Mary Earnestine 'Earnie' Love

Died: Jan. 29, 2013

Mary Earnestine "Earnie" Love, 79, of Greeneville, passed away Tuesday at her home.

Earnie was the widow of John Doran Love. They made their home in the Lower Horse Creek community for more than 40 years.

She was a mother of six, grandmother to 16, an aunt to dozens of nieces and nephews, and a loving and loyal friend to all she knew.

Earnie was a tireless supporter of numerous community and school organizations. Her family often estimated that they could fill a freight car with all the cookie dough, cheesecakes, onions, Boy Scout popcorn and the like that she would buy to support her family's interests.

A charter member of the Laughlin Memorial Hospital Volunteers Association, she was also active for many years in the Link Hills Women's Golf Association.

She requested that memorial contributions be made to the Greeneville-Greene County Humane Society or the Laughlin Memorial Hospital Volunteers Association.

Survivors include her children: Carol Love, David and Jessie Love, Amanda Mead, John Martin Love, Chuck Love, and Sandy and Carroll Gammons; grandchildren: John Louis Kerns, Jesse Kerns, Gregory and Katie Mead, Steven Mead, Winston Love, Matthew Doran Love, Amanda Blake Love, Samuel Mead, David Love, Mollie Bowers, Mia Love, Nicholaus Gammons, Zachery Gammons, and Michenzie Gammons; and great-grandchildren Jacob Mead and Jasmine Gammons.

In addition, she is survived by brothers and sisters residing in Knoxville, Morristown, Florida and North Carolina.

She was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Jack Kyle Mead.

At Earnie's request, there will be no visitation or funeral service.

A committal service will be held at 2 p.m. Saturday at Jeffers Funeral & Cremation Service, Afton Chapel. The Rev. Vivian Franklin will officiate.

Pallbearers will be John Kerns, Jesse Kerns, Greg Mead, Steven Mead, Winston Love, Matthew Love, Davey Love, Sam Mead, Jacob Mead, Nicholaus Gammons, Zackery Gammons, and Michenzie Gammons.

Honorary pallbearers will be Amanda Love, Mollie Bowers, Mia Love, and Jasmine Gammons.

The family extends special thanks to the staff of Smoky Mountain Hospice.