Ernestine Teeter Friedman

Ernestine Teeter Friedman, former resident of Oak Ridge and Knoxville, Tenn., died Monday, December 4, 2017, in Scottsdale, Ariz., following a long battle with dementia. She passed peacefully in her sleep with her two sons and husband at her bedside. Ernestine was born the daughter of Pauline and Ernest Teeter in Wooster, Ark. She was raised and educated in McGehee and Morrilton. She received her undergraduate degree with a double major in Biology and Chemistry from Arkansas College (now Lyon College), where she was awarded the top academic prize upon graduation. Her Masters Degree in Microbiology was earned at the University of Arkansas. Following graduation, Ernestine worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory in the Biology Division and eventually worked for Oak Ridge Associated Universities as a Program Manager. She was a fierce and loyal UT Lady Vols Basketball season ticket holder. Ernestine was married to Dr. Howard Friedman, long-time practicing Clinical Psychologist in Oak Ridge. Together, they had two sons, Matthew, a successful free-lance film editor living in West Hollywood, Calif., and Craig, a Vice President with EXOS, a Phoenix-based firm involved in corporate wellness and the training of elite and professional athletes. Ernestine was a loving, friendly, and giving person who focused her life on helping others. She was active in fundraising for the American Cancer Society and volunteering at the UT Gardens and in her community. Her focus was always on what she could do to help those in need. Mourning her loss, but celebrating her well-lived life, are her husband, Howard, son Matthew and his husband Chris and their son Gabriel, son Craig and his wife Katie, brother Dr. Stanley Teeter and his wife Maysel of Russellville, Ark., sister Karen, also of Russellville, and sister-in-law Ellee and her husband Steve of Enfield, Conn. She will also be missed by nephews, nieces, great-nephews, great-nieces and numerous friends. A celebration of Ernestine's life will be held at First United Methodist Church of Russellville, Ark., Saturday, February 24th, at 10:00 a.m. in the Sanctuary. There will be a visitation immediately following the service. Memorials may be made to The Bluefield Project to Cure Frontotemporal Dementia, 637 Carolina St., San Francisco, Calif., 94107, or to a cause of your choice.