Bobbie Lynn Kyte Helton, 88, of Pigeon Forge, passed away peacefully on April 14, 2021, in Pigeon Forge.
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Bobbie is preceded in death by her grandparents, James and Emma Kyte and Troy and Minnie Cate; parents, Jewel T. and Leona Cate Kyte; beloved husband of 51 years, Buford Oscar “Jab” Helton; son, Buford Michael “Mike” Helton; great-grandson, Graham Isaiah Justus; siblings, Jewel T., J.T., and Mildred “Midge” Kyte; and numerous uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Bobbie is survived by daughters, Dianne Justus, of Knoxville, and Tammy Swicegood, of Bristol; daughter-in law, Patti Helton, of Gatlinburg; grandson, Daniel Kyte (Susan), of Sevierville; grandson, Eric Justus, of Knoxville, and great-granddaughters, MaKayla and Jayda; grandson, Isaac Justus (Cara), of Concord, NC, and great-grandchildren, Jonah, Caroline, and Tinleigh; granddaughter, Summer Justus Purnell (Brian), of Prospect, OR, and great-granddaughter, Hadley; grandson, Whit Helton (Sally), of Gatlinburg, and great-grandchildren, John and Erin Tate; granddaughter, Hannah Helton Harper (Van), of Sevierville, and great-granddaughter, Mary Michael; grandson, Brandon Swicegood (Vickie), of Bristol; brother-in-law, Wayne Helton (Barbara), of Sevierville; sister-in-law, Janice Helton Tarwater, of Sevierville; and numerous loving nephews, nieces, and cousins.
Bobbie was born in Kodak to Jewel and Leona Kyte on Dec. 15, 1932. A 1951 graduate of Sevier County High School and member of Waldens Creek United Methodist Church, she married the love of her life, Jab Helton, on June 9, 1951 in Rossville, Georgia. She was a wonderful homemaker, mother, and loving “Nannie” to her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She enjoyed canning, gardening, preparing special dishes for holidays, playing cards, watching reality television, cheering on the Tennessee Volunteers and Atlanta Braves, eating cheeseburgers and jellybeans while drinking sweet tea, talking on the phone, Dolly Parton, and red lipstick.
Funeral services will be held on Sunday, April 18, with visitation at 1 p.m. and service at 2 p.m. at Atchley Funeral Home in Sevierville. A graveside service at Oak Grove Cemetery in Kodak will be at 3:30 p.m. Reverend Larry S. Burcham, of First Baptist Church of Gatlinburg, will be officiating all services. Pallbearers will be grandsons, Eric Justus, Whit Helton, Isaac Justus, and Brandon Swicegood; nephews, Kris Kyte and Tony Helton; and honorary pallbearer, great-grandson, Jonah Justus. The family asks that those attending the service wear masks and maintain social distance.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be given to the Mike Helton Scholarship Fund. Created in 2017, the scholarship is awarded annually to a deserving student-athlete from Gatlinburg-Pittman High School. Donations may be made at any Citizens National Bank location.