

Patricia Jill Gordon passed gently into the loving hands of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ in Chattanooga, TN on Sunday, May 3, 2026. A service celebrating her life will be held at 3 PM on Saturday, May 23, 2026, in the chapel at Alexian Village Retirement Center, 457 Alexian Way, Signal Mountain, TN 37377 where Jill has lived for ten years.
Born in Louisville, KY on July 7, 1934, Jill was a lifeforce indeed - full of joy, laughter, resilience, and most of all, love and a warm smile for everyone. She never knew a stranger and could fire off a good one-liner like a seasoned comic. Being a child of the Depression, things were not always easy, but from difficulties, she learned how to adapt, persevere and find the silver lining.
Jill was a warm and popular high schooler and she entered and won several beauty contests. She was most proud to have been crowned the 1953 Strawberry Festival Queen of Humboldt, TN and we have the picture to prove it!
She caught the eye of and married Billy Mack Campbell, a Korean War veteran, in 1953. She and Bill had three children: Mitchell, Mark and Jamie and she shepherded the family through nine moves across six states in 24 years: all while managing school changes, wardrobes for all climates, broken arms, job changes and meeting new friends. She could multi-task with the best of them! Bill moved the family to Fairhope, AL in 1973 and ended their marriage in 1977.
The shoe business was prominent in their family and Jill owned and managed two shoe stores during her lifetime – one in Fairhope and one in Dallas.
Jill enjoyed reading, cooking for her family, loving on her grandkids and great-grandkids and painting with her husband Lew, whom she married in 1984. Lew was a prolific impressionist artist and proceeded her passing in 2011. In their early years together, Jill and Lew travelled Europe gathering ideas and photographs for his works – several of which, along with some of hers, she cherished and displayed in her apartments at Alexian.
To all the family, she was “Honey”. She could greet you at the door with her dimples and a big smile, wrap you in a warm hug, fill you with a spectacular meal and a great story –maybe most of them true with a wink.
Jill is survived by her three children, Mitchell Campbell and Jenni of Taylor, MS; Mark Campbell and Kim of Chattanooga, TN and Jamie Oquin and Terry of Fairhope, AL; four grandchildren and their spouses, Andrew Campbell and Hannah of Chattanooga, TN, Chelsea Mautz of Atlanta, GA, John Campbell and Lauren of Nolensville TN and Matt Campbell and Melissa of Nashville, TN. Jill was blessed with ELEVEN great-grandchildren: Peter, Lucy, Walden and Esther Campbell; Walker and Lilly Mautz; Shepherd and Graham Campbell and Lewis, Rosalie and Redding Campbell.
To all the dedicated angels at Alexian Village, we would like to express our heartfelt thanks for the tender love and wonderful care you showed Jill in her later years. She always expressed to us all how happy she was there with all of you.
Donations may be made to Alexian Village for the care of its residents, link is down below.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.chattanooganorthchapel.com.
Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson.
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Alexian Village437 Alexian Way, Signal Mountain, Tennessee 37377
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