Mattie Lou Walsh

Mattie Lou McTeer Walker Walsh passed away on Monday, July 24, 2017 at Shannondale Nursing Home, in Knoxville, Tennessee. Surrounded by her children and enveloped in love, she left this world at the age of 94. A life-long Tennessean descended from some of the earliest Scotch-Irish settlers in Blount County. Mattie Lou was born in Knoxville on September 28, 1922 to William Arthur McTeer and Pearl Victoria Early; she was the third of four children. Mattie Lou was preceded in death by her husbands, Bill Walker and Bobby Joe Walsh, her sisters Virginia and Eleanor and her brother John. Mattie Lou is survived by her five children, Janie Walker, Ott Walker (Lisa), Sara Beth Warne (Doug), John Walker, and Katie Bolduc (Gary), as well as eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Mattie Lou McTeer was a pretty, vivacious student at Knoxville Central High School. As the first majorette at Central High School, Mattie Lou left her mark before graduating with the Class of 1939. After high school, Mattie Lou married Bill Walker and supported him as he served in the Pacific Theater with the U.S. Army Air Corps during World War II. After Bill returned home, they started a family and they built a successful business, Walker Chevrolet, in Clinton. Later in life, Mattie found a partner in Bobby Joe Walsh, a man with whom she would share her love for life as well as her hobbies: winning golf tournaments, dominating at the bridge table, dancing (trucking), and travel. Most precious to Mattie, however, was watching her already large family continue to grow as her grandchildren and great-grandchildren started to arrive. She was known lovingly as, “Grandma Mattie,” “Mee-Maw,” and our family matriarch. Mattie Lou was blessed to be loved by many in life; she will be missed by many in death. Her family offers a special thanks to her many caregivers and nurses who loved Miss Mattie and always enjoyed her laughter and quick smile. A graveside service will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, July 27 at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery, family and friends will meet at 10:30 AM at Berry Highland Memorial Funeral Home. In-lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or a charity of your choice. Friends are invited to leave their thoughts and memories at www.highlandmemorialknoxville.com