Alice "Karel" Moylan

Alice “Karel” Moylan of Maryville, TN, was born November 17, 1943, and grew up in Hasbrouk Heights, New Jersey. She dedicated herself completely to her children and to God, and died at age 81 surrounded by love.

Karel pursued a life of truth and meaning and overcame many challenges.

She was sarcastic, avoided left turns, and listened to Christmas music unironically all year long. She was a great dancer. She was not a great singer, but that didn’t stop her from belting out tunes for her children and grandchildren. She loved coffee, Cabernet (with ice), chocolate chip ice cream and discovering Garage Sale treasures for loved ones. She never quite managed to make “y’all” or “bless your heart” sound natural.

Karel fondly recalled train trips to the city with girlfriends as a young woman. She married her first husband, Ken, after high school and began a family as parents of Susan, Michael, and Stacy.

Karel later married William Francis Moylan, III, and loved him loyally for the rest of her days. She and Bill had daughters, Jennifer and Catherine. They ran a halfway house in New Haven, Connecticut before moving to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, where Karel supported Bill’s ministry until his death in 2002.

Karel spent most of her career at Y-12 in Oak Ridge. She worked in professional administration for robotics, legal and benefits departments over the years. She also worked for a time at a domestic violence shelter with the YWCA. Karel retired from the Department of Energy and committed the rest of her life to her family, especially the love and care of her grandchildren.

She is survived by her five adoring children: Susan Rule (Mark), Michael Fetzner (Kathy), Stacy McElroy (Ed, deceased), Jennifer Roper (Steven, deceased), and Catherine Reynolds (Sam).

She is mourned by her surviving siblings, Lois Kranitz and Terry Phillippi.

Karel leaves behind grandchildren: Katie, Joe, Stephen, Matthew, Johnathan, Jacqueline, Jake (Jen), Hannah, Elliott, Narayana, Rupa, Isaiah (Hope), Elijah, and Christian, as well as great granddaughters, Alexandria and Journey. She had many important people in her life including stepchildren, Michelle, Sean, and Kyle, a bonus daughter, Heather Findlay, and many loved nieces and nephews.

She will be missed by her beloved dog, Buck, who was almost as big as she was.

Karel grieved the loss of her little sister, Denise Phillippi Cerabone since 1982, and we know they are finally together again. She was also preceded in death by her grandson, Joshua, her parents, Geraldine Smith and Leo Phillippi, and her sister, Diana Reading.

Karel was classy in all the ways that mattered most - good taste, good manners, and grace, which apparently is not genetic.

She made you feel special and seen and left an indelible mark on all who knew her.

Please join us as we celebrate her life on Wednesday, Jan. 29, from 5-7 p.m at Capitol Theatre at 127 W. Broadway Ave. in Maryville

All are welcome to share a memory of Karel.

We will gather around 5, share a few words around 6 and toast her memory at 6:30 pm.

She will be interred with her husband, Bill, at East Tennessee Veterans Cemetery on Lyons View Pike in a private ceremony.

Mott-McKamey Funeral Home and Cremations is assisting the Moylan family.