Funeral Mass held at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus
The East Tennessee Catholic
The Diocese of Knoxville is mourning the death of Julia Driscoll Schriver, a beloved, faithful parishioner of the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus who passed away peacefully at her Knoxville home on Sept. 2.
Among many esteemed attributes, Mrs. Schriver had the distinction of being one of the longest-living graduates of Knoxville Catholic High School at the time of her death. Through the years she was a faithful supporter of her Fighting Irish alma mater.
Mrs. Schriver, a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, and friend, was born in Knoxville in 1929 as the daughter of Leo and Nell Driscoll.
The proud graduate of Knoxville Catholic High School, class of 1946, loved to share her accomplishments as a member of the basketball team. She went on to earn her degree from St. Catharine College in Kentucky before working at the University of Tennessee in the department of geology as well as holding a position in the Knoxville field office of the FBI.
In 1951, Mrs. Schriver married the love of her life, Robert Schriver, with whom she shared 62 wonderful years before his passing in 2013. She was also preceded in death by her siblings: Leo Driscoll, Eleanor Driscoll, Brother Roland Driscoll, CSC, Father James Driscoll, Martha Austin (Bill), Mary Reese (Bill), and her niece, Mary Anne Reese.
A devout lifelong Catholic, Mrs. Schriver’s faith guided her life and gave her strength. She found joy and peace in the Smoky Mountains, especially at her cherished second home in Norton Creek, and created countless treasured memories with family and friends at Hilton Head Island.
She enjoyed playing tennis at the Knoxville Racquet Club and Cherokee Country Club, where she also loved her years with friends on the bowling team. She was a member of the Nine O’ Clock Cotillion and contributed greatly to her Westmoreland Heights neighborhood, where she lived for 65 years.
Mrs. Schriver also was a gifted artist whose works touched many. A founding member of the Art and Antiques Gallery on the World’s Fair site, she became recognized as one of Knoxville’s celebrated artists.
Her passions extended to her community through her active involvement in the Dogwood Arts Festival, the Knoxville Museum of Art Guild, the Town and Country Garden Club, the Sewing Club (where she never sewed), and The Fork and Foam, a treasured dinner club of friends that thrived for more than 50 years.
She was an ardent supporter of the University of Tennessee Volunteers and Lady Vols and all things Big Orange, never missing the chance to cheer them on.
Mrs. Schriver will be remembered for her faith, her creativity, her devotion to family and friends, and her unwavering love of the mountains, the South Carolina coast, and the community she called home.
In 2022, Knoxville Catholic High School honored Mrs. Schriver, an “Irish Legend,” as the school celebrated its 90th year.
Julia Schriver receives the Irish Legend Award from Knoxville Catholic High School president Dickie Sompayrac in 2022. Mrs. Schriver was a proud supporter of KCHS, her alma mater, class of 1946.
Mrs. Schriver, as the legend honoree, was recognized at the KCHS Green & Gold Gala attended by more than 300 people.
“Julia’s accomplishments are many, and she has been an ardent supporter of KCHS, playing an instrumental role in establishing the current Fox Lonas campus as well as the Schriver Fine Arts Suite,” Knoxville Catholic president Dickie Sompayrac said at the event.
Mrs. Schriver recalled her days at KCHS.
“When I went to Catholic High School, it was a small, small school,” she said. “In my class, there were around 23 students, and seven of them were boys,” she added with a laugh. “So, you see, the girls didn’t have much choice.”
In those days, KCHS was in the old Ashe House on Magnolia Avenue in East Knoxville.
“It was just a big old-fashioned house with huge rooms,” Mrs. Schriver said. “Oh, it was a wonderful place. We thought that was just heaven at Catholic High. They built the gym, and next to it was a science room.”
She especially recalled her physics teacher.
“I can remember Sister Mary Irene taught physics,” Mrs. Schriver said. “Now, I took physics, and I couldn’t tell you what physics is.”
After graduating from KCHS, Mrs. Schriver met her husband, Robert.
“Some friends introduced us,” she said. “That was in ’51, and we got married.”
Knoxville Catholic High School presented a touching video tribute to Mrs. Schriver following her death.
“One of Knoxville Catholic High School’s most treasured alumni, Julia Driscoll Schriver (’46), passed away last week. Julia lived in Knoxville, where she worked during her professional career, which included working at the University of Tennessee in the Department of Geology as well as a position at the Knoxville FBI office. She was also a well-known artist. Many of you may recognize her work. She painted the three different campuses that Knoxville Catholic has called home and we use the renderings often. Julia was married to Robert Schriver until his death in 2013, and they had three children—all of whom graduated from her alma mater: Rob (’71), Suzanne (’76), and Ragan (’84), and three grandchildren: Kate Kilgore (’04), Julianna Rechter, and Amelia Rechter (’21) who carry on her loving and generous spirit,” the high school said in a statement.
“Julia Schriver was a true Irish Legend! As a student, Julia excelled in the classroom, on the basketball court, and in her passion for art. She was a true testament to the mission of KCHS. Throughout her life, as mother, wife, and an alum of Catholic High, she was always so proud of her time at Catholic, the many friends she made while there, and all the growth that the school has experienced. We will certainly miss her at our annual Golden Grads brunch but know that she will be smiling down on all the Irish faithful for years to come. Our thoughts and prayers are with her family. May she rest in peace,” said Dickie Sompayrac, president of Knoxville Catholic High School.
Mrs. Schriver was featured in a March 2017 story in The East Tennessee Catholic, when she donated the use of the Schriver family’s home in the Smoky Mountains to a young family whose home and all their belongings were incinerated in the November 2016 fires that devastated much of Sevier County, including Gatlinburg. Mrs. Schriver had read about the Reed family’s plight and wanted to lend them a hand with the use of her home until the family’s house could be rebuilt. The Reed family was very touched and very grateful to Mrs. Schriver for her unconditional generosity.
A funeral Mass for Mrs. Schriver was celebrated on Sept. 6 at the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, with Father Chris Michelson serving as the celebrant. Concelebrating the Mass were Monsignor Al Humbrecht, Father Peter Iorio, Father David Boettner, and Father Tom O’Connell. A private burial service followed the Mass.
Mrs. Schriver is survived by her three children, Rob (Debby), Suzanne (Dave Rechter), and Ragan (Jeff Vomund); grandchildren Kate Kilgore (Kenzie), Julianna Rechter, and Amelia Rechter; great-granddaughters Lily and Mae; and her cherished niece, Kristen Austin Gunter (Erik). The Schriver family extends its deepest gratitude to Dr. Amy Bentley, Angela Bridges, Renee O’Connor, Cathy Rhodes, and Morgan Snapp for the loving and compassionate care they gave Mrs. Schriver.
Donations in Mrs. Schriver’s memory may be made to the Cathedral of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus or a favorite charity.