Maurine McCalla Roden

Maurine McCalla Roden, a resident of Covington, passed away on Sunday, August 16, 2020. She was 98 years old. Maurine was born November 10, 1921 to Maude Trotter McCalla and John Mann McCalla Maurine was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Eugene, her parents, her brother, John Mann McCalla, II, a nephew, John Mann McCalla, III and her sister-in-law, Catherine McCalla. She is survived by her daughter, Linda Roden Tolley (Rusty); two granddaughters, Charlotte Tolley and Mary Tolley Martin (Kevin); nephew, Keith McCalla and his two sons, John and Jim McCalla. Maurine graduated from Byars Hall High School in 1940 and from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 1943 where she was a member of the Tri-Delta Sorority. While at the university, she met Eugene. After their marriage in 1944, they moved to Norris, Tennessee, where Eugene worked at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as an engineer. Maurine was a home economics teacher at Norris High School. They returned to Tipton County in 1948 where Maurine began a thirty year career as a home economics teacher at Brighton High School where she had a great love for her students. Eugene worked at the Millington Naval Air Station as a mechanical engineer for 42 years. After their retirement, they loved camping and fly fishing in Heber Springs, Arkansas. They also had a life time love for dancing, bridge, tennis and travel. They especially liked hiking in the Great Smokey Mountains and the climb to Mt. LeConte. In the early days of their retirement, they looked forward to visiting Glacier National Park and later, White Fish, Montana. Maurine was a happy and optimistic person and was a delight to many visitors and caregivers whom she loved and appreciated. All services will be private. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the First United Methodist Church of Covington or Grace Presbyterian Church in Bartlett.