Joan Gaither

Joan Gaither, 94, passed away on Wednesday, Sept. 28, 2016. Joan was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Ethel Sexton; two sisters, Connie Gross and Kay Chapman. Survivors are her brother, Fred (Erna) Hutchings, Saskatchewan, Canada; and one sister, Cecelia Koch, of Hixson; nieces and nephews, Joanie and Jay Cooper, of Signal Mountain, Jackie and Ken Guffin, of Atlanta, Ga., Jim Koch II, of Appling, Ga., Jessica Cooper, of Signal Mountain, Jackson Cooper, of Signal Mountain, James and Amy Koch III, of San Diego, Calif., Gail and Ed Nelson, of Austin, Texas, Cookie Weintraub, of Austin, Texas, Greg and El Hutchings, Jan and Randy Besse, Val Johnson, David and Jaqui Hutchings, all of Saskatchewan, Canada; special caregiver and friend, Gail Elder; many great-nieces and nephews. Joan was born in Middleton, Saint George, England in 1922. She came to Canada by boat with her mother and three sisters at an early age. She settled in Saltcoats, where her mother re-married and her brother was born. While in Canada, Joan built and ran both a hunting and fishing lodge, and a motel, which she sold before moving to Chattanooga, in 1973, to be close to her sister, Cecelia Koch. Joan spent the last 20 years in Hixson, with her loving companion, her labrador retriever, Gypsy. She was a hardworking, fun-loving and generous person who loved to entertain. She will be greatly missed by her family and friends. The family will receive friends today, from 10 a.m. until noon, at the Highway 58 Chapel of Turner Funeral Home. There will be no funeral service and burial will be private. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to McKamey Animal Center, 4500 Access Road, Chattanooga, TN 37415, 423-305-6500 You may visit our online guestbook at www.turnerfamilyfuneralhome.com Arrangements are by Turner Funeral Home, Inc., Hwy 58 Chapel 622-3171