Dr. Bonnie Strickland Marrs

Dr. Bonnie Strickland Marrs, 91, Johnson City, went to be with her Lord and Savior on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at Lakebridge Healthcare, surrounded by her family, following a long, incredible life full of adventure.Dr. Marrs was born in Cedar Hill, raised in Nashville, and lived most of her life in Johnson City. She was a daughter of the late Arthur Douglas and Bessie Louise Frey Perry.Bonnie received an Associate Degree in Dental Hygiene from East Tennessee State University in 1971, followed by a B.S. Degree in Health Education in 1974 and then a Master’s Degree in Supervision and Administration in 1975. She later earned a Ph.D. in Public Health Education in 1984 from the University of Tennessee.Dr. Marrs served as Public Health Dental Hygienist for the Tennessee Department of Public Health from 1973-86. She spent the majority of her career at E.T.S.U. where she was Assistant Professor of Health Education, and was later named Associate Professor in the Department of Public and Allied Health, until her retirement in 2001.Bonnie was the recipient of numerous honors and awards during her career, including the Cashion-Schmidt Trophy, which is awarded annually to the outstanding Clinician, the Dental Health Educator of the Year, Presidential Grant-In-Aid, and the Better Life Award. She was a member of Kappa Delta Pi, Phi Kappa Phi, the National Honor Society, and Who’s Who in American College. Dr. Marrs was also elected to the Tennessee Health Care Education Foundation and served as a member of the Tennessee Board of Examiners of Dieticians and Nutritionists.Bonnie was a founding member of Grace Fellowship Church. She was an avid traveler, and was proud to have visited many countries, including England, Ireland, Scotland, France, Germany, Italy, China, Russia and South America. Her favorite pastime was her time on Watauga Lake. She and her late husband, Clay, loved their time on their houseboat, “The BonBon”, and she especially loved having family and friends visit them at The BonBon, especially her grandchildren.In addition to her parents, Dr. Marrs was preceded in death by her husband, Clay Marrs, in 2017, and her siblings, A.D. Perry, Edwin Perry, Helen Perry, Evelyn Rives, Mary Grissom, Justine Duke, Ken Perry and Nancy Hoover.She is survived by five children, Jan Lindsay, Gray, Karen Blevins and husband Russ, Mars Hill, NC, Bo Strickland and wife Paula, Johnson City, Doug Strickland and wife Denise, Kingsport, David Strickland and wife Janet, Johnson City; fifteen grandchildren, Sarah Nutter and husband David, Johnson City, Brandon Blevins and wife Miranda, Johnson City, Spencer Blevins and wife Hannah, Mars Hill, Bonnie Jo Blevins, Bethel, ME, Dustin Strickland, Johnson City, Alisha Strickland, Johnson City, Ashley Brown, San Diego, CA, Alec Strickland, Nashville, Chad Strickland, Kill Devil Hills, NC, Gina Strickland, Seattle, WA, Tanner Strickland, Sydney, Australia, Jaden Cox, Nashville, Carson Cox, Johnson City, Riley Cox, Johnson City, Lucas Strickland, Johnson City; eleven great-grandchildren; several nieces and nephews.The Celebration of the Life of Dr. Bonnie Strickland Marrs, (BonBon), will be held Saturday, January 20, 2024, at 3:00 P.M., in the East Chapel of Appalachian Funeral Home, with Dr. Tommy Justus, officiating. The family will receive friends Saturday prior to the service from 1:00-3:00 P.M. in the East Parlor of the funeral home.In-lieu-of flowers donations may be made in honor of Dr. Marrs to Doe River Gorge Ministries at www.doerivergorge.com/marrs.Read Obituary