Pauline Havens

Feb 24, 1921 – Feb 2, 2012

Pauline Havens passed away February 2, 2012 at Claiborne County Hospital, Tazewell, TN. Known throughout her life as Pauline, she was born Elsie Pauline Sandefur on February 24, 1921 in the family home off Goins Chapel Road near Tazewell, Tennessee. A graduate of Claiborne County High School, her first career was as a secretary-bookkeeper for the Farm Bureau in Tazewell.

In 1941 she married Donald R. Williams who served in the US Army until 1945. They lived in Bacchus, near Tazewell, until 1950 when they moved to Monroe, Michigan. Pauline and Donald had four sons, Donald, Charles, Bruce, and Gary. In Monroe, Pauline was for almost 20 years the secretary-bookkeeper of the now-closed Buckeye Furniture Company. Her later career positions included being the office manager in a Monroe area real-estate agency, Mr. Real Estate.

 In 1972 she married the widower, John McCreary and became the loving step-mother to seven children (Wayne, Michael, Roger, Linda, Helen, Vivian, and Brenda). Upon John's retirement, they moved to Tazewell. In Tazewell, Pauline worked on the staff of the senior citizens' center and at Wal-Mart.

With enduring musical talent and sensitivity, Pauline served as part of musical ensembles in local churches. Using her clear and melodious alto voice, she was a member of a traveling gospel quartet that for many years participated in worship and "singing conventions" in East Tennessee, Kentucky, and Michigan. She often provided the piano accompaniment for the quartet.

In 2006 Pauline married Richard Havens, a lay pastor in Tazewell. They made their home in Tazewell.

Pauline is survived by her husband, Richard Havens of Tazewell, and sons and daughters-in-law, Donald L. and Betty F. Williams of Westfield, NJ; Nancy A. Williams of Monroe, MI; Bruce A. and Vicky Williams of Ypsilanti, MI; Gary W. and Dorothy Williams of Tazewell, TN, 13 living grandchildren, and 16 great-grandchildren. Other living family members include sisters Dessie (Mrs. Steward) Collingsworth of Tazewell and Jeanette Roark of Knoxville.

Funeral services have been held in Tazewell.  There will be a graveside service at 11 a.m. Wednesday at Roselawn Memorial Park, Lasalle; with a luncheon following at Christ Lutheran Church.  Rupp Funeral Home is in charge of local arrangements.

Online condolences may be sent through www.ruppfuneralhomeinc.com.