September 27 1929 November 27 2022
Corley, Patty Jean McIlvain of Nashville passed away on November 27, 2022. Pat was born on September 27, 1929, in Cynthiana, KY. After graduating from Issac Litton High School in 1947, she married her childhood sweetheart and cherished friend, Joe Corley on May 30, 1948. They enjoyed 63 years of a beautiful life together. Pat was a devoted wife and mother. For many years, her family was the primary focus of her life. As our mother, she was always positive and encouraging, until you broke an important rule, and then there were consequences. After that, things quickly got back to normal. She rarely had a negative word to say about anyone, unless they were critical of her beloved Joe. She was a cheerleader in high school, and she continued to be a cheerleader of anything that was important to her children. She was famous for her fried chicken at Sunday lunch after church. Her children’s friends all wanted an invitation to share in the Sunday meal! She constantly smiled and always had a word of encouragement. After raising her children, her passionate pursuit was tennis. She was a gifted athlete and a student of the game. As a gracious competitor, she enjoyed friendships formed through playing the game. People enjoyed playing with her and against her because she was always enthusiastic and encouraging, and she was fair in calling the lines! She was a great doubles partner, and Joe enjoyed playing the net when they competed against others. Pat and Joe were a great couple. At a restaurant, they were interested in the people who waited on them and got to know them personally over the years. At Rotier’s, they knew the Rotier family, Dede the cook, the wait staff, and the people who cleaned the tables. They made friends and through the years kept up with the details of their stories. For many years of her life, Pat and Joe were deeply involved in Madison Church of Christ where they raised their children and formed lasting friendships. Pat taught a class for two-year-olds for over 20 years with her friend Barbara Burton. Every Sunday morning, mom taught the children with joy and encouraged their parents. In the later years of their life together, Pat and Joe spent half the year in Ft. Lauderdale, FL where they formed many friendships playing tennis and attending church. They enjoyed simple pleasures of life together, and when Joe died on October 11, 2011, her heart was broken. For 11 years, she longed to be with him again. On Sunday, she died with hope in Jesus whom she served all her life, and with the expectation of seeing her beloved Joe again. Preceded in death by her parents Russell Gordon and Marion Clifford McIlvain and her husband Joe. She is survived by her daughters Donna Corley of Maryville, TN, Karen (Phil) Travis, Jan Corley Walker (Kirk Camplin), Russ (Jackie) Corley, grandchildren Corley Allison (Stephen) Suttles; Brittany Travis (Jeff) Webb, Philip Corley (Crystal) Travis, Jason Corley Walker, Blair Walker (Chase) Campbell, Barbara Kay Corley (Ketil Blom Haugstulen), Joel Russell (Meredith) Corley, Jonathan Michael Corley; great-grandchildren Bryson Corn and Kyndall Suttles, Blake and Charli Webb, Caden, Tyler, and Dansby Campbell, and Vera Louise Corley. As a family, we are especially grateful for her team of caregivers: Bennye Doyte, Cindy Ledford, Tiffany McConnell, Lisa Mullins, Terri Murphy, and Brittany Sanders. There will be a private family graveside service at Spring Hill Funeral Home. For anyone interested, on the Sunday of her death, Russ spoke about his mother and that talk can be heard at: youtu.be/nyDjDmZnmx0?t=1943 In Lieu of flowers, donations in her memory can be made to: Encouragement Ministries, PO Box 2082, Brentwood, TN 37024-2082; or AccentCare, 741 Cool Springs Blvd., Suite 102. Franklin, TN 37067-2697
Our most sincere sympathies to the family and friends of Patty Jean Corley September 27 1929 November 27 2022.
Spring Hill Funeral Home & Cemetery
Death notice for the town of: Nashville, state: Tennessee