Theatrice D. Fish

Published 8:42 am Monday, July 16, 2018

Theatrice D. Fish

1925-2018

Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Matthew 11:28

Theatrice D. Fish, 92, of Johnson City, Tennessee, passed away peacefully July 12, 2018 following a lengthy illness. Mrs. Fish is the daughter of the late Jesse William Dyehouse and Mary Hopkins Dyehouse of Crab Orchard, Ky.

Mrs. Fish was born in Crab Orchard, growing up with her sister, Inez Dyehouse Carter, and her brother, Jesse Elwood Dyehouse, who preceded her in death. Her beloved husband of 62 years, Birney Robert Fish, also preceded her in death.

In addition to her sister, she is survived by her daughter, Theresa Lura and her husband Richard of Johnson City, Tenn.; son, Mark Fish and his wife Sheila of Dallas, Texas; three grandchildren, Johanna Spaulding and her husband Eric of Thayer, Kansas, Joshua Fish and his wife Ashley of Knoxville, Tenn., and Shannon Wilson and her husband Jacob of Bartlesville, Okla. She is also survived by four great grandchildren, Katie, Bella and Noah Spaulding, and Sophie Wilson, as well as several nieces and nephews in Kentucky.

After graduating at the top of her high school class in 1942, Mrs. Fish attended a special teacher’s program at Eastern Kentucky University to help with a teacher shortage during World War II, in which her husband, who she married in 1945, was serving. She taught in two area one-room schoolhouses during this time. After the war, she worked in a local hardware store to support her husband as he completed a degree in engineering from Centre College and the University of Kentucky. Following the birth of her daughter in 1953, Mrs. Fish became a full-time homemaker.

Shortly after the war, they purchased their first farm, part of her family’s historic property, which they continued to add to throughout their lives. Mrs. Fish had a deeply abiding love for farm life and their property on Fall Lick, to which they had always planned to retire. Mrs. Fish loved to work outside in her vegetable and flower gardens and was a former member of the Knoxville Garden Club.

When in Johnson City, Mrs. Fish attended Lone Oak Christian Church as she was able, but she always maintained her membership in her home church, Crab Orchard Christian. She loved attending church and hated to miss a service due to her health. She loved to share Jesus with her family and everyone she met, especially the children in the Sunday School classes she taught at Sullivan Road Christian Church and West Towne Christian Church while her family was living in Knoxville, Tenn. Her faith long impacted the lives of those who knew and loved her.

Mrs. Fish and her family helped to establish both the Sullivan Road Christian Church and West Towne Christian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee, and the first minister of West Towne, C. Scott Richmond, will preside at Mrs. Fish’s services.

Visitation will be Saturday, July 14, 2018, 6-8 p.m. at McKnight Funeral Home, Crab Orchard, Ky., and after 1:00 p.m., Sunday, July 15, 2018, at the Crab Orchard Christian Church.

Funeral service on Sunday, July 15, 2018, 2:00 p.m. at the Crab Orchard Christian Church.

Memorials may be sent to Crab Orchard Christian Church, 111 Lancaster Street, Crab Orchard, KY 40419; Johnson University (Johnson Bible College), 7900 Johnson Drive, Knoxville, TN 37998; or Emmanuel Christian Seminary at Milligan College, 1 Walker Drive, Johnson City, TN 37601.