Louise Strickland Fairchild

Louise Strickland Fairchild, age 80, a resident of Oliver Springs, went home to be with her Lord, Friday, Jan. 25, at her home, while surrounded by her family.

Mrs. Fairchild was born May 3, 1932, in the Wheat Community in Roane County.

Louise graduated from the Oliver Springs High School in 1950. Following her high school graduation, she married her late husband of 61 years, Harold “Sonny” Fairchild.

She enrolled in the Knoxville Business College, and following her graduation, she was employed at the K-25 and X-10 federal plants in Oak Ridge as a clerical typist. She also served as bookkeeper of the Fairchild Trucking Company for 42 years.

Mrs. Fairchild was a faithful Christian and a member of the First Baptist Church in Oliver Springs, where she taught the Young Adult Sunday School Class and served as the Girls Auxiliary Leader.

Her hobbies included gardening, both vegetable and flowers, playing the organ and piano, and dancing.

In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Chelsea Mariah Fairchild; by her parents, Frank Allen Strickland and Leona Christina Peters Strickland; by a sister, Elizabeth Strickland Long; and by two brothers, Lewis and Roland Strickland.

She is survived by a daughter, Nancy Byrge and husband Lonnie of Oliver Springs; by sons, Harold Fairchild and wife Rhonda of Menomonie, Wis., Jason Fairchild and wife Tammy of Clinton, Scott Fairchild and wife Debi of Clinton, and Ronnie Fairchild and wife Tammy of Oliver Springs; by grandchildren, Joe Byrge and wife Jennifer of Seymour, Christopher Fairchild and wife Amanda of Heiskell, Carissa Fairchild of Clinton, Joshua Fairchild of Karns, and Hannah Fairchild of Karns; and by great-grandchildren, Cody and Brittney Byrge, and Jaelyn and Jayce Fairchild.

She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, extended family members, and special friends, including Doug and Carol Qualls, Luke and Dorothy Hall, and Mary Ruth Phillips.

The family received friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Sharp Funeral Home. The funeral followed at 8 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with Dr. Charles Parker officiating.

Burial and graveside services were held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 30, at the Oliver Springs Cemetery.

Sharp Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. An online guest book is available at www.sharpfh.com.