Reba Effler

Mrs. Reba Effler of Seymour, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on Monday, April 8, 2024, at the age of 96 with her family by her side. She was a resident of Freedom Senior Living in Sevierville.

Reba was born on April 7, 1928, to James and Josie Huskey who lived in the Pea Ridge community of Maryville. She was the only girl of their 5 children. She attended school at Porter. She married Luther Effler in 1946 and they had one daughter, Barbara Jean.

Reba worked at Standard Knitting Mill for over 25 years. She was a talented seamstress and lovingly sewed many outfits for Barbara and her grandchildren (as well as matching outfits for their baby dolls, too!)

Reba was an avid hiker of the Smoky Mountains, making numerous trips to Gregory Bald. She also walked the 11-mile loop of her beloved Cades Cove many times. Her stamina was remarkable, and she put the rest of her (much younger) family to shame.

Reba was as hard-working as they come. She would spend countless hours each day in the hot sun working in her vegetable garden and tending to her roses and flowerbeds. She also spent a lot of time canning vegetables and cooking good ol’ country food and delicious desserts. Her energy and endurance prompted her grandson, Jason, to name a coffee drink after her at his coffee house. It was called “The Iron Horse,” and it contained 4 shots of espresso!

Reba had a wide variety of interests. She wrote many poems with themes of patriotism, family, and hiking. She loved University of Tennessee sports, especially the Lady Vols. You would always find a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle in progress on her kitchen table. She was constantly on-the-go in her little red car, spending most days working out at the gym, shopping, and doing one of her very favorite things…eating out. Reba was a long-time member of Oak View Baptist Church. She was humble, incredibly witty, and so much fun to be around. She was completely selfless, always focusing on blessing her family and friends before thinking of herself. She had a way of making every person feel special. Her kind and gentle spirit will live on and inspire her family to love with the same fervor that she did. She was deeply loved and will be so desperately missed.

Reba is preceded in death by husband, Luther Effler; grandson, Christopher Russell; parents, James and Josie (Hurst) Huskey; brothers, Newell, Clyde, Paul, and Wayne Huskey. She is survived by her daughter, Barbara Russell; grandchildren, Shannon (Mike) Kurowski, Jason (Jynnifer) Russell; great-grandchildren, Kristen (Jason) Glenn, Kodie Russell, Alexander Kurowski, Adriana (Burton) Beeson, and Jorrie Russell; step great-grandchildren, Sydney, Jynna, and Aidan Fagan; great-great grandchildren, Rylan Glenn, Holly Ivens, Canaan Glenn, and Luka Villa.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, April 14, 2024 at Smith Funeral Home, 1402 Tuckaleechee Pike, Maryville, from 1:00 to 2:00. The funeral service will be at 2:00 with Scott Huffstetler officiating. Friends and family will assemble at 11 am, Monday, April 15 at Grandview Pavilion for the interment. Smith Funeral & Cremation Service www.smithlifeandlegacy.com