Frances Kerley Viar

Frances Kerley Viar, 93, retired Maury County teacher and long-time resident of Hillcrest Avenue in Columbia, died Saturday, April 20, 2013 at NHC Hillview. Funeral services will be conducted Monday at 2:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols in Columbia with Rev. Rick Elsey, Jim Viar, and Don Viar officiating. Burial will follow Rose Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends Monday from 12:00 Noon to service time at the funeral home. The family suggests memorials to West End Baptist Church, 900 West 7th Street, Columbia 38401 or Kings' Daughters School, 412 West 9th Street, Columbia 38401. Notes of condolence may be extended at oakesandnichols.com. Frances Kerley Viar was born September 12, 1919 in Portland, Tennessee as daughter of the late Clarence W. Kerley and Edna McNeill Kerley. After graduating from Portland High School in 1936, she joined her family in Columbia to make her home. She attended Carson-Newman College from 1937-1939 and graduated from Peabody College in 1941. She married DeWitt R. Viar March 26, 1945. Mr. Viar taught Agriculture at Columbia Central High School, was a partner in Kerley Furniture Company, and was instrumental in establishing the Maury County Park. Mrs. Viar taught English and French at Whitthorne Jr. High School for many years. She also taught French at Columbia Academy and Central High School. For many years she served as organist at First Baptist Church of Columbia and later was organist and charter member of West End Baptist Church of Columbia. Her music ministry spanned a period of fifty years. Over the years, her memberships included Guided Circle of The Kings' Daughters, Maury County Retired Teachers' Association, and James K. Polk Association. She was preceded in death by her husband, DeWitt R. Viar on April 13, 1981; daughter, Lucinda Kerley Viar on July 5, 1966; brothers, C. Allan Kerley and James Kerley; and nephew, David Kerley. Survivors include her sons, Jim (Donna) Viar of Cookeville and Joe Viar of Columbia; grandchildren: Don and Ashley Viar of Cookeville; Cheri Viar of Nashville; Bethany and Matt Moss of Mt. Juliet; Jennifer Bridge of Columbia; great-grandchildren, Sarah, Rachel, and Savannah Viar of Cookeville; Wyatt Bridge of Columbia; special caregivers, Joyce Owens and Elizabeth Martin; nephews, William 'Bill' (Sherry) Kerley of Houston, Texas, Dr. Mac Kerley of Dunwoody, Georgia; nieces, Sally (Jere) Griggs of Nashville and Joann Kerley of Signal Mountain, Tennessee. Family and friends will serve as active pallbearers. Honorary pallbearers include members of West End Baptist Church.