Restore Life USA
Don't Cremate The Cure
Restore Life USA
P.O. Box 1113
Elizabethton, TN 37644
ph: 423 631 0067
fax: 423 631 0068
Our Donors and Donor families
The day will come when my body will lie upon a white sheet neatly tucked under four corners of a mattress located in a hospital; busily occupied with the living and the dying. At a certain moment a doctor will determine that my brain has ceased to function and that, for all intents and purposes, my life has stopped.
When that happens, do not attempt to instill artificial life into my body by the use of a machine. And don't call this my deathbed. Let it be called the bed of life, and let my body be taken from it to help others lead fuller lives.
Give my sight to the man who has never seen a sunrise, a baby's face or love in the eyes of a woman.
Give my heart to a person whose own heart has caused nothing but endless days of pain.
Give my blood to the teenager who was pulled from the wreckage of his car, so that he might live to see his grandchildren play.
Give my kidneys to the one who depends on a machine to exist from week to week.
Take my bones, every muscle, every fiber and nerve in my body and find a way to make a crippled child walk.
Explore every corner of my brain.
Take my cells, if necessary, and let them grow so that, someday a speechless boy will shout at the crack of a bat and a deaf girl will hear the sound of rain against her window.
...what is left of me, scatter the ashes to the winds to help the flowers grow.
If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weakness and all prejudice against my fellow man.
Give my sins to the devil.
Give my soul to God.
If, by chance, you wish to remember me, do it with a kind deed or word to someone who needs you. If you do all I have asked, I will live forever.
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We often see obituaries that detail how someone lost their battle with cancer. When Tyler Boggs passed away on June 29th 2018 Small Cell Osteosarcoma did take his young life, but his battle with cancer had just begun. Tyler made his family aware that upon his death he wanted to donate his body for cancer research. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital maintains a Bio-repository of cancer cells that are used to develop and test new techniques and treatments for various forms of cancer and other diseases. Tyler's mother says it best, "At the age of 14 Tyler will accomplish more and help more individuals than most people will during their entire lives" We at Restore Life USA worked with St. Jude to facilitate the surgical recovery and preservation of those cancer cells within four hours of his death. St. Jude received the cancer cells within 20 hours and Tyler's donated cells were ready to go to work helping others. Cancer cells were also sent to Ohio to an organization we have worked with for several years. This organization focuses on rare disease studies. As a backup, Restore Life USA has also banked these cancer cells in the Bio-Repository maintained here in Elizabethton by Restore Life USA. This young man will help many individuals and we all owe him and his family the deepest gratitude for thinking of others at such a difficult time. Young lives taken too early always bring a wave of emotion, and our surgical team and staff here will always remember the gift that Tyler has give us, our children, and grandchildren.
Nanci Ferra January 17, 1960 April 29, 2017
Perhaps you aren't ready yet to have to say good-bye. Perhaps you've thought of things you wished you'd said, well so have I, for one thing I'd have told you not to worry about me. I'm with the Lord in heaven now. You knew that's where I'd be. I'm sorry that your feeling sad. For I am so happy now, I've ask the lord to ease the hurt and comfort you somehow. It's hard in the beginning, But I know you'll make it through. I hope it helps to know that I will be waiting here for you.
Robin Ellen Dunn-Frye, age 55, went home to see her Lord and Savior on Tuesday, February 21, 2017. She was preceded in death by her parents, Richard Wayne Dunn and Mary Ellen Stout Dunn and grandparents, Clyde and Beulah Dunn and James and Julia Stout.
As a loving mother of the Christian faith, her family was the love of her life here on earth. She loved doing for others and was a caretaker to many. She will be missed dearly by everyone who knew her. One of her greatest joys was her granddogs and cats; Bear, Jose, Dixie, Oreo and Hope.
