Christie Arnett Ketterly

Christie Arnett Ketterly, 78, of North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, passed away at Duke University Hospital last week surrounded by her loving family. Known to family and friends as Chris, she grew up in Saint Albans, West Virginia, graduated from Saint Albans High School in 1965, earned both her bachelor's and master's degrees from Marshall University, and remained a proud Marshall Thundering Herd fan throughout her life. Chris was preceded in death by her parents, Orville and Imogene Arnett. She is survived by her husband of 56 years, Frank; her brother, Steve (Judy); her daughter, Jennifer (Janna); her son, Frank (Bonnie); and her granddaughters whom she loved very much, Caitlin and Lainey. She will be missed by lifelong friends from her neighborhood on Carroll Street, Saint Albans classmates, Marshall sorority sisters, teaching colleagues and beach community. Chris loved her hometown and sports. She was a talented athlete in basketball and softball and remained a sports fan throughout her life, especially following the NCAA Women's March Madness tournament each spring. She also loved the beach and beach music, especially The Platters. She and her husband built a beautiful beach home, where they settled after retirement. It quickly became her favorite place for family gatherings, welcoming her children and grandchildren. To her grandchildren, "Grans" was the best cook, and they always looked forward to discovering sweet treats tucked away in her kitchen candy drawer. She loved bringing family together, making Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, and Fourth of July memories around the table a cherished tradition. Education was Chris's calling. During a long and meaningful career as a teacher and principal in Kanawha County schools, she inspired students, supported families, mentored young educators, and quietly made her community better through her kindness, integrity, and dedication. Services will be held on Saturday, August 8, at 1:00 p.m. at Bartlett-Nichols Funeral Home in Saint Albans. Friends may visit with the family one hour prior to the service. Entombment will immediately follow at the upper mausoleum of Cunningham Memorial Park. Her legacy lives on in the thousands of students she encouraged, the family she adored, and the countless friends she enjoyed. Nothing brought her greater joy than being surrounded by the people she loved. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial contributions be made to the Chris Ketterly Legacy Education Fund, established to honor Chris's lifelong commitment to education by supporting annual classroom mini-grants and educational initiatives for educators in St. Albans, West Virginia. Donations may be made online at: https://gofund.me/5b73a1049 or by mailing a check payable to Chris Ketterly Legacy Education Fund to: Chris Ketterly Legacy Education Fund, c/o Jennifer Ketterly/Deb Brown, 9 River Park Circle, St. Albans, WV 25177 You can visit Chris’s tribute page at BartlettNicholsFuneralHome.com to share condolences or memories with the family. Bartlett-Nichols Funeral Home, family owned and located at 409 Sixth Ave., St. Albans is honored to serve the Ketterly family.

Christie Arnett Ketterly

November 20, 1947 - July 30, 2026