Cherie Aurelia Wells Bryant

Cherie Aurelia Wells Bryant, 74, of Cleveland, died Tuesday morning, March 16, 2010, at the family residence after a courageous fight with breast cancer.

She was a daughter of the late Aurelia F. and Carroll B. Wells, formerly of Chattanooga. She was born in Chattanooga on Dec. 11, 1935, and attended O.L.P.H. and Notre Dame High School, graduating in 1953. She graduated from the University of Chattanooga with a degree in elementary education in 1959 and taught second grade at George R. Stuart Elementary School in Cleveland, until beginning a career as a stay-at-home mother. After her children left home, she worked with her husband in his dental practice until they retired in 1995. She was a member of the Cleveland-Athens Cotillion, the Cherokee Garden Club and Beta Sigma Phi Sorority.

Survivors include her husband of 50 years, Dr. Vernon O. \"Pete\" Bryant of Cleveland; one daughter, Linda Bryant Bartmess of Cleveland; two sons, D. Mitchell Bryant and his wife, Becky, of Riceville, and Scott A. Bryant and his wife, Marla, of Jacksonville, Fla.; she will always be fondly remembered as \"Grammy\" to her eight grandchildren, Duncan and Adam Bryant and Ben Ford, all of Riceville, Lewis and Ben Bartmess, both of Cleveland, and Madeline, Olivia and Audrey Bryant, all of Jacksonville, Fla.; one sister, Betty Carroll Wells Hudik and her husband, John, of Chattanooga; her mother-in-law, Louella Bryant of Knoxville; one sister-in-law, Dottie Sneed Averra and her husband, Tom, of Knoxville; two nephews, John C. Turner and his wife, Sherry, of Ooltewah, and Jesse J. Turner III and his wife, Jennifer, of Birmingham, Ala.; three nieces, Cindy Turner Rossi and her husband, Charlie, of St. Louis, Mo., Judy T. Woodard of Sylva, N.C., and Cherie T. Cravens and her husband, Dewayne, of Chattanooga; special family members, Jerri S. Bryant of Athens, and Janie L. Coleman of Cleveland; and a host of lifelong friends.

The family would like to extend their most sincere gratitude to Dr. Sylvia Krueger and the staff at Blue Ridge Oncology for the love, hope and care given during these past six years and for never giving up the fight; and all the nurses and staff at Home Health Care of East Tennessee and Hospice for the loving care and compassion these past few months.

A Remembrance of Life graveside service will be 4 p.m. Friday at Hilcrest Memorial Gardens with Father David Boettner officiating.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the North Ocoee Chapel of Jim Rush Funeral Homes.

The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorial contributions be made to St. Jude Children\'s Research Hospital, the Susan G. Komen Foundation or to a charity of choice.

Jim Rush Funeral Homes, North Ocoee Chapel, of Cleveland is in charge of arrangements.