Margaret Anita Welch

February 3, 1939 - September 19, 2020

Margaret Anita Welch, age 81, of Elizabethton, Tennessee went home to be with the Lord on Saturday, September 19, 2020 at her residence. Margaret was born in Ashe County, North Carolina to the late Paul and Blanche Osborne Sluder. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Reverend Gordon Welch, Jr.; and a brother, A.R. Sluder. Margaret was a homemaker and was a loving and caring wife, mother, grandmother and aunt. She always had a kind word for everyone, as she was a loving and devout Christian lady. She was a member of Northside Baptist Church (where her husband had pastored for 30 years) where she had served as a Sunday School teacher and was proud to be a minister’s wife. Margaret loved to sing, landscaping, being with her family and church family and she loved to cook for her family. Those left to cherish her memory include a son, Brian Taylor, of Elizabethton; her daughter, Julie Storie, also of Elizabethton; a grandson, Tristen Storie, of Elizabethton; three brothers, Richard Sluder (Dorothy), Robert Sluder (Donna) and Charlie Sluder (Cookie), all of Elizabethton; four sisters, Louise Cable (Jack), of Jeffersonville, Indiana, Alice Barker (Dallas), Dare Jones (Claude) and Gladys Burrough (Carl), all of Elizabethton; and two sisters-in-law, Betty Wiley and Brenda Hartnett, both of Atlanta, GA. Several nieces and nephews, as well as a special friend, Theresa Cole, also survive. A service to celebrate Margaret’s life will be conducted at 7:00 PM on Friday, September 25, 2020 at Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton with Reverend Shannon Sims, officiating. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM until 7:00 PM in the funeral home chapel, prior to the service on Friday. The graveside service will be conducted at 11:00 AM on Saturday, September 26, 2020 at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Brian Taylor, Tristen Storie, Nick Nunley, Samuel Myers, Herschel Honeycutt and Marcellus Honeycutt. Those wishing to attend the graveside service are asked to meet at Tetrick Funeral Home at 10:15 AM on Saturday, to go in procession. The family would like to thank Teresa Baines and the rest of her caregivers from Hillview Health Center in Elizabethton for the exceptional care and love shown to Margaret. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Carter County is mandating that all citizens who live in or visit the area, wear masks in public. In keeping in accordance with this mandate, all visitors to the funeral home and/ or graveside service are required to wear a mask or facial covering. Also, social distancing recommendations must be observed. Online condolences may be shared with the family on our website, www.tetrickfuneralhome.com. Margaret and her family are in the care of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, Office 423-542-2232, service information line, 423-543-4917.