, Va.; and Garrett Gerhardt of Church Hill, Tenn.; three great grandchildren, Adilynne Tobey, Alex Tobey, and Hadley Neese; two sisters-in-law, Bobbie Helton and Gerri Helton both of Bristol, Va.   

Visitation will be held at Beaverview Baptist Church, 139 Beaverview Dr., Bristol, VA 24201, prior to the service on Friday, September 14, 2018, from 5:00 p.m.-7:00 p.m.  A funeral service will be held at the church on Friday at 7:00 p.m. with Pastor Bobby Burrow officiating.  A committal service will be held at Forest Hills Memory Gardens, 19415 Lee Hwy., Abingdon, VA 24210, on Saturday, September 15, 2018, at 11:00 a.m. where John Robert Buchanan, Nathan Graybeal, Jimmy Helton, Steve Helton, Tommy Helton, and Wayne Neese will serve as pallbearers.  Honorary pallbearers will be Danny Cannon, Bobby Copenhaver, Roger Copenhaver, Larry Neese, Sam Neese, Woody Neese and the Deacons of Beaverview Baptist Church.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the church.

The family would like to express a special thanks to the staff of Broadmore Senior Living and hospice for the love and care shown to Doris in the last few months. Those wishing to express sympathy online may do so by visiting www.farrisfuneralservice.com and signing the online guestbook.  The family of Doris Helton Neese is being cared for by Farris Funeral Service and Crematory, 427 E. Main St., Abingdon, VA 24210 (276-623-2700).