Eva Dee Bratten Crouch, 87, of Decatur, died Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007.

A native of Dekalb County, and a former resident of Nashville and Oak Ridge, she lived in Decatur since 1955 and served as postmaster from 1969 to 1986. She was a member of St. Paul\'s Episcopal Church in Athens, the U. S. Postmasters Association and Home Demonstration Club. She was preceded in death by her parents, Davis C. and Eva Vivian Bratten; one brother, Joe Bratten; and her husband, Gil Crouch Sr.

Survivors include one son and daughter-in-law, Gil Jr. and Susan Crouch of Bowling Green, Ky.; three daughters and two sons-in-law, Susan and Ed Bales, Alice and Chip Beets and Vivian Rymer, all of Knoxville; eight grandchildren, John Golden, Andrew Rymer, Sarah Rymer Eaton, Elizabeth Crouch Fitts, Michael and Stephen Crouch and Jason and Eddie Bales; and nine great-grandchildren.

Funeral services will be 3 p.m. Wednesday at St. Paul's Episcopal Church with the Rev. Hendree Harrison officiating. A private burial will follow in Cedar Grove Cemetery.

The family will receive friends for an hour-and-a-half prior to the service in the church fellowship hall.

In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the Building Fund of Decatur United Methodist Church, 145 Vernon St., Decatur, TN 37322, or the St. Paul\'s Episcopal Church Memorial Fund, P.O. Box 326, Athens, TN 37371-0326.

Those unable to attend may send condolences to mailto:condolences@laycock-hobbs.com