Paula Gillespie

Paula Jeanne Young Gillespie (83) of Oak Ridge, TN, passed away on July 4th at 2pm CT, surrounded by family and friends.

Paula was a loving mother, dedicated friend and creative teacher. She taught early education at Daniel Arthur in Oak Ridge and later developed the Career Planning Program at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory. She was active in the Red Hatters, including a charter member of the Hannahbelle's Hootenannies. She loved caring for her special girls Andrea Herd, Alona, Alexis and Chelsey Burnham.

She is preceded in death by husbands Frank Gillespie and Tom Huffstetler, parents Landon and Jewel Young, sister Edna Wilhite, and brothers-in-law Charles Gore and Gary Phillips. She is survived by sons, Stuart Gillespie (Linda) and Landon Gillespie (Jane), daughter, Melanie Gillespie, grandchildren Christina Gillespie, Trevor Gillespie (Lauren), Spencer Gillespie, and Shelby Gillespie; sisters Mildred Stone (Bo), Barbara Phillips, Louise Howard (David), Judy Gore Young (Bo) and Janet Davis (Bobby); brother-in-law Ralph Wilhite; step-daughters Lise Blakey (David) and Kae Robbins, with granddaughters Lindsey Robbins and Emily King (Jeff); godsons Greg Huber (Rahn) and Joe Fitts; step-granddaughters Laura Klein and Amy Niemann (Tony, children Zachary and Kayla) and many beloved cousins, nieces and nephews.

Visitation and Viewing will be Sunday, July 9, from 3-6 pm at Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home. The Celebration of Life Service will be on July 22, at 2:00 pm at St Stephens Episcopal Church in Oak Ridge, TN. with burial to follow at Oak Ridge Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to St Jude's or American Cancer Society.

Online messages may be left for the family at www.martinfuneralhomeoakridge.com . Services entrusted top Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home 865-483-4341