Katie Mae Smith Tutor

KATIE MAE SMITH TUTOR, 93, of Johnson City, formerly of Memphis, Tennessee, died Wednesday, August 8, 2018 at NHC Healthcare, where she had lived since 2010.

Katie was born August 17, 1924 in Vance, Mississippi, the fifth child of Alford Luther Smith and Eddie Elnora Stewart Smith.  She was married to Rollon Lee Tutor for nearly 74 years until his death in 2017. Katie and Rollon had five daughters.

A cherished wife, mother, grand- and great-grandmother, daughter, sister and friend, Katie was a Proverbs 31 woman whose talents and friendship, servant’s heart and hospitality were freely shared with those who knew her. She was a wonderful cook and a skilled seamstress, sewing the full skirts and pinafores of the 50s for her girls. In the pre-permanent-press and pin-curl era, getting the five of them outfitted and ready for church on a Sunday morning was no small feat. Her children rise up and call her blessed .

Outside the home she enjoyed sales positions as a Studio Girl Cosmetics representative in Ohio in the ‘60s and later with Haverty’s and at Goldsmith’s department store in Memphis where her artistry in custom floral design brought silk flowers to life for her clients.  Multiples of Katie’s grandchildren’s and friends’ weddings and special occasions were enhanced by her creative designs and décor. She also had a compassionate, nurturing spirit that made her a natural during her years as a private duty nurse.

Katie is survived by five daughters including Peggy Tutor (Bill Robertson) of San Marino, CA; Phyllis Breiter (Jeff) of Palm Coast, FL; Ann Spicer (Herman) of Gadsden, AL; Kathryne Horner (John) of Nacogdoches, TX; and Ellen Polk (Doug) of Johnson City, TN; a brother John Verrell Smith of Tomball, Texas; twelve grandchildren, twenty-eight great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.

Visitation will be held Monday, August 13, 2018, from 12:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.at Parker Memorial Funeral Home at 476 HWY-9, Bruce, Mississippi, with funeral service following at 2:00 p.m. under the direction of Katie’s son-in-law Elder John Horner of Nacogdoches, Texas accompanied by Elder Grady Camp of Germantown, Tennessee.  Interment will be in Antioch Cemetery in Bruce, Mississippi.

Katie was a member of Faith Primitive Baptist Church of Kingsport, Tennessee, and her family wishes to express their gratitude to the church members who faithfully visited and supported her and her husband Rollon when they could no longer attend. The family also makes a special acknowledgment of their heartfelt appreciation to the caring Staff of NHC Healthcare of Johnson City, Tennessee who waited daily upon her throughout her years under their care and to Dr. Bert Smith and to Dr. Don Adams of NHC Healthcare for their kind care and compassion toward Katie in her last days.