Marie Elizabeth Gryder

Marie Elizabeth Chilton Gryder, better known as Bitsy, was released from her earthly bonds on Friday, October 7, 2022. She is preceded in her heavenly arrival by her parents, John Morgan & Betty Jane Dorough Chilton of Oak Ridge, TN and her brother John Thomas Chilton of Greenville, TN. She is survived by her beloved husband of fifty-three years Joseph Edward Gryder of Dayton, TN, her sister Virginia Jane Chilton of Grants, NM, her brother-in-love Danny Coyle of Grants, NM, her sister-in-love Carol Reeder Chilton of Greenville, TN, as well as her daughter Lorilei Danielle Gryder Dreibelbis of Dayton, TN, her son-in-love Christopher M. Dreibelbis of Dayton, TN, her son Joseph Emmet Gryder of Arnold, MD, her daughter-in-love Melissa A. Gryder of Arnold, MD, her grandchildren John Theodore Dreibelbis, Helena Gabrielle Gryder, Izabelle Yve Dreibelbis, and Jonathan Elijah Gryder, her nieces, nephews and their spouses, her grandnieces, and countless other friends who became family over the years. After graduating from Oak Ridge High School, Bitsy’s collegiate career began at Birmingham Southern University, moved to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, where she pledged to Delta Zeta sorority, and culminated in a Bachelor of Arts in Education from California State University at Fullerton. She continued as an alumna advisor to the Iota Upsilon chapter of Delta Zeta in several leadership roles for many years as well as serving in multiple chair positions for the Orange County Alumni Chapter of Delta Zeta empowering countless women in their pursuit of life-long learning. Later her service moved to the national level, ultimately giving many years as chair for the Graduate Student Scholarship Committee of Delta Zeta delivering the opportunity for scores of women to improve their lives and their communities through higher education. Bitsy was a Girl Scout as both a girl and adult for over fifteen years, as well as a Cub Scout leader for her son. A part of a Trailblazer troop in Oak Ridge, TN, she was chosen to represent her council in the 1965 Senior Girl Scout Roundup, the last international gathering of girl members organized by GSUSA, where her patrol helped to write songs and ceremonies still used by Girl Scouts today. As an adult, she served as a troop leader and adult mentor at many levels in Orange County, CA for not only her daughter, but many other girls who benefitted from her loving mentorship. It is a testament to her rock-solid love that Bitsy celebrated fifty-three years of marriage that saw her husband serve active duty in Vietnam as well as over thirty years of policework in the city of Los Angeles. She dedicated the prime years of her adult life to the service of her family, actively supporting her husband’s career and the communities he served. A true partner, Bitsy was key in organizing several professional conferences for the Los Angeles Police Protective League. In 1989 she was recognized as Volunteer of the Year by the commander of the 6th Army and named a Woman of the Decade for the 1990’s in Who’s Who in recognition for her contributions to the Family Support Unit manuals that establish procedures to support the families of our fighting men and women in crisis – a manual still used today to empower our military personnel to serve with confidence that their families and loved ones are safe. Bitsy, with her husband, joined the Single Action Shooting Society (SASS) in 1987 as a founding member. Known as Lady Rebel #550, she not only competed as a lady shooter, but also brought her life-long love of learning to thousands of children with over ten years of hands-on history in “Kid’s Korral”, a feature of the SASS End of Trail annual competition. In 2010 she was inducted into the SASS Cowboy Action Hall of Fame in recognition of her contributions that embodied her passion for preserving our Great American Culture and promoting the Spirit of the Game well beyond the boundaries of the shooting range. After living in California for over forty years, Bitsy returned to Tennessee in 2006 to care for her mother. In her unquenchable passion for service, she became a Master Gardener, served as secretary and treasurer for her HOA, led in several positions of the American Legion Women's Auxiliary of Dayton, volunteered with the election commission to devotedly work the polls of Rhea County, and took an active role in the Rhea County Republican Party including serving on the executive committee in several positions, most recently as president. Beyond any of these recognitions of her public service, Bitsy is most remembered as a gracious and loving hostess, a beloved wife, and a devoted mother and grandmother. Friends and peers remember her as genuine and hard-working, blessing many with home-cooked meals and her hand-made textiles through the years. She welcomed not only her family into her heart and home, but offered food, advice, and assistance to her sorority sisters, her Girl Scout girls, her friends’ children, her children’s friends, and many a wayward traveler over the years, both human and canine. She absolutely meant every word of “for better or for worse, but not for lunch”, “let me help you with your math”, and “I love you.” Bitsy’s life will be consecrated with a funeral at 4 pm Friday, October 14th at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, 123 S. Jackson Street, Athens, TN 37303. The family will host a Celebration of Life from 11:00 am – 1:30 pm on Saturday, October 15th at Vanderwall Funeral Home, 164 Maple Street, Dayton, TN 37321 with internment at Buttram Historic Cemetery to follow later in the day. In lieu of flowers, please honor Bitsy with a donation in her name to the Delta Zeta Foundation General Scholarship Fund OR the educational organization of your choice that furthers the light of learning. Please share your memories and photos of Marie on her online guest register at www.vanderwallfh.com. The family is being cared for by Vanderwall Funeral Home in Dayton, TN.

Marie Elizabeth Gryder

November 5, 1948 - October 7, 2022