Paralee Couch Obituary

Paralee "Pat" Bowers Shanks Couch

June 6, 1932 -

December 23, 2025

Paralee "Pat" Bowers Shanks Couch was born on June 6, 1932 to Clarence and Minnie Jane Harrison Bowers in Greene County, Tennessee. She departed this life to be with her Lord Jesus Christ on Tuesday, December 23, 2025. Pat was a former member of First Christian Church of Rogersville, TN and a current member of Timberlake Christian Church of Lynchburg, VA. She was a loving mom who brought her daughters up to love God and love others.

Pat was a graduate of Morristown Business College. She was blessed with many jobs she loved. She was a Laboratory Technician in the lab she and Morris Shanks owned, Deputy Trustee of Hawkins County, Assistant Librarian of H.B. Stamps Memorial Library, and she retired as an employee agent at Couch State Farm Agency.

She was an avid gardener and won the "Rogersville Main Street Beautification Award Residential" in June 2014. She also loved to paint and Teresa is blessed to have several of her paintings displayed in her home.

Pat moved to Forest, Virginia nine years ago to live with Teresa. As her health declined, she resided at Runk and Pratt at Liberty Ridge, Lynchburg the last four years. She loved to play Canasta with her new friends there. Pat still won frequently in her almost daily Scrabble matches with Teresa. She loved playing Words with friends, too.

In August of this year, Pat fell and broke her hip. She moved to the Summit Health and Rehabilitation in Lynchburg to recuperate.

She was preceded in death by her parents; husbands, Charles Morris Shanks and Elmer Couch; daughter, Cheryl Shanks Johnson; siblings, Alan Bowers, Guy Bowers, Robert Bowers, Anna Ruth Solomon, Fleeta Payne and Georgia Radar.

She is survived by her daughter, Teresa Shanks Graham (Bill), of Forest, VA; son-in-law, Larry Johnson of Murfreesburo, TN; step-grandchildren, Jessica Graham Prater, Joel Graham (Natalie), Joshua Graham (Danielle), Mark Johnson (Darlene), Chip Johnson, and Kim Potts; several step-great-grandchildren, many nephews and nieces; great-nephews and great-nieces.

She leaves a host of friends and family who will miss her.

Family will receive friends from 11:00am-12:00pm on Saturday, January 3rd at Christian-Sells Funeral Home. A Celebration of Life will begin at 12:00pm with Steve Newhouse officiating. Soloist will be Aubrey Smith and Pianist will be Dawnel Newhouse. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery.

Online condolences may be sent to the family at www.christiansells.com

Christian-Sells Funeral Home, Rogersville is honored to serve the Couch family.