Obituary of Helen Jeannette Douthit

Helen Jeannette "Jean" Sandlin Douthit, M.S. Ed., age 94, of Bryson City, NC, passed away gently at Mission Hospital in Asheville on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 after a brief non-contagious illness. She was preceded in death by the love of her life and husband of 67 years, Claude Monroe Douthit; her parents Hazel (Fry) and Thomas Armand "T.A." "Sarge" Sandlin; her twin sister Dorothy Joyce Totherow and her elder sister Martha Catherine Brown along with many aunts, uncles, cousins and dear friends. She is survived by her sister, Nancy Ann Bryant of Mills River, NC; son Jonathan Douthit (Deborah); grand-children: Rachel Douthit, Melia and Heath Huff; great-grandchildren: Akira Stiles, Tristah Huff, Rosalie Ivey and Torri Huff all of Bryson City; brother-in-law: Max Douthit (Linda); nieces and nephews: Gary Brown (Lynn), of Conway, NC, Alan Brown (Janessa), of Bryson City; Gary Dehart and Betty Ann Dehart, all of Hood River, OR, Jimmy Douthit (Juanita), Eugene Douthit (Pamela), William "Billy" Douthit (Carolyn), James Douthit , Rometta Bennett (Bruce), Judy Crouch (Gene), Denise Parker (Kevin), Paula Jean Johnson (Terry), Donna Black (Ken) and Anita Wilson (Danny); and cousins: Betty Ann Sandlin, Tom Plott, Johnny Sandlin, and Bill Fry; as well as other cousins, great-nieces and nephews and a wealth of friends. A graduate of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, {NC Women's College as it was called at that time} and career educator she retired after 37 years in the classroom. Her tenure began teaching seventh and eighth grade at Whittier Elementary school and culminated in her retirement as the Chair of the Vocational Business Education Department at Swain County High School. In addition to memberships on several committees of various causes she served as an elder of the Bryson City Presbyterian Church and multiple terms as a trustee of Southwestern Community College . The family will receive callers in the Fellowship Hall of the Bryson City Presbyterian Church from 1 pm until 2:30 pm with the service to follow at 2:30 in the sanctuary on Sunday, October 22. 2023. The Reverend Margie Stansell of Black Mountain, NC, will officiate. Donations of food or money may be made in her honor to the Food Pantry at the Bryson City Presbyterian Church.