Ethel Rouse

BRISTOL, TENNESSEE: ETHEL HARLESS ROUSE, age 93, widow of Lewis H. Rouse, died Saturday, March 24, 2012 in Francis Marion Manor, Marion, Virginia. She was born June 19, 1918 to the late Martin Elic and Sarah "Sadie" Gross Harless. She attended Friendship Baptist Church, Bristol, Tennessee. For more than thirty-five years, she and her husband, Lewis, owned and operated Rouse's Store and Boat Dock on South Holston Lake. Mrs. Rouse was an avid gardener and a wonderful cook. She was passionate in her love and devotion to her family. Her kind and generous heart was extended to all of God's creatures, especially her most recent companion, her cat, "Rusty". In addition to her parents and husband, she was preceded in death by infant twins, one brother, Wayne D. "Bud" Harless, a daughter, Phyllis R. Crusenberry and a son-in-law, Joe Beidleman. She is survived by five daughters and sons-in-law, Bobbie Jo and Mike Carty of Bristol, Tennessee, Norma Beidleman and Dennis Key of Knoxville, Tennessee, Carol and Ernie Sullins of Marion, Virginia, Larry Crusenberry of Bristol, Tennessee, Peggy and Fred Hickman of Bristol, Tennessee and Sharon and Mal Brown of Marion, Virginia; a special cousin, Paul J. "Jack" Harless; nine grandchildren, twenty-three great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter; one niece, Judy Guiliani also survives. Graveside Services will be held Tuesday, March 27, 2012, at 11:00 a.m. at Rooty Branch Cemetery, Bristol, Tennessee with Pastor Doug LaPointe officiating. The family wishes to express special gratitude to the amazing staff of Francis Marion Manor and Hospice of Southwest Virginia. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Smyth County Humane Society, P.O. Box 1124, Marion, Virginia 24354 or to Promised Land Animal Rescue, 1611 Rocky Hollow Road, Atkins, Virginia 24311. Expressions of sympathy may be made to the family at www.seaverbrown.com. Seaver-Brown Funeral Service and Crematory is serving the Rouse Family.