Maudie Lewis Kilby, 88, of Tracy City died Tuesday, Sept. 17 at Golden Living Nursing Home in Winchester.
She was born Sept. 23, 1924 in the White Hall Church community, and grew up a Viola farm girl. During World War II she worked at Northern Field in Tullahoma and at Oak Ridge, where through a co-worker and future sister-in-law she met a young sailor, John Kilby. They were united in marriage June 17, 1945. After John’s discharge they lived in Tracy City, Chattanooga and Dayton, started a family and eventually ended up back in Tracy City where in 1953 they purchased and operated the Modern Dry Cleaners until their retirement in 1985.
She was preceded in death by her husband, John. E. Kilby; parents, Dudley and Lillie Lewis; brothers, D.L. Lewis and Joe D. Lewis; sister, Bonnie Freeman. Maudie was a devoted mother who loved reading and to travel, and later in life became a proud and doting grandmother and great grandmother. She was a longtime member of Christ Episcopal Church in Tracy City.
Survivors include her daughter, Vicki Kilby Geary (Max, Jr.) of Brentwood; son, Ronald E. Kilby (Sharon) of Cowan; brother, Harold Lewis (Bobbie); sisters, Betty Lewis and Patty Hancock (Hoover) of Viola. She was beloved “Mimi” to grandchildren Kim Keidel (Kevin) of Franklin, Max D. Geary, III (Robin) of Spring Hill, Scarlett Cole (Eric) of Cowan and Colby Kilby of Mt. Juliet; great grandchildren, Mary and Mason Keidel, Eliott and Owen Geary, and Zoe and Chloe Cole.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Thursday in the chapel of Foster & Lay Funeral Home with Minister Clayton Jones officiating. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 5 to 9 p.m. Online condolences may be made at www.fosterlayfuneralhome.net.
Foster & Lay Funeral Home of Tracy City is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Sept. 18, 2013