Obituary for Loiree Smith Grigsby Collins Courage. Generosity. Serenity.
Hope. Encouragement. Love.
Faith. Those endearing characteristics defined the life of Loiree Smith Grigsby Collins, loving mother, grandmother, great grandmother (GG) who graduated into heaven at the home of her daughter on 27 April 2018, to meet her Lord and Savior. She was preceded in death by her parents, Arthur and Mary Carolyn Smith, her first husband, JL Grigsby, her second husband, W. L. Collins, and nine siblings: Frances Leone Smith; Euel Haze Smith; Doyle Legree Smith; Ruby Ray Smith, Maggie Iva Smith Freeman; Floyd Jay Smith; Lena Louie Smith Turner; Sara Bureda Smith Finchum; and Arthur Bible Smith.
Loiree is survived by her daughter, Dianne Grigsby Burrow, her son-in-law, Colonel Troy Burrow, US Army (Retired); her son, Michael Arthur Grigsby and her daughter-in-law Katsuko Grigsby. She is also survived by her four grandchildren, Dana Loiree Burrow Clark, and husband Colonel Steven Clark, US Army; Travis Neal Burrow and wife Amanda Prielipp Burrow; Dr. Yurimi Michael Grigsby (PhD), and Ryan Kamiya Grigsby. Also survived by eight great grandchildren, Graycen Olivia Clark, Callaway Adair Clark, Kieran Elijah Clark, Cohen Elisha Clark, Lucah Christian Clark, Kamden O’Neal Burrow, Layton McKenleigh Burrow and Jude Levi Burrow, and many loving nieces and nephews.
Additionally, Loiree is survived by an old Oak Tree that stands behind her house. She has spoken so often that she hoped the tree would survive her. Now that Loiree has left us, we have found that the tree is following her.
Loiree was a loving, colorful and energetic personality, and instructed her family and friends to live life at 110 percent. She was a mentor and a patient, loving confidant to all the children that grew up in her post WW II community of Del Rio, TN, better known as “Smithville”. Her nieