Staff

Richard Tetrick
Owner and Funeral Director
Richard Tetrick remains active with the firm that bears his name, waiting on families and directing funerals on a regular basis. Richard and his wife, the former Norma Jean Green are the parents of a son, Tyler. Richard is a member and past president of the Rotary Club of Elizabethton, is a Rotary Paul Harris Fellow, and is a past member and past chairman of the Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. The Tetricks are members of First United Methodist Church of Elizabethton, where Richard serves as Chairman of the Administrative Council.

S. Joe Taylor
Manager
Joe Taylor is the manager of Tetrick Funeral Home’s Elizabethton and Roan Mountain Chapels. Joe was born in Carter County and is a graduate of Elizabethton High School. He attended East Tennessee State University while working nights at Tetrick Funeral Home. He was in the Dental Corp of the U.S. Army and served in Vietnam. He is a graduate of the Dallas Institute of Mortuary Science where he was on the Dean’s List and top 10% of his class. He and his wife Shirley have a daughter, Jessica Leanne who is a graduate of the Furman University and is currently employed for the National Journal in Washington, D.C. The Taylors are members of Grace Baptist Church

Charlie Bowman
Assistant Manager
Charlie Bowman is a native of Greeneville, Tennessee, and attended Walters State College before receiving his B.B.A. Degree from East Tennessee State University and his B.A. in Funeral Service from Central State University in Edmond, Oklahoma. Charlie is a member of the Elizabethton Rotary Club and is married to Lynnea Kerley Bowman, who teaches Seventh Grade Language Arts at T.A. Dugger School in Elizabethton, and is the father of two sons, Trevor and Logan, and a daughter, Rachel. The Bowmans are members of the Calvary Baptist Church

Ken Arnold
Funeral Director
Ken Arnold is a native of Buchanan County, VA. He is the Manager of Tetrick Funeral Home Bluff City Chapel and a funeral director at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton. He is a 1978 graduate of Gupton-Jones College of Mortuary Science in Atlanta, GA, past president of Southwest Virginia Funeral Directors Association, past president of Tazewell Russell Shrine Club and a member of Zofficoffer Masonic Lodge #444, 32 Scottish Rite and Jericho Shriners. He is married to Gwen Sawyers Arnold and has one daughter, Amber Arnold.

David Blackburn
Funeral Director
David Blackburn, a licensed funeral director and embalmer, is a native of Damascus, Virginia. He is a 1990 graduate of Gupton-Jones Mortuary College and married to the former Traci Ellis. They are members of Poplar Grove Baptist Church where they are very active, and David serves as trustee. He and Traci also help with the youth and children’s church. David and Traci enjoy sports and spending time with each other and with family. David is an avid outdoorsmen and turkey hunter.

Paul Dailey
Funeral Director
Paul Dailey is a licensed funeral director and embalmer, and is a resident of Elizabethton, Tennessee. He is a graduate of Happy Valley High School and a 1997 graduate of Mid-America College of Funeral Service of Jeffersonville, Indiana. He is a member of the Elizabethton Kiwanis Club. Paul is married to Lora Stutzman Dailey, and is the father of two sons, Mitchell and Matthew, both students at Westside Elementary School

Darrell Holly
Funeral Director
Darrell Holly is a native Carter County. He is a graduate of Fruitland Bible College in Hendersonville, North Carolina. Darrell is an ordained Baptist Minister and has served as the pastor at several churches in Carter County. He and his wife, the former Linda Greer, have two daughters, Amy and Laura. They are members of First Baptist Church of Elizabethton.

Gary Kemp
Funeral Assistant
Gary Kemp is a native of Johnson City, Tennessee and now resides in Carter County. He graduated from Sullivan East High School. Gary and his wife, the former Jill Watson, have two sons, Kevin and Kurt. They are members of Blue Springs Christian Church, where Jill serves as pianist and Gary as a Deacon. They also enjoy working with the youth group

Gary Pate
Funeral Assistant
Gary Pate was born in Pitchburg, Texas. He graduated from Pewitt High School in Naples, Texas and proceeded to spend two years at Tomlinson College in Cleveland, Tennessee. He and his wife Charlotte attend the Valley Forge Freewill Baptist Church

Gail
Office Manager
Gail has been an administrative assistant with Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, since April 2004 and became the office manager in April of 2007. She is very active in the Local Master Club of Pleasant Beach Baptist Church in Elizabethton.

