| Sources |
- [S104] Cocke County, Tennessee, and its People, Cocke County Heritage Book Committee, (Walsworth Publishing, 1992), 159, 239.
- [S4] Knoxville News-Sentinel (Tennessee), 10 Jul 2003.
LAMPSON , ROWENELDA IRENE SISK - of Newport, a well-known resident who was active in several community organizations, died Wednesday morning at Baptist Hospital of Cocke County. She was 87. The youngest of seven children born to Robert Taylor Sisk and Zollie Anna Scott, she was born on August 13, 1915, while the family was living at McSween place at Irish Cut. Her father was a foreman at the Tannery and following the tradition of her older brothers and sisters, she began her schooling at the Tannery School then transferred to Newport Grammar School. She graduated from Central High School in 1933 and later attended business college. Following her high school graduation, she worked as a secretary for a short while for her uncle, Clarence Scott. She then worked at Rose's Dime Store. Later, she moved to Johnson City where she continued her business career until World War II broke out. She and her friend went to Baltimore, MD., where they worked at the Martin Plant, which is now known as Martin-Marietta. After the war, she returned to Newport, and soon began work at Bush Brothers serving as secretary to Mr. Fred Bush, the company president. On July 13, 1946, she was married to Quentin Douglas Lampson , who died in 1980. He was a World War II veteran who served with the Marines and had moved to Tennessee to work at Heekin Can Co. in Chestnut Hill. Their only child, the late Nancy ( Lampson ) O'Neil, was born on June 12, 1947, and was employed on the editorial staff at The Newport Plain Talk at the time of her death in November 2000. For many years, the Lampson family resided off Woodlawn Avenue, then moved to their new home on Washington Avenue. After her daughter finished high school, Irene began working as secretary for the late Jim Robinson, who was president of Merchants and Planters Bank. She retired briefly then returned to work several additional years. A member of First Baptist Church for approximately 75 years, she attended church last Sunday. She enjoyed sitting near the back of the church with the "young people." Previously, she was active in the Newport Grammar School Parent-Teacher Association and in the Girl Scouts. Active in many community groups, she was a charter member and former officer of the William Cocke Chapter, National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a descendant of several of East Tennessee's earliest families. She descended from Revolutionary War soldiers Bartlett Sisk, Elias Campbell, Moses Reeves, John Ottinger, and George Kelley. A longtime, member of the Twentieth Century Club, now known as the GFWC, she held many offices in the organization. She was also a member of the VFW Auxiliary. In addition, Lampson was a strong supporter of Newport Rescue Squad and several years she helped serve Christmas Day dinners at Northport Baptist Church. An avid reader, she was a strong supporter of Stokely Memorial Library. In may, she helped her nephew, Duay O'Neil, host a fund-raiser for the county libraries. She truly loved her classmates and the day before her death, she had worked on plans for the group's 70-year reunion. Lampson was a longtime member of Newport Lioness Club, and after they merged with the Newport Lions Club, she proudly joined that group. She held several offices in both organizations. She has recently remarked that of all her community work, she had enjoyed her work with the Lions more than anything else. In 2001, she was named by her fellow Lions as recipient of the Melvin Jones Award, the highest honor the club can bestow. Always very athletic and competitive, she was a charter member of Smoky Mountain Country Club and served as secretary on their board of directors for many years. She loved the game of golf intensely and hit a hole-in-one at age 70. For many years she was a competitive bowler and was a longtime member of the famed Tube Rose BB's team. For nearly 40 years she had attended the Masters Golf Tournament in Augusta, Ga., having missed the event only twice. There she was fondly known as the "Queen of 15" because of her familiar presence on the front row of hole number 15. Her favorite golfers were Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, and more recently Phil Mikelson. She enjoyed collecting golfing items, especially Masters items. For many years she was active with the Cocke County Republican Women and was a staunch supporter of the Republican party. She was preceded in death by her parents and the following brothers and sisters brothers, Lone, Connie, Paul, and Aubrey Sisk sisters, Maude (Sisk) O'Neil and Mattie Lee (Sisk) Nease. She was also preceded in death by her husband and her daughter. She is survived by the following nieces and nephews who knew her as their beloved "Renie": Lone L. Sisk, Jr. and family, of Gallatin Alfreda Sisk McAfee and family, of Johnson City Phil Nease and family, of Maryville Larry Sane and family of Parrottsville Lisa Giles and family, of Parrottsville Paul Sisk, Jr. and family, of Stockbridge, Ga. Duay O'Neil and family of Newport and Fred Sisk and family, of Fredericksburg, Va. Other survivors include her aunt, Wilda (Scott) Mann, of Bluefield, West Va. devoted neighbors, Jean Nease, Dinah Valentine, and Mr. and Mrs. James Whitlock devoted friend, Algie Worley and devoted dog, Tippy. Funeral Services will be held 5:00 p.m. Friday at First Baptist Church of Newport, with Dr. Charlie Boggan and Dr. Rich Loyd officiating, with burial in Union Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 3:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. at the church prior to the funeral. In lieu of flowers of flowers memorials may be made to the Stokely Memorial Library, 383 East Broadway, Newport, TN 37821, First Baptist Church, 261 East Broadway, Newport, TN 37821, and Newport Rescue Squad, 111 Underwood Road, Newport, TN 37821. Manes Funeral Home in charge.
- [S147] Find a Grave, (Memorial: 41796543).
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