Myrtle Ferne Bocc

Died: May 2, 2008

Myrtle Ferne Burkey Bocc, 90, of the Old Knoxville Highway in the Mount Pleasant community, died Friday morning at Signature HealthCARE of Greeneville.

Mrs. Bocc was born in Greeneville and was a daughter of the late Byrd and Less Burkey.

After high school, for 10 years, she was a manager for Rose's Department Store in Etowah and Columbia, S.C.

In 1950, Mrs. Bocc enlisted in the Women's Army Corps. Of the five years she served, she was overseas for 27 months during the Korean War.

She married Harold E. Bocc in 1954 and lived in Seattle, Wash., and Portland, Ore., returning to Greeneville in 1970. He died in 1987.

Mrs. Bocc worked at Greene Valley Developmental Center as a food aide for more than five years until her retirement.

She was a member of Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church.

Mrs. Bocc served as pianist and organist at a number of churches while in the Northwest.

She was a member of the Greene County Democratic Women's Club; the Women's Auxiliary of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Andrew Johnson Post No. 1990; the Women's Auxiliary of the American Legion No. 24 in Johnson City; and was a representative for Greene County National Association of Women Highway Safety Leaders.

Survivors include a son: Dennis Bocc of Kingsport; a granddaughter: Lynda Bowers of Unicoi County; and two grandsons: Elvis Bocc and Eddie Bocc, both of California

Mrs. Bocc was preceded in death by four sisters: Lucille Swecker and Helen Burrow and two infants: Thelma Burkey and Dorothy Burkey.

The family will receive friends from 7-9 p.m. today at Kiser Funeral Home.

The funeral service will be held at 3:30 p.m. Sunday afternoon in the funeral home chapel. The Rev. Roger Crim will officiate.

Interment will follow in Mount Pleasant Cemetery. A military graveside service will be conducted by the Greeneville-Greene County Honor Guard.

Pallbearers will be Jackie Hartman, Doug Finchum, James P. Townsend, Marshall Weems, Leon Hale, David Finchum, and Clint Ricker.

Honorary pallbearers will be the members of the Women's Auxiliary, VFW Post 1990, and the Greene County Democratic Women.

Memorial contributions may be made to Mount Pleasant Cemetery Fund, c/o Howard Whaley, 671 Mount Pleasant Road, Greeneville, TN 37743.

Condolences may be sent to the Bocc family online at loc7439@sci-us.com