Jean Vess

Jean Thomas Vess, 89, of Chattanooga, died on Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2014, at a nursing home. She was born in Nashville, to the late Robert Scott Thomas and the late Jo Laughlin Thomas. At the age of 12 her family moved to Chattanooga. Jean was a graduate of Chattanooga High School. After graduating, she worked at Provident Insurance Co. for six years. During that time she was President of the Alpha Xi Beta Sigma Phi Business Sorority. She worked 16 years as a bank teller for Hamilton National Bank, which later became First Tennessee Bank. Jean worked at Picketts Fine Clothing Store in Chattanooga for two years, as manager of the millinery department. Jean loved music and was the assistant pianist at St. Elmo Baptist Church in 1944. She was an excellent pianist, and taught piano from her home for 25 years. Jean loved flower arranging, and was an active member of the Manchester Park Garden Club. Jean had former church memberships at Northside Baptist Church, First Baptist Chattanooga, and was a current member of Hixson First Baptist Church in Hixson, Tenn. When her health declined she became a long term resident at NHC nursing home. She enjoyed being a part of the NHC Red Hat Society, since she loved to wear hats. She was preceded in death by her husband, George David Vess Jr.; and her older daughter, Susan Vess Adams, both from Chattanooga. Survivors include her younger daughter and son-in-law, Barbara Vess Gibbs and David Joseph Gibbs, and her son and daughter-in-law, Robert David Vess and Deborah Lowery Vess. Jean had four grandchildren, Rebecca Gibbs Foster, Jennifer Gibbs Thomas, Chauncey David Vess and Leslie Vess Mahoney. She also had two great-grandchildren, Jennifer Abigail Foster and Logan Scott Foster, with another great-grandson on the way in November. Visitation will be from 11 a.m.-noon Saturday, Sept. 6, 2014, at Lane Funeral Home, Ashland Terrace. Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. in the Lane Funeral Home Ashland Terrace Chapel, with the Rev. Terry Shannon officiating. Interment will follow in Forest Hills Cemetery. Donations may be made in her memory to Hixson First Baptist, 5800 Grubb Road, Hixson, TN 37343. Visit www.lanefh.com to share condolences. Arrangements by Lane Funeral Home, 601 AshlandTerrace, 423-877-3524.