Nancy Julian Siler, 94, passed away peacefully on March 11, 2018. She was the daughter of Ruth Julian and Charles Nelson Julian of Roane County and the widow of Tom Siler, long-time Sports Editor of the Knoxville News Sentinel.
She graduated from San Diego State College in San Diego, California, and did graduate work in education at Columbia University, New York and the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
She was the author of two nationally published children's books: The Peculiar Miss Pickett and Miss Pickett's Secret. Her other published books included histories of First Baptist Church, Baptist Hospital and the Knox County Baptist Association. She also edited Ask Emily, a gardening book for the Knoxville Garden Club.
She was widely recognized for her horticulture accomplishments, winning several awards for her propagation of wildflowers from seed. The Knoxville Garden Club honored her with the Van Guilder Award, the Medal of Merit and the Award of Excellence. The Garden Club of America presented her with the Sara Chapman Francis Medal at a national meeting in Newport, Rhode Island, as well as the GCA Horticulture award. She was an accredited GCA flower show judge and a Master Gardener. She maintained a wildflower garden at her Knoxville home in Sequoyah Hills and generously shared plants with friends and neighbors.
Educated as a teacher, she taught school in California, New York and Tennessee, as well as for the U.S. Army in Germany in 1948-49. She taught computer skills to seniors at the John T. O'Connor Center and at Sequoyah Hills Presbyterian Church. Her most recent volunteer activity was as a tour guide for school groups at the East Tennessee History Museum.
She was an active member of First Baptist Church and a Pink Lady Volunteer at Fort Sanders Hospital for more than 20 years.
In 2001, she was awarded the Covenant Health Platinum Award, which recognizes active, productive seniors.
She is survived by Dr.Thomas T. Siler, Jr and wife Sara Kerr Siler, of Olalla, WA, and Charles Julian Siler and wife, Julie Flynn Siler of Ross, CA. Grandchildren are Charles, Katie, Samuel and Joseph Siler of Tacoma and Cody and Andrew Siler of Ross. Her great-grandchildren are Hunter, Lucas and Elianna Siler of Tacoma, WA and Wyatt Waters of Olalla, WA.
Funeral services will be held at First Baptist Church of Knoxville on April 3rd. Friends will be received at 10 a.m., followed by a gathering of family and friends celebrating her life at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, gifts may be made to the charity of your choice. Family and friends may share their condolences online at www.highlandmemorialknoxville.com.
Partager l'avis de décès
v.1.8.18