Tonnie Hickey

Tonnie Jarrett Lori Hickey, 66, a resident of East Ridge and beloved mother of Dawn Hickey Zielke and Lori Hickey Ezell, passed away Wednesday, July 11, 2012, of pancreatic cancer.Other survivors include her son-in-law, Mark Zielke; former husband, Donald Lee Hickey; stepgrandchild, Kaitlyn Ezell; stepgreat-grandchildren, Kameron Ezell and Karlee Henderson; and special friend, Iva Combs Hickey.She was preceded in death by her parents, Martha Gallaher-Steele and Jerry Jarrett. A native of Meigs County, Tenn., she moved to Chattanooga as an adult after graduating from Meigs County High School and McKenzie College.She will be greatly missed as she led a varied life from IBM in the early years to Honor System Snack sales and from East Ridge city taxi cab driver to a Hamilton County Child Support Court Clerk a position from which she recently retired due to illness. She worked for almost 50 years and met many people whether through work, church, social gatherings or just plain shopping trips she made an impact. She was the living embodiment of love and will be remembered by all in that way; animal and human alike. Her quick wit, love of the Lady Vols with the compliment of Pat Summitt and her desire to leave the world a better place were but a small part of her trademark charm.Her memorial service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Monday, July 16, 2012, at East Ridge United Methodist Church.In lieu of flowers its her wish that gifts be made to the East Ridge United Methodist Church where she was a longtime member and volunteer. Feel free to dress in Big Orange, she wanted people to celebrate; she is free!Arrangements are by the South Crest Chapel of Lane Funeral Home and Crematory, Rossville.