Winnie Spears Scates

The daughter of Alvin and Pearl Grimsley Spears, Winnie was born on August 31, 1921, in Guild, Tenn., where her father served as lockmaster for Hales Bar Dam. After graduation from Marion County High School, she taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Marion County and fourth and fifth grade in Whiteside, Tenn. When her two daughters were students at Jasper Elementary School, she worked in the school cafeteria to be near her children during the day.

In the 1960s, Winnie completed LPN training and began her nursing career at Erlanger. She later moved from Jasper to Chattanooga to be closer to her work at Memorial Hospital, where she retired from nursing. She was a dedicated member of Lake Hills Church of Christ for many years, and enjoyed senior activities, winning several gold medals for shuffleboard in the Senior Olympics, bowling, reading, and spending time with her loved ones.

Winnie was preceded in death by her beloved parents; husbands, Boyed Spangler, Roy Marlow, and Paul Scates; sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Herschel Long; and brother and sister-in-law, Jack and Betty Spears.

As she departs this life, Winnie leaves behind her beloved family to mourn her passing and to celebrate her 90 years of life: her two daughters and their husbands, Carol and Paul Barnett, Chattanooga; and Peggy and Larry McDonald, Knoxville; two granddaughters and spouses, Tracey and Joe Walker, Chattanooga; Jill and Chris Kirby, Indianapolis; two grandsons and spouses, Adam and Ashley Barnett, Chattanooga; Brian and Kym McDonald, Nashville; nine great-grandchildren, Brody Barnett; Jessah Davis; Jack and Tatum Kirby; Addie Grace, Sawyer, and Landry McDonald; and Hutch and Caden Walker; one niece and her husband, Susan and Ron Sawyer; one nephew, David V. Long, Woodstock, Ga., and several great-nieces.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 , at the North Chapel.

Services for Winnie will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Thursday at the North Chapel. Burial will follow in Hamilton Memorial Gardens.

The family extends their gratitude to the staff of Martin-Boyd Christian Home and Hospice of Chattanooga, who lovingly cared for Winnie in her last days.

Arrangements are by the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, 5401 Highway 153, Hixson, TN 37343. .