Centerville, TN - Ruth Ann Rochelle Carathers, 82, passed away peacefully on May 19, 2026 with family by her side.

A native of Hickman County, she was born at home in Dodd Hollow on March 31, 1944 to Berniece and Tom Rochelle. She was a member of the Fairfield Church of Christ in Centerville, Tennessee. Ruth Ann was a Teacher's Aid at East Elementary where she made a difference in the lives of many students, helping them improve their reading skills. She later retired from BellSouth in Green Hills where she made lifelong friendships, sharing a joke of the day with coworkers.

Ruth Ann and her late husband, Gene, enjoyed traveling. She especially enjoyed the vast western landscapes on their road trips to visit Gene's extended family in Texas.

Her many hobbies included collecting vintage pottery and glassware, flower gardening, and ceramics. She shared her time and talents with friends and family by taking cut flowers or painting Christmas ornaments around the kitchen table.

Ruth Ann was an avid quilter and master seamstress. She was a member of the Fairfield Church quilting group who provided handmade quilts as gifts for newlywed church members, newborns, and families in need. Ruth Ann created custom wedding dresses for her two daughters and a niece and beautifully smocked and embroidered dresses for her granddaughters every Christmas, Easter, and birthdays. She made baby quilts, many original designs, for each new baby born into the family. She was instrumental in the formation of the Hickman County Quilt Guild, establishing the annual quilt show, celebrating quilts made in Hickman County and honoring those who made them. With Gene's help, they crafted a way to hang and display the handmade textiles for an annual community event, showcasing more than 200 quilts each year. Every quilt was photographed and included in a historical archive of five book volumes documenting the 1,041 quilts complete with a biography of each quilter.

Ruth Ann was preceded in death by her loving husband Gene Carathers. She's survived by daughters Tina Martin DeVore (Russell), Tracey Martin Outman (Matthew), and son Christopher Martin; stepsons Jim Carathers (Debbie), John Carathers (Kathy), Robert Carathers (Sarah), and stepdaughter Mary Ann Carathers Monday (Jerry Skeen). She was known as "Ninni" to her 16 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild. Ruth Ann is also survived by her sister, Barbara Rochelle Bishhop of Columbia, and her brother, Marion (Linda) Rochelle of Goodlettsville. She also leaves behind a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends whom she adored and loved dearly.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to be made to the Hickman County chapter of Dolly Parton's Imagination Library, c/o Hickman County Imagination Library, 120 W. Swan St., Centerville, TN 37033 or to the Fairfield Church of Christ for the Quilters & Crafter groups.

"You don't have to be successful. You just have to be faithful."