Johnnie Ruth Defriese

Johnnie Ruth DeFriese, 86, of Cleveland, TN passed away on February 12, 2019. She was born on July 22, 1932 to the late Ben and Lela Smith. Johnnie has lived in Cleveland for the past 63 years. She worked at Magic Chef for many years. Johnnie enjoyed bowling, fishing, and cooking for her family and friends. She was dearly loved and will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
In addition to her mother and father, she is preceded in death by her brothers: Bill Smith and J.P. Allen; sister Bea Davis; and step granddaughter Candance Tunnell.
She leaves behind to cherish her memory her loving husband of 43 years, Charlie DeFriese; daughters: Glenda Chastain (Bobby), Gail Eslinger (Steve), and Teresa Gilbert (Steve); sisters: Sarah Little (Don) and Judy Lundquist; stepchildren: Kimberly Tunnell and Calvin DeFriese; grandchildren: Kelley West (Billy), Bobby Chastain Jr. (Carmin), Chad Eslinger (Joy), Heath Eslinger (Brandi), Jason Gilbert (Laura), and Stephanie Oliver; step grandchildren: Erin Tunnell, Carmeron Tunnell, Shea Tunnell, Eric DeFriese, and Kayla DeFriese. In addition to these, she leaves behind twenty two great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren.
The family will receive friends from 4:00pm until 7:00pm on Friday February 15, 2019 at Heritage Fellowship Church of God located at 4635 S. Lee Highway, McDonald, TN 37353. A celebration of life service will follow visitation at 7:00pm with Chris Moody, Steve Gilbert, Heath Eslinger, Jason Gilbert, and Bobby Chastain Jr. officiating. Interment will take place on Saturday February 16, 2019 at 11:00am at Sunset Memorial Gardens with Chase Oliver, Jacob Gilbert, Parker Chastain, Reed Eslinger, Seth Eslinger, Eli Eslinger, and Carson Eslinger serving as pallbearers. A funeral procession will leave Companion Funeral Home at 10:30am on Saturday February 16, 2019.
You are invited to share a personal memory of Johnnie or your condolences with her family at her online memorial located at www.companionfunerals.com. Companion Funeral and Cremation Service and the Cody family are honored to assist the DeFriese family with these arrangements.