Robin is survived by her children, Samantha Cutshall and husband Matt and Adam Barton and girlfriend Samantha Colbran; step-mother, Doris H. Dunn; sister, Leigh Anne Hutton and husband Tom; brother, David Grizzle and wife Tammy; and special aunt, Mildred Statzer. She was the proud aunt to a niece and several nephews and also leaves behind countless friends including her best friend, Maggie Balthis. The family would like to express a special thank you to Robin, Robert and Daniel Snider, Valene Orr and to the staff and nurses at Bristol Regional Medical Center and Carrington Place of Rural Retreat, VA for all the love and care shown to Robin during her illness.
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Homer Gene McMurray II joined his recently passed sister Vivian and other beloved family members on September 27, 2016, at the age of 57, after a brave battle against lung and brain cancer.
Gene was a lifelong resident of Bristol TN/VA. He received his bachelor’s degree at E.T.S.U at the age of 37 in Environmental Health
He is survived by his daughter Shannon and her husband Jamie, his daughter Lauren and grandchildren Galen and Eowyn, his mother Zelma, his sister Darlena and her husband Mike, his sister Deidra, his brother-in-law Jerry, his aunts Shirley and Nancy and many other loving family members that will miss him.
As a body donor to Restore Life USA we hope that he can help others. He would love this!
Rocky Ottinger provided us with a slide show dedicated to honoring the life of his wife Helen Ottinger. We have placed the tribute on our youtube account. please follow the link below to the slide show. Upon receving the photos from Mr. Ottinger and prior to posting the video, all the staff at Restore Life USA viewed it, there was not a dry eye in the office that day.
Thank you Rocky for sharing these precious memories!
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Rufus Brown
He served God, country and family well. He will be missed by all.
Rufus J. Brown, of Surgoinsville, passed away May 3rd 2012.
Brown received a citation and the Bronze Star Medal at the direction of the president for distinguishing himself by outstanding meritorious service in connection with ground operations against a hostile force in the Republic of Vietnam, from January 1965 to December1965.
"Through his untiring efforts and professional ability, he consistently obtained outstanding results. He was quick to grasp the implications of new problems with which he was faced as a result of the ever changing situations inherent in a counterinsurgency operation and to find ways and means to solve those problems," the citation states.
"The energetic application of his extensive knowledge has materially contributed to the efforts of the United States Mission to the Republic of Vietnam to assist that country in ridding itself of the communist threat to its freedom. His initiative, zeal, sound judgement and devotion to duty have been in the highest tradition of the United States Army and reflect great credit on him and on the military," it concludes.
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Linda Coven
Ms. Coven, 72, of Kingsport, passed away peacefully at home, April 19, 2012.
Linda was born in Elberton, GA to the late James Thomas McLanahan and Mary Frances Parker McLanahan on July 11, 1939.
She loved spending time with her family, gardening and traveling. Known for her graciousness, compassion, and sharp southern belle wit, her memory will forever be treasured by her family and friends.
Linda was an accomplished artist who graduated from The University of Georgia with a degree in art education, under the direction of Lamar Dodd; she studied at Lockhaven Art Center in Winter Park, Florida under Hall McIntosh; and earned her Masters of Fine Arts from East Tennessee State University under the tutelage of John Steele. Her subjects ranged from portraits through landscapes, still lifes to abstracts. She was a member of The National Portrait Club, American Artists Portrait League, The Salmagundi Art Club and several other associations. The Coast Guard commissioned her to create paintings for their collection. The Tennessee Historical Commission's Foundation soclited Linda to portray WIlliam Bount, the first govenor of The Territory of the United StatesSouth of the River Ohio. Linda has works in museums and many private collections all over the United States.
She is survived by her children, Ronald Leo Coven II of Clintwood, VA; Frances Coven Beaudry and husband David of Atlanta, GA; Marvin Thomas Coven, wife Ashley, and granddaughter Riley of Austin, TX; Sisters: Gail Matthews of Elberton, GA: Frances Nelson and Virginia Beale of Columbia, SC.
