Billie Jean Kilgore

WHITWELL — Billie Jean Kilgore, a lifelong member of the Whitwell community, passed away Monday, Dec. 4, 2017, at the age of 81 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. Billie Jean was preceded in death by her mother, Mary (Green) Hamrick; stepfather, Samuel Hamrick; father, Leonard William VanHoosier; brothers, Harold Loyd VanHoosier and William Lee VanHoosier; children, William Everett McCurry III, and Melissa Lynn Griffith. Billie Jean is survived by a sister, Nellie Mae (James) Slatton, of Jasper; daughters, Shirley (Rodger) Nunley, of Whitwell and Kathleen (Butch) Hill, of Red Bank; sons, John (Anita) McTenn, of Ft. Payne, Ala., and Sam McCurry, of Whitwell. Billie Jean was “Granny Bill” to 17 grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren as well as “Aunt Billie” to several nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that you make a donation to The Alzheimer’s Association or The American Cancer Association, both of which have greatly affected our family. Saturday, Dec. 16, 2017, the family will hold a memorial for Billie Jean at her home located at 137 Valley Brook Trail in Crossroads beginning at noon until 3 p.m. and are inviting all family and friends to come as you are to celebrate her life, also we will have pictures of Billie Jean and her family and invite everyone who has a favorite picture to bring theirs also. Arrangements are by Taylor Funeral Home of Chattanooga Inc.