Jean Arrants Obituary – Knoxville News Sentinel

Jean Dodson Arrants – born and raised in Athens, Tennessee, died in Knoxville, Tennessee on Thursday, January 4, 2024, a few days following her 94th birthday. She was the daughter of Frank Russell and Anne Fiske Dodson, and the oldest of their three children. Following the untimely death of their young mother, Jean, her sister Barbara and brother Ed became part of a growing family when Frank Dodson married Iva Johnson, and she and her sons Jimmy and Buddy became family. Jean graduated from Tennessee Wesleyan Junior College and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. She briefly taught business courses at McMinn County High School before joining the United States Women’s Army Corps, serving at the U.S. Army Finance Center in St. Louis, obtaining the rank of 1st Lieutenant in the Officer’s Reserve Corps. Professionally, Jean served in various business finance positions, including in Kingsport at Tennessee Eastman, where she and her future husband Reed dated and became engaged to be married. Upon returning to Athens, she served as the financial officer of Tennessee Wesleyan College for many years, and was an active member of Keith Memorial United Methodist Church. Later in life, Jean enjoyed the company of family and friends, often over home cooked meals, celebrating holidays and going on vacations, including family travels to Yellowstone, rafting the Colorado River through the Grand Canyon National Park, and the helicopter extraction to the Rim, at the young age of eighty. Most recently, her last trip at ninety-one brought her full circle back to St. Louis to attend her granddaughter Morgan’s wedding where she was seen kicking up her heels dancing at the reception. Jean made friends of acquaintances easily, and blessed those she encountered with her beautiful smile and sweet greetings. Her southern drawl and colloquialisms were certainly distinctive. Jean consistently recognized and appreciated the kindness shown her by others, including her recent caregivers, and was truly kind to others. Jean loved to laugh and tell “funnies” on her siblings, mostly Barbara, with whom she enjoyed a special bond until Barbara’s death in 2020. Jean was preceded in death by her husband of 49 years, G. Reed Arrants. In addition to husband Reed, Jean was predeceased by her siblings, Ed Dodson, Barbara D. Parkinson, James C. Liner and Charles J. “Buddy” Liner. Jean was the cherished mother of her son, George R. Arrants, Jr. and his wife Kimberly, and “Grammy” to Morgan Arrants Reith (husband, Andrew) and Ben Arrants, and the joyful great-grandmother of Nathaniel Reith, all of Knoxville. She is also survived by sister-in-law, Polly C. Liner of Athens/Nashville, Tennessee; nephews, David Liner and Wesley Liner; sister-in-law, Lou Jean Arrants of Kennesaw, Georgia; nephews, Steve Arrants and Michael Arrants; niece, Janice Matthews; nieces, Beverly L. Stansell, Nancy L. Cordell; nephews, Charles (“Chuck”) Liner and Chris Liner; and nieces, Becky Segrest and Vicki Short. A graveside service will be held on Friday, January 12, 2024, at 2:00 pm at the Decatur Cemetery, Abel Road, Decatur, Tennessee with The Rev. William “Billy” Daniel, Jr., Ph.D officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations, in her memory, to Keith Memorial United Methodist Church of Athens or Tennessee Wesleyan University, Arrants Family Scholarship. Arrangements by Bridges Funeral Home, 5430 Rutledge Pike, 865-523-4999. www.bridgesfuneralhome.com