Elsie Juanita Marshall

Elsie Juanita (Graves) Marshall, 93, a devoted mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, peacefully left this life for the next surrounded by family Tuesday evening, June 9, at West Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center. Born in Etowah, Tennessee, Mrs. Marshall was from a family of six sisters and two brothers. She was one of the first female uniformed officers with the Knoxville Police Department, working crosswalks and traffic. A woman with a sense of goals and direction, she tackled her future husband on the football field and declared her intent to marry him. “DeeDee,” as she was known to her grandchildren, was a tease, a cut-up and a doting grandmother who taught her grandchildren to fish … to stand on their heads ... and so much more. She never met a party she didn’t love, including trips with her sisters to Las Vegas and Florida, family reunions, fishing adventures to Destin, Florida and camping trips to Tellico. She was preceded in death by her husband, Ira Marshall; sisters, Mary Sewell, Bessie Louminhouser, Edith Lemons, Nellie Green, Betty Jo Mazeline; brothers, Jim Graves and Henry Graves; and daughter and son-in-law, Patricia and Bill Ferrell, and her granddaughter Leslie Rader. She is survived by: daughters, June Badgett and Tom, Lenoir City, Tenn.; Joan Hunt and Tom, Knoxville; Carol Doty and John, Andersonville, TN; and a sister, Dorothy Dowell of Dresden, Tenn.; Grandchildren, Scott and Karla Hunt, Knoxville; Rusty and Kelly Hunt, Knoxville; Oliver Smith IV and Sarah, Knoxville; Wayne Rader and Katie, Knoxville; Dustin Rader and Amanda, Maryville; Chadwick Ferrell, Knoxville; Brantley Ferrell and Jen, Knoxville; Holly Hunt, Knoxville; Wes Doty and Meg, Mt. Pleasant, SC; Rosie, Jordan and Eden Badgett; 20 great-grandchildren, 3 great-great grandchildren, numerous nieces and nephews; very special friends, Joe and Sandra Daniel; and niece Nicki Luginbill. The family wishes to thank the staff of West Hills Health and Rehabilitation Center for their genuine concern, care and friendship during DeeDee’s extended stay. The family will receive friends on Saturday June 13, from 12:00pm until 2:00pm at Berry Highland Memorial Funeral Home with Celebration of Elsie’s Life to begin at 2:00, Tom Badgett officiating. The interment will follow in Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery.