Laura Ellen Chastain Raulston of the Sweeten’s Cove Community passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 4. She was born to the late Joseph Erskine Chastain and Christine Elizabeth Patton Chastain on October 16, 1928 in Watertown, Tennessee. Laura was a member of the South Pittsburg Cumberland Presbyterian Church for over 70 years. She was heavily involved in many church activities, as well as singing in the sanctuary choir. She loved her Lord Jesus Christ and was quick to share this with all who would listen. Laura was an educator at heart. She knew from a very early age she wanted to be a teacher. Laura was a graduate of Mt. Juliet High School and Middle Tennessee State College/University, where she received her Bachelors, Masters and Education Specialist degrees. She began teaching in 1948 at Richard Hardy Memorial School as a 4th grade teacher, then later teaching Junior High English. She later accepted the position of Superintendent/Principal and served in that capacity until retirement in 1988. Laura lived all of her married life on the Raulston Family Farm in Sweeten’s Cove. She loved to ride horses on the farm, on mountain trails, and anywhere else horses were allowed. With her first paycheck from teaching, she purchased a red roan Tennessee walking horse she affectionately named Fannie Lynn. She had other horses throughout the years so as to always have a horse to ride. Laura has often stated that she was thankful to God for allowing her to live her adult years on the family farm. She also stated she could not have asked for a better place for her and her husband to be happy together and raise their three sons.
Laura is preceded in death by her father Joseph Erskine Chastain, mother Christine Elizabeth Patton Chastain of Mount Juliet, Tennessee, husband Henry Harrison Raulston Jr., father-in-law Henry Harrison Raulston Sr., mother-in-law Ellen Jane Marlow Raulston, brothers Paul Chastain of Kingsport, Tennessee, George Allen Chastain of Gallatin, Tennessee, brother-in-law Dr. Joseph Willoughby of Franklin, Tennessee, sisters-in-law Patsy Chastain of Kingsport, Tennessee, Armilla Chastain of Gallatin, Tennessee and granddaughter Allison Leigh Raulston of Rock Spring, Georgia.
She is survived by her sister Betty Jo Willoughby of Franklin, Tennessee, sons Daniel (Karen) Raulston of Rock Spring, Georgia, Dr. John (Tammy) Raulston of the Sweeten’s Cove Community and Mark (Laurie) Raulston of Tullahoma, Tennessee, grandchildren Sue Ellen Raulston (Waylon) Hasty, Neal (Amy) Raulston, Hannah Raulston (Kevin) Phillips, Harrison Raulston and Jonathan Raulston, great grandchildren Alleigh Hasty, Lucy Hasty, Molly Hasty, Gus Hasty and James Raulston, several nieces, nephews, as well as family members and special friends.
Visitation was on Tuesday, October 7 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Tate Funeral Home in Jasper.
Funeral services were also on Tuesday, October 7 at 1 p.m. in the Chapel of Tate Funeral Home in Jasper, with Reverend David Brown who officiated.
Laura was laid to rest on Tuesday, October 7 at Beene-Raulston Cemetery in South Pittsburg immediately after the funeral service was held.
Active pallbearers were Harrison Raulston, Jonathon Raulston, Neal Raulston, David Beutel, Waylon Hasty and Kevan Phillips. Honorary pallbearers were Larry Craig, Dewey Gilliam, George Holland, James Reynolds and Spence Oliver.
Special thanks to her caregiver Renda Byrd and the staff of Rosewood Memory Care in Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.
Funeral arrangements were entrusted to Tate Funeral Home, LLC, 950 Mel Dixon Lane, Jasper, Tennessee 37347, 423-942-9500.
The Marion Tribune – October 9, 2025