Barbara Evans
Our Beautiful Mother, Barbara Claire Russell (Elliott) Evans, 81, of Chattanooga passed away Monday, July 20, 2020, with her son Glenn at her side at Memorial Hospital.
Our Mom, Barbara, was born July 1st, 1939 in Memphis TN to Walter Clayton Russell and Lois Floyd Russell. She was their only child. Mom attended Memphis State University and graduated from The University of Memphis with a Bachelor of Science degree in English Literature and Composition with a minor in Secretarial Science. She graduated from the University of Tennessee Dental Hygiene School at the UT School of Dentistry in Memphis in 1961.
Mom arrived in Chattanooga in 1964, fresh off the Army base in Fort Hood TX., with our Dad, Robert P. “Buddy” Elliott DDS. Together they started their dental careers in the Chattanooga area and began raising a family of three boys. She practiced for 40 years as a Dental Hygienist in Chattanooga and was President of the State Dental Hygienists and President of the local dental auxiliary. She was a devout Christian, a member of Ridgedale Baptist Church for many years and most recently Grace Works Church.
She was a volunteer reader to children at Woodmore Elementary. She was blessed with many friends and she loved each one of them.
Anyone who knew Mom knows she loved to talk to people, especially on the phone. She loved talking so much that a normal trip to the grocery store would turn into a 3-hour torment for her three young restless boys. After the sudden unexpected death of our Dad in 1974, Mom raised three mischievous little boys single handily which was no easy feat. She used to say that it was a miracle that we survived given the numerous injuries that we inflicted upon ourselves and the multiple trips to the ER. She was a great Mom and we turned out to be decent human beings despite ourselves. Thanks to her love, God's gentle guidance and the help of numerous friends, especially from Valleybrook Subdivision, we survived a very difficult time following the death of our Dad.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Walter Clayton Russell and Lois Floyd Russell, her late
husband’s Robert P. “Buddy” Elliott, DDS and E.A. “Worry” Evans. She is survived by her three sons, Russell Price Elliott (Nancy), Glenn Robert Elliott and Donald Clayton Elliott. She is also survived by her two granddaughters, Sarah Elliott Karges (Spencer) and Mary Claire Elliott.
Her sons would like to thank Billie Varnes for all that she has done over the past many years to help our Mom and for taking such good care of her. Mom always said, “Billie can do anything”.
The family will receive friends from 1-2 p.m. on Friday, July 24, at the Chattanooga Funeral Home, North Chapel, Hixson with a memorial service to follow in the Funeral Home Chapel officiated by Pastor Wayland Stewart at 2 p.m. Interment will be in held in a private ceremony for family only in Hamilton Memorial Gardens.
We respectfully request that social distancing and all CDC Covid-19 measures be adhered to. Mask will be required.
In lieu of flowers, please make memorial contributions to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital in Memphis Tn.
Arrangements are under the care of the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist. 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.