NEW PARIS, Ohio — Dexter McCoy Bush Bussell, 81, formerly of Harrogate, Tenn., died, Friday evening, Oct. 5, 2007, at her daughter’s residence after an extended illness.

Born on Jan. 1, 1926, in Luther, Tenn.,she was the daughter of the late Dewey and Laura Ethel (Mills) McCoy. She had worked at the Atomic Energy Plant in Oakridge, Tenn., was a teachers aide at Ellen Meyers School, Lincoln Memorial University, clerk at Claiborne County Trustee’s office during busy seasons, farmer and housewife. She was also a member of Shawanee Baptist Church in Shawanee, Tenn.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by husbands, Leonard Bush, Andrew Bussell and William Rittenberry; son, Ricky Lee Rittenberry; brothers, Earl McCoy and Jeptha McCoy; grandson, Richard Harrah; and sister, Judith K. Heiskell.

Survivors include her children, Brenda (Wayne) Gulley of New Paris, Ohio, Geneva (Morris) Harrah of Meadow Bridge W.Va., Jeanette (Frank) Mulholland and Lillard Bush both of Zepheys Hills, Fla., Willard K. Bush of Sylvester, Ga., and Dorothy Evans of Pleasant View, Tenn.; 11 grandchildren, 28 great grandchildren and 1 great great-grandchild; nieces and nephews; and special friends of 62 years, Mildred Wilson Nix, and Wayne and Carolyn Sexton.

Funeral services will be held 10 a.m. Tuesday, Oct. 9, at Reece Funeral Home and Valley Chapel with the Rev. Donnie Fox and the Rev. Tip Moore officiating. Music will be by Judy Edwards and Barbara Owens.

Interment will be in Harrogate Cemetery. Pallbearers are Wayne Gulley, David Herrmann, Dewayne Gulley, Morris Harrah, Don Gulley, and Johnny Coward.

The family will receive friends on Monday, Oct. 8, from 5 to 8 p.m. at Reece Funeral Home. Condolences may be sent to the family via the Web site at www.reecefh.com .