Mildred DeMars

Anna Mildred Richey DeMars went to be with the Lord in the early morning hours of Friday, Nov. 23, 2012.A lifelong resident of Harrison, she was born Sept. 27, 1922 to the late former Hamilton County Sheriff Rex A. Richey and Mattie Wooten Richey. She was one of nine children. She was educated in the Hamilton County school system, graduating from Tyner High School in 1940. She was Miss Tyner High School and the recipient of the regional Daughters of the American Revolution Pilgrimage Award. She attended the University of Chattanooga. She began her career at Railway Express and retired from Tennessee Valley Authority.Before WWII, she married her childhood sweetheart, the late Wert James DeMars Jr. She was very creative, and in her early married years, won numerous contests for her creative writing of advertising jingles, including a favorite award of a new automobile from Miller Brothers Department Store.She was a true Southern lady, full of grace and poise, a woman of quiet dignity and great beauty. She was the matriarch of a large family; a wonderful and loving mother and grandmother. She was of the Baptist faith, and was a longtime active member of Oakwood Baptist Church and Ridgedale Baptist Church.She was preceded in death by her husband, Wert James DeMars Jr., and a son Wert James "Jimmy" DeMars III, who was tragically killed in an automobile accident in 1970. She is also preceded in death by two brothers, Charles Richey and Raymond Richey.She is survived by her three remaining children, Suzanne DeMars, Raymond Edward (Gaye) DeMars and Gregory Kirk (Lisa) DeMars Sr., all of Chattanooga. Her grandchildren, Joseph Earl Crosslin (Carole) of Greensboro, N.C., David Russell Crosslin, of Seattle, Wash., and Catherine Crosslin Brewer (Chris), of Winston Salem, N.C., Kristina Lauren DeMars, Gregory Kirk DeMars Jr., Kathleen Richey DeMars and Charles Conner DeMars, all of Chattanooga; and four great-grandchildren. She is also survived by her siblings, Dorothy Richey Sertel, Betty Richey Smith, Sue Richey Harrison, Wilma Richey Dietzen, Joseph Richey and Robert Richey; and a host of nieces and nephews.The family will receive friends from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Monday at the North Chapel.Services for Mildred will follow at 1 p.m. on Monday at the North Chapel with Dr. Bill Owens officiating.Burial will follow in Hamilton Memorial Gardens.Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory & Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.