Missie Barnett
Administrative Assistant
Missie Barnett, a native of Carter County, is a graduate of Unaka High School. Missie joined the staff of Tetrick Funeral Home in August, 2000. She and her husband Allen have three daughters and a son-in-law; Sara, Diana, Melissa and her husband Brad, and a son, Shane. Missie and Allen are members of Valley Forge Freewill Baptist Church.

Mary Etta Elliott
Administrative Assistant
Mary Etta Elliott is a native of Johnson City and has lived in Elizabethton for the past 30 years. She is a graduate of University High, and attended East Tennessee State University. Before joining the staff of Tetrick Funeral Home in May of 2006, Mary Etta worked for 23 years at Mapes Piano String Company. She is actively involved with Holston Habitat for Humanity where she serves on their Family Selection Committee and has served as a Family Sponsor. Mary Etta is a member of First United Methodist Church in Elizabethton where she sings in the Chancel Choir and is a member of UMW Circle #6

Mary Lou O’Quinn
Part-Time Administrative Assistant
Mary Lou O’Quinn, a life long resident of Elizabethton, has been with Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, since 1994 until her retirement from full-time employment in 2006. A graduate of Elizabethton High School, she attended Trevecca University, Nashville, as music major. She is also a graduate of Steed College Medical Secretary Program. Mary Lou is the mother of three children and has three grandsons. She is an active member of Immanuel Baptist Church, where serves as pianist

Deborah Reeves
Advance Funeral Planning Counselor
Deborah Reeves is a native of Shady Valley, Tennessee. She is a 1979 graduate of Johnson County High School and is also a graduate of Milligan College with a B.S. degree in Business Administration. Deborah has one daughter and son-in-law, Bridget and John Jeter of Phenix City, Alabama, and one grandson, Larenzo Jeter. Deborah has been with Heritage Family Funeral Services since 1999.

David Hale
Advance Funeral Planning Counselor
David Hale lives in Elizabethton with his wife, Becky, who is a teacher in the Elizabethton City School System. He is a graduate of Carson Newman College, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and Eastern Kentucky University. David is a licensed insurance agent in Tennessee, North Carolina and Virginia, with extensive training and experience in estate planning and insurance products. David and Becky are members of First United Methodist Church in Elizabethton, where David serves as Director of the Chancel Choir and Becky is the organist.

Buddy Little
Part-Time Funeral Assistant
Buddy Little serves Tetrick Funeral Home in Elizabethton as a part-time funeral assistant after retiring from full-time employment in May, 1992. Buddy began his funeral career in 1950. He is married to Trilla Little, who serves as the staff organist at Tetrick Funeral Home in Elizabethton. Buddy and Trilla are members of Valley Forge United Methodist Church, where Trilla also serves as the church organist.

Joseph G. “Joe” Nave
Part-Time Funeral Assistant
Joe Nave graduated from Hampton High School in 1962. After two years of serving in the U.S. Army, he attended Elizabethton Vocational Technical School earning a certificate in electricity and electronics. Joe retired from the U.S. postal service in 1999. He and his wife, Helen, have been married since 1970. They are members of Valley Forge United Methodist Church.

Jeff Turner
Part-Time Funeral Assistant
Jeff Turner is a native of Bluff city and now resides in Elizabethton. He works part-time at both the Elizabethton and Bluff City Chapels of Tetrick Funeral Home. Jeff is a graduate of Sullivan East High School and also attended Tri-Cities State Tech majoring in business. He attends Blessed Redeemer Baptist Church in Bluff City.

Landon Shields
Funeral Assistant
Landon Shields is a native of Elizabethton Tennessee. He is a 2006 graduate of Elizabethton High School. Landon currently attends East Tennessee State University and will transfer to Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science to complete his Bachelor’s Degree in Mortuary Science. Landon is a member of Valley Forge Christian Church. He is the son of Tim and Lori Shields and the grandson of H. Clay and Joan Bailey. Landon enjoys singing and playing guitar with his brother Christopher.

Charlotte Smith
Part-Time Funeral Assistant
Charlotte Smith is a part-time funeral assistant at Tetrick Funeral Home, Rhododendron Chapel in Roan Mountain, where she also serves as staff organist. She is a life-long resident of Roan Mountain, Tennessee and is married to Jim Smith. Charlotte and Jim are members of Magill Presbyterian Church in Roan Mountain.