Clara June Hitson

Clara June (Allmon) Hitson, age 73, of Sweetwater, died July 5, 2015, after a courageous, one-year battle with cancer. She was preceded in death by father and mother Robert and Helen Allmon and sisters Bobbie Jean Allmon and Patsy Allmon Presswood. She is survived by husband of 54 years Charles A. Hitson; daughters and sons-in-law Macy and Tom Foster, Beth and Derek Keeney, and Jill and Tony Harris; sons and daughters-in-law Robin and Mandy Hitson, and Brian and Mary Helen Hitson; grandchildren Jed Foster; Daniel, Luke, and Tyler Keeney; Will, Alex, and Riley Harris; Abbey Hitson; and Sophie and Romy Hitson; and sister Peggy Allmon Hill. She is defined not by the way she died but by the way she lived her 73 years – a full life, a life of love for Charlie, her 5 children, 10 grandchildren, and many dear friends and professional colleagues. As a young woman, she was an outstanding athlete, playing basketball at Loudon High School and competitive softball as a pitcher and clean-up hitter well into her 40s. She was offered a softball scholarship to Hiwassee College at the age of 40 and passed her athletic genes to her daughters who played collegiate softball and basketball. As a young mother of five kids, she was incredibly resourceful and talented – seamstress, barber, farmer, chef, and coach, while balancing her career and thousands of sports, music, and academic practices, games, and events, and still getting everyone to church on Sundays. Professionally, she was also remarkably accomplished, driven by her boundless energy and a lifelong commitment to learning. In her early 30s, she was introduced and mentored in the world of law enforcement and emergency response by Monroe County Sheriff Max Beamer and as a dispatcher at the Sweetwater Police Department. In 1991, she became Monroe County’s first E-911 Director, and with the support of E-911 Board Chairman Dr. Boyd Curtis, other board members, and dedicated staff and employees, she led development of a highly-respected, professional E-911 center serving and saving thousands of Monroe County citizens in her 24 years as Director. She was a Christian woman of faith, a member of First Baptist Church of Philadelphia, TN. With Charlie as her lifelong love, her children and grandchildren were her pride and joy; she wanted to stay longer with us here. We are even prouder of you – wife, mother, and grandmother. Your love and energy live in all of us. The family will receive friends from 4-7pm on Friday, July 10, 2015 at the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia, with funeral service immediately following. Reverends Charles Fritts and Brian Courtney officiating. A private burial will take place on Saturday, July 11, 2015. Memorials may be made to the Parking Lot Fund at the First Baptist Church of Philadelphia, TN. Kyker Funeral Homes of Sweetwater, TN, is in charge of arrangements. www.kykerfuneralhomes.com

Clara June Hitson

June 16, 1942 - July 5, 2015