Dava Jane Raulston Quarles

06/17/1953 – 04/16/2025

South Pittsburg, Tennessee

Dava Jane Raulston Quarles, 71, of South Pittsburg, Tennessee, passed away on Wednesday, April 16, 2025, peacefully with her loving family by her side.

Born on June 17, 1953, Dava was the youngest of the three daughters of Joseph Mancel Raulston, known to all as "Chick," and his wife, the former Allie Jane Anderson, known to most as "Addie." Dava was born into a family of love and laughter, who loved to dance and celebrate life together. Following in a family tradition of sorts, Dava married her childhood sweetheart, Michael Allen Quarles, and continued their loving partnership for 48 years, until her death on Wednesday, April 16, 2025.

Dava attended the public schools of South Pittsburg, graduating from South Pittsburg High School, and she received her Bachelor of Science and Masters degrees from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She taught elementary school for 34 years, first in Loudon County and Knox County, and then at Richard Hardy Memorial School, and South Pittsburg Elementary School. She also tutored students in the summer and worked for TIPS, the Tennessee Infant Parent Service. Dava loved every one of her 34 years of teaching, and especially loved the fact that there wasn't a week that went by for her, or later for her daughters, without a former student sharing their love and fond memories of their time in Mrs. Quarles's kindergarten class.

Dava was a member of the Marion County Retired Teachers Association; the Daughters of the American Revolution; the United Methodist Church; and the Ladies Hope Sunday School Class. Her hobbies and interests were nearly limitless, but they included crochet and cross stitching, playing the mandolin and the piano, watercolor painting, exercising, planting wildflowers, listening to music and dancing, reading, and teaching young children. She was an inveterate and highly accomplished list maker. Among her greatest joys were family vacations and spending time with her grandchildren. She always tried to look on the sunny side and find the good in any situation.

Dava was preceded in death by her parents, Chick and Allie Jane Raulston; her grandparents, D.C.,  Ava, and Allie Anderson and Mancel and Hewlett Raulston; two cousins, Grant Hammond and Gary Hammond, and her brother-in-law, Ramsey Quarles.

She is survived by her husband, Mike Quarles of South Pittsburg; her children: Ava Brook and David LaRoche, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, and Bailey Jane and Walker Henley, of South Pittsburg; her grandchildren: Anderson and Ayla LaRoche, and Charles and Hollan Henley; her sisters: Lynn (and Rusty) Adcock and Jody (and Lew) Loyd; her sister-in-law, Myra Quarles; her brother-in-law: Brian (and Tina) Quarles; her nieces and nephews: Rustan (Sarah) Adcock; Jocelyn Gill; Wilson Loyd; Brandon (Heather) Adcock; Jana (Rob) Barnett; Allyn (Jake) Rosenbloum; Dee (Kevin) Kelly; Kelly (Rex) Womack; and Dara Quarles; her first cousins: Marsha and Marge Raulston-Boric; Margaret Ann and Benny Rollins; Paula Sue Braden; Crockett and Debbie Hammond; Chris and Cindy Hammond; and Patricia Richards; several nieces, nephews and cousins, and all of her amazing friends.

A Celebration of Life graveside service will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, at 4:00 p.m. (CDT) at Bean-Roultson Cemetery, 7783 Sweetens Cove Rd, South Pittsburg, TN,  with Reverend Issac Blevins officiating.

Visitation will be held on Saturday, May 3, 2025, from 12:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. (CDT) at Rogers Funeral Home South Pittsburg Chapel, 400 Laurel Ave, South Pittsburg, TN prior to the graveside service at Bean-Roulston Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Bean-Roulston Cemetery Association, C/O Dr. John Roultson, PO Box 986, Jasper, TN 37347, or to Holly Avenue United Methodist Church Food Bank (Holly Market) P.O. Box 189 South Pittsburg, Tennessee 37380 South Pittsburg, TN 37380.

Arrangements are entrusted to Rogers Funeral Home, 400 Laurel Ave, South Pittsburg, Tennessee 37380 (423) 837-7176.