Rose Marie Priest

Rose Marie Harris Priest, 94, a longtime resident of Santa Fe, passed away Monday, August 3, 2026, at Poplar Estates.

Funeral services will be conducted Thursday, August 6, 2026, at 3:00 p.m. at Oakes & Nichols Funeral Home with Brother James Lunsford officiating. Burial will follow in Santa Fe Cemetery. The family will visit with friends Wednesday from 4:00 until 8:00 p.m. at the funeral home.

The family suggests memorial donations be made to the Santa Fe Cemetery Association, c/o Mark Priest, 3782 Raleigh Beard Road, Santa Fe, TN 38482. Online condolences may be extended at www.oakesandnichols.com.

Born May 8, 1932, in Columbia, TN, Mrs. Priest was the daughter of the late Aubrey Harris and the late Rebecca Hight Harris. A 1950 graduate of Santa Fe High School, she later attended Columbia Business School. On December 28, 1952, she married Oscar Dowell Priest, who preceded her in death on January 13, 2011. Together they shared more than fifty-eight years of marriage and built a life centered on faith, family, and the Santa Fe community. Mrs. Priest devoted her life to serving both her family and her community. Throughout her career, she worked as a receptionist and switchboard operator for E.I. DuPont, was a realtor in Maury County for many years, served as secretary in the Commandant's Office at Columbia Military Academy, was director of the Maury County Senior Citizens Center, and retired as director of Harvest Share Food Bank, where she faithfully served countless families throughout the area.

A faithful member of Fly Church of the Nazarene, Mrs. Priest was active in many organizations that reflected her love of history, fellowship, and community service. She was a longtime member of the Wagon Wheelers Square Dance Club, where she enjoyed many years of friendship alongside her husband. In 1968, she became a charter member of the Captain James Madison Sparkman Chapter 2363 of the United Daughters of the Confederacy. A gifted local historian and writer, she co-published three books documenting Maury County's rich heritage: The Maury County Marriage Book, The Maury County Deed Book, and They Pass This Way. In recognition of her love for writing, she was awarded first place in the Poet Laureate Poetry Contest on October 8, 2022, for her poem, Shiloh. Above all, Mrs. Priest was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother whose greatest joy came from her family. She will be remembered for her gracious spirit, unwavering faith, generous heart, and the lasting impact she made on the lives of those who knew and loved her.

She is survived by her children, Mark (Mimi) Priest, Amy Priest, and Aaron (Jordan) Priest, all of Santa Fe; grandchildren, Emily (Jimmy) Sanders, Rachel (Grayson) Kennedy, Matt (Ciara) Priest, Paige Priest, and Jack Aubrey Priest; great-grandchildren, Lakelyn Sanders, Landon Sanders, Jameson Sanders, Caroline Carter, Sydney Carter, Rhett Kennedy, Jagger Priest, and Palmer Rose Priest; brother, Randal (Patsy) Harris; nephew, Jeff (Marty Kay) Harris; and nieces, Kim (Jeff) Johnson, Deborah Due, and Denise (Dan) Due-Goodman.

Active pallbearers will be Matt Priest, Jimmy Sanders, Grayson Kennedy, Jeff Harris, Denver Harris, Jake Sproul, Hunter Clanton, Denver Robinson, and Clint Steward. Honorary pallbearers will include the members of the Fly Church of the Nazarene, Wagon Wheelers Square Dance Club, members of the Captain James Madison Sparkman UDC, and special friends, Odessa Smith, Clara Stewart, and Judy Sandlin.