Interment will be at Elmhurst Cemetery in Elberton, GA.
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James Lynn
Mr. Lynn passed away April 9th 2012. Among the his many talents was the ability to draw and create art loved by many. He requested we not post a photo of himself, but rather a piece of his artwork. We are honored to do so. Above is a piece he created after being diangonosed with pancreatic cancer. Mr Lynn was 72 years old.
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Patricia Webster
Ruth Cairnes
One of our donors who donated to help others.
James Byers
Mr Byers is survived by his wife Patricia of 51 years. His body donation was a precious gift that will affect the lives of others for many years.
Terry Lee Blevins, 62 of Roan Mountain, TN went to be with his Savior, Friday May 18, 2012 following a long battle with cancer. Terry was a native of Carter County. He was a member of Little Mountain Baptist Church and was a partner/employee of Blevins Auto Enterprise for over 35 years. Terry has left behind many memories, great stories, and good times for his family and friend to remember. He is survived by a daughter Rachel Ellis and husband Lance of Johnson City, TN and a son Rusty Blevins of Roan Mountain, TN. Two grandchildren, Jacob Davis and Andrew Jarvis of Johnson City, TN. Three brothers, Mike Blevins and wife Jada, Roan Mountain, TN, Greg Keller and wife Cindy of Mishawaka, IN, Jeff Blevins and wife Kim of California. Two nieces, Lindsay Rigsby and husband Jonathan of Maynardville, TN and Leia Blevins of Roan Mountain, TN. A special aunt and uncle, Billie and Donnie Spooner of Bessemer, AL. His father Dale Blevins and wife Nell, of Aiken, SC. And a very dear friend Dana Roberson and husband Tim of Roan Mountain, TN.
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Ellen Barrick
Ellen Anne Rush Barrick
http://www.inmemoryofellie.org/
Ellie Barrick, 69, went home to be with her Lord, The Father on May 18, 2012 as a result of complications from childhood polio (PPS). Born in Atlanta, Ga., she grew up in Ft. Lauderdale, Fl. and has resided in Elizabethton, TN for the last 33 years. She is survived locally by her husband of 44 years, Tom, two sons, Ben, Brad and his wife, Diana and two grandchildren, Katelyn and Kyler.
Although her family misses her dearly, they rejoice with her knowing that she is finally resting comfortably in the arms of Jesus!
It was important to her that, above all, Christ be lifted up in everything to the glory of God. Consequently, she endeavored to live the verses that say “My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever” (Psalm 73:26) and “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30).
Therefore, in keeping with her expressed desires, there will be no scheduled visitation or funeral services, however, friends may call at the home at any time. It was Ellie’s wish to be cremated through the Restore Life USA organ donor program in support of research for Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia (HSP), the disease that has also afflicted her as well as a number of other family members. Private disposition of the returned creamains will be held at a later date.
The family would like to thank all the faithful friends and family who have been so supportive during her infirmities and, in particular, the members of the Rebel Classic Thunderbird Club.
The family also wishes to express its deepest gratitude to the members of Amedysis Healthcare, ETSU Physicians, Pain Medicine Associates, Johnson City Eye Clinic and especially the Visiting Angels and Amedysis Hospice organizations for providing such loving care for Ellie over the past several years.
Memorial gifts or flowers are not expected, however, if desired, praise gifts may be sent to Samaritan’s Purse (samaritanspurse.org) or any other charity you wish to support.
Condolences and mementos may be sent to the family via email at InMemoryofEllie@gmail.com.
“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day”……. (2Tim 4:7)
http://www.inmemoryofellie.org/finalities/restore-life/
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We continue in invest in cell preservation equipment. These freezers contain tissues that must be stored at negative 80 C. The specimens and cells stored here will hopefully improve lives for generations to come.
Restore Life USA
P.O. Box 1113
Elizabethton, TN 37644
ph: 423 631 0067
fax: 423 631 0068