Rosena Elliott

SPRING CITY Rosena Katherine Thomas Elliott, 80, died Thursday, Aug. 1, 2013, at the Spring City Care Center.Born in Dayton, Tenn., Rosena was the daughter of the late Gilford and Julia McNeal Thomas. She graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in Kentucky and the Kentucky Mountain Bible Institute. Rosena received her masters degree from Ball State University in Indiana. She taught school in Rhea County, Tenn., and also in Indiana for a total of 37 years and was the head of the English Department at Marion High School in Marion, Ind.Rosena moved from Indiana to the Rhea County community in 2007. She was a member of Vine Grove Methodist Church in Dayton, Tenn., and Gods Grace Ministry in Marion, Indiana. Rosena was a faithful Christian all her life and helped many people in need, including sponsoring young people to attend the Kentucky Mountain schools.She was preceded in death by her husband, Walter Elliott; brothers, Harold Thomas, Gilford Blair Thomas and Ralph Edsel "Eddie" Thomas.Survivors include her sisters, Alice Faye (Earl) Keahey, of Soddy-Daisy, Ellen J. (Bob) Baker, of California and Lilah Marie (Robert) Thurman, of Spring City; longtime friend Pat Miller, of Gas City, Ind.; and several nieces and nephews.Funeral services will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 3, 2013, in the chapel of Vaughn Funeral Home with Rev. Claude Pendergrass and Rev. Dale Wyrick officiating.Interment will be in the Jefferson Cemetery in Upland, Ind.The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday at the funeral home.Vaughn Funeral Home in Spring City is in charge of arrangements, www.vaughn-funeral-home.com.