Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Nana

Judith Finley Stone, 78, of Chattanooga, passed away Monday, Dec. 2, 2013, after a brief illness. She was a founder, deacon, past treasurer and finance chair of Rivermont Presbyterian Church. Judy was born in Chattanooga on May 31, 1936. She was president of the GPS class of 1954 and attended Vanderbilt University before graduating from the University of Tennessee in 1980 with a BS in accounting. She was employed as a CPA with Joseph Decosimo & Co., working as a tax manager and specializing in the taxation of estates and trusts. She was also employed by Spears, Moore, Rebman & Co. She retired in 1995. Judy was a caring and passionate member of her community and supported many philanthropic causes. She had an especially passionate interest in education. She was elected as a trustee of the University of Chattanooga Foundation in 1995, where she served as treasurer beginning in 2007. She sat on the executive committee, and chaired the nominating committee beginning in 2009 and continued to serve until her death. Additionally, Judy served on the finance committee and endowment committee of Girls Preparatory School. She served in various capacities on numerous other boards, including: Richmont Graduate University, King College, the Faith and Hope Fund for the Presbytery of East Tennessee, Bachman Academy, University of Tennessee Alliance of Women Philanthropists, the Kidney Foundation, Scenic Land School, Tennessee River Gorge Trust, the UTC College of Business Advisory Board. Additionally, she was a member of several Bible studies, book clubs, and the Women of Rivermont club. She was preceded in death by her father, the late W. Max Finley. She is survived by her mother, Margaret Ferrell Finley; her sister, Cynthia Finley Anderson, of Winston-Salem, N.C.; children, William M. Stone III, of Knoxville, Catherine Dianne Stone, of Nashville, Robert Finley Stone, of Chattanooga; and daughters-in-law, Lacie Newton Stone, Cynthia Dair Stone, of Chattanooga; and granddaughters, Sarah Elisabeth Stone and Rebecca Stone Dryden. She is remembered for her red hair, her quick, impish wit, and above all, her kindness and generosity to others. She loved traveling, photography, cooking shows, and spending time with her family and many friends. The family will receive friends at Rivermont Presbyterian Church from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 5, followed by a funeral service, beginning at 6 p.m. in the sanctuary, with a private graveside service at 10 a.m. on Friday, Dec. 6, at Forest Hills Cemetery. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Kidney Foundation, the Siskin Children's Institute, or the Bachman Academy. Share your memories at www.wannfuneralhome.com. Arrangements are by Wann Funeral Home & Cremation Center, located at the foot of historic Lookout Mountain, St. Elmo. 821-7551.