Mary Nell Smedley

Mary Nell Smedley, 71, went to be with her Lord on Saturday, Dec. 14, 2013. She was a member of Apison Baptist Church. A lifelong resident of Apison, she was preceded in death by her parents, William Ray Smedley and Mary Ruth Hardwick Smedley of Apison. She graduated from Ooltewah High School and then received her B.S. and masters degree at UTC as well as post graduate work at Vanderbilt University George Peabody College in Nashville. She was a retired teacher with 31 years of service with the Hamilton County school system as a special education teacher as well as a class room teacher. She was a member of the Ooltewah, TN Order of Eastern Star for 50 years, having held several positions with the order. She held many offices during her tenure as well as being the Grand Representative in Tennessee to Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island, Canada. She is survived by her brothers, Charles (Harriet) Smedley, of Apison, Paul Smedley, of Apison, James (Carol) Smedley, of Ooltewah; and two nieces; four nephews; and several cousins. Funeral services will be held 11 a.m. Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2013, at Heritage Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Tylan Blansit officiating. The interment will follow in Plowman Cemetery, Apison, Tenn. Visit www.heritagefh.com to share words of comfort to the family. In lieu of flowers the family request that memorial contributions be made to the Ooltewah Eastern Star c/o Dennis Wofford 10035 Shagbark Trail Ooltewah, TN 37363. The family will receive friends 5-8 p.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home, 7454 East Brainerd Road.