Edna Christine Watkins Bean, 83, of Morristown, TN passed away on December 17, 2022, ending a brief stay at Morristown-Hamblen Hospital, where she was constantly surrounded by loving family.

She was born on December 22, 1938, in Fries, VA, to the Reverend Clyde F. and Margaret Dail Watkins.

As the daughter of a minister, Christine attended schools in a variety of cities around the Holston Conference of the United Methodist Church. She began her high school career at Dobyns-Bennett High School in Kingsport, TN and graduated from Bradley Central in Cleveland, TN in 1956. After high school, she attended Tennessee Wesleyan College, where she met John Bean, whom she married after they both graduated in 1960.

While John was in seminary in Evanston, IL, Christine worked as a checker at Kroger and as a clerk at General Finance Corporation’s home office. After the birth of their first child, they settled in Morristown where their other four children would be born, and after fourteen years as a homemaker, Christine returned to the workforce as a substitute teacher for the public school system. Later, she would serve in the Communications Skills Lab at Morristown College, as a proofreader at School Calendar Company for twenty-five years, and finally, as a local pastor serving Edwards Chapel in White Pine for eight years.

Christine was extremely active in the United Methodist Church all of her life. For over five decades, she was a member of First United Methodist in Morristown, where she was faithful to serve God and the church with her prayers, her presence, her gifts, and her service. In part, this was through holding the following positions: Coordinator of the Children’s Division, Communion Coordinator and member of the Worship Committee, Secretary and Mission Coordinator for Education and Interpretation for United Methodist Women, Chairman of the Ruth Circle of the UMW, and Sunday School teacher for all ages, nursery through older adults. As a strong believer in the importance of education and lifelong learning, she was always seeking to increase her knowledge and understanding of a variety of subjects. She completed all levels of the Discipleship classes at FUMC and taught several of the classes herself. She also enjoyed photography, working outdoors, reading, and sewing.

Christine is survived by her children, Allen Bean of Richmond, VA, Laura (Art) Hickey of Ooltewah, TN, Julia Bean Barnard of Cleveland, TN, Keith (Iris Schmakeit) of Munster, Germany, and Gary Bean of Morristown; grandchildren Jonathan (Courtney) Hickey, Philip (Sarah) Hickey, Patrick (Selina) Hickey, Stephanie Hickey, Paul Hickey, Abigail (Jeffrey) Hill, Casey (Nick) Cummings, Sarah (David) Hicks, Nicholas Bean, and Oliver Bean; 18 great-grandchildren; sister Mary Sue Still of Kingsport, TN; sisters-in-law Ina Sue Watkins of Johnson City, TN, and Nancy Watkins of Redbank, TN; brother-in-law the Reverend Bob Bean of Knoxville; and a host of nieces, nephews, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John Bean; parents the Rev.Clyde F. Watkins and Margaret Dail Watkins; brothers Marvin Watkins and Rhea Watkins; and brother-in-law Gene Still.

A Celebration of Life service will be held at First United Methodist Church, Morristown, TN at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2023. The family will receive friends from 2:00 to 3:00, prior to the service.

Flowers are welcome. Per Christine’s instructions, memorial gifts should be made to the Rev. Clyde F. Watkins Memorial Scholarship fund at Tennessee Wesleyan University.

Arrangements by Allen Funeral Home of Morristown.