Beverly Jean Sharpe Dance

Beverly Jean Sharpe Dance, age 89, beloved wife, mother, and grandmother died on Saturday, October 7, 2017. Always ready to share a smile, lend a hand, chair a committee, read a story or coach a team, Beverly left this world a better place. Originally from Memphis, Beverly arrived at The University of Tennessee in 1946, where she served as president of Delta Delta Delta, editor of Mortar Board and a ROTC sponsor. In 1950 she was chosen as a Torchbearer, UT's highest undergraduate honor. At UT she met the love of her life, Philip Dance and they graduated and married on June 5, 1950. As an involved community member she helped to found and staff the Rocky Hill School library, served as one of the first coaches for Rocky Hill softball and basketball leagues and upon retirement, enjoyed working with the Friends of the Library. As a talented writer, she was an active member of the Knoxville Contest Club in the 1960's. She won many trips and other prizes and her children remember her joy upon being notified that she had won a 1960 Corvette. She had a rewarding career as the librarian at Farragut Primary School where she helped foster a love of reading and was affectionately known as "Charley." She loved socializing with her bridge club of fifty years, her Tri Delta friends, hiking in the Smokies, and lunches with her retired teacher group. She was a member of Central United Methodist Church and together with her husband enjoyed Sunday School class activities. The family would like to thank Karina Churi for her caregiving and steadfast loyalty and to express its gratitude to the staff at Little Creek, whose tender care during the last year brought comfort to Beverly and her family. She is survived by her children, Libby Nix (George), Carol Downs, Darrell Dance (Mary), and Allen Dance (Pam); grandchildren, Todd Nix (Vicki), Rob Nix (Kelly), Rebecca Balitsaris (Marcus), Sarah Downs, Janie Wells (Kendal), Carrie Kinkade (Stephen), Michael Dance (Kaylan), Danny Dance (Rebekah), Phil Dance, and David Dance (Kayla); great grandchildren, Mackenzie Nix, Simon Balitsaris, Davis and Hank Wells, Danny Dance, Della and Addlee Dance, brother, Edward Sharpe, brother-in-law, Hugh Dance. She was predeceased by her husband, Philip Dance, her parents, Beverly R. and Carrie Sharpe and her son-in-law, Tom Downs. Family and friends will meet on Friday at 2:00 pm, October 20, 2017 at East Tennessee State Veterans’ Cemetery (Gov. John Sevier Hwy.) for a graveside service. A celebration of life service will be held on Saturday, October 21st at 12:00 pm at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel with the family receiving friends prior to the service from 10:30 to 12:00 pm. In lieu of flowers, the family request that memorial donations be made to: National Parkinson's Foundation, 200 SE 1st St., Suite 800, Miami, FL. 33131, or Friends of the Knox County Public Library, 500 W. Church Avenue, Knoxville, TN 37902

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Beverly Jean Sharpe Dance

October 7, 2017