Patricia Lee Sutherland

Patricia Lee Sutherland Patricia L. Sutherland passed away Tuesday, September 4, 2007 at her home in Athens, Tennessee. Ms. Sutherland retired from McMinn County High School after 30 plus years of teaching, directing and creating an outstanding drama department. For the last eight years, she has shared her considerable talents with students, actors and friends at Tennessee Wesleyan College where she taught speech and theatre classes while also directing two plays a year. More recently, Pat had turned to writing, publishing a creative essay in The Nantahala. In a couple of months, her poem, "Private John", will be appearing in Kalliope. Her parents, William Lee Sutherland and Jessie Mae Sutherland preceded her in death. She is survived by her sister, Darlene Haney and husband Wes Haney of Charleston, Tennessee. Her half brother, Roy Repass and wife Peggy of Taneytown, Maryland. Her niece Karen King and husband Joe W. King, Jr. Her nephew, Steve Ferguson and his wife Shantelle. Her nephew, Mitchell Ferguson all of Cleveland, Tennessee. Great nephews: Tyler and Austin King of Cleveland, Tennessee and a special neighbor, Frances Ruggles of Athens, Tennessee. For those of us whose lives touched Pat?s, we will miss her indomitable will, her wit and candor as well as her compassion. Though she despised coming to stage for a final bow after a production, she will receive this final curtain call-a chance for friends, family and students, present and former, to recount the funny, forceful and talented person she was-on Friday, September 7 from 5:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Ralph Buckner Funeral Home in Cleveland, Tennessee. A brief service will follow. Interment will be held at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 8, 2007 at Sunset Memorial Gardens with Mitchell Ferguson, Steve Ferguson, Joe W. King, Jr., Gary Barham, John Grubb and Robert Wilson serving as pallbearers. We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Sutherland family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.