Elise Ragland Huff, 92, of Sparta, a native of Jackson County, passed away Dec. 18, 2023, at Signature Healthcare, in Algood.
Mrs. Huff was born June 9, 1931, in the Nameless community. She was the last surviving child born to Sidney Alphaeus and Sarah Ann Kirby Ragland.
She was a longtime Granville postmaster. After retirement, she moved to Sparta to be closer to her daughter and grandchildren. Elise loved to travel and being on the go. Her favorite getaways were with her postmaster friends to postal conventions and her trips to Newport Beach, California, to visit with her children and grandchildren. She spent many Thanksgivings in California, happily packing suitcases full of food and her famous rolls for their meal together. Elise was an active member of Sparta First United Methodist Church, where she sang in the choir and served as church secretary for several years. If she was not visiting with family, she could be found at her weekly bridge game or at home taking care of her beloved cat, Millie.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Marion Hale Halfacre, who died June 9, 2007; daughter, Teresa June Dicus, who died April 30, 2018; husband, Carl Huff; father of her children, Everett “Elb” Halfacre; brothers, Bedford, Vernon, Savage, Verble, Lester, Cordell, and Guy Ragland; and sisters, Bessie Brown, Ethel Brown, Daris Apple, Nell Barton, and Bobbye Williams.
Surviving family members that fondly knew her as Mimi include her daughter, Sarah Verble and husband Bruce, of Cookeville; son-in-law, Buddy Dicus, of Sparta; daughter-in-law, Lula Halfacre, of Newport Beach, California; grandchildren, Ashley Dicus and wife Amber, of Sparta, Blake Dicus and wife Jackie, of Hendersonville, Summer Wood and husband Patrick, of Old Hickory, Carly Verble, of Los Angeles, California, Erik Halfacre, of California, Natalie Halfacre, of Australia; eight great-grandchildren, Sam Dicus, Jack Dicus, Jake Dicus, Cole Di-cus, Taylor Halfacre, Riley Halfacre, Jackson Wilkinson, Olivia Wilkinson; special neighbors, Paul and Judy Williams; and numerous beloved nieces and nephews.
Funeral service as 1 p.m., Dec. 21, 2023, at Sparta First United Methodist Church, with burial in Highland Cemetery.
Memorials may be made to the Tangent Children’s Christmas Party, affectionately known as “Buddy’s Kids,” or Granville Heritage Museum in care of Hunter Funeral Home, P.O. Box 90, Sparta, Tennessee 38583
Buddy Dicus, Ashley Dicus, Blake Dicus, Sam Dicus, Jack Dicus, and Patrick Wood served pallbearers.
Honorary pallbearers were Jake Dicus, Cole Dicus, and Paul Williams.
Hunter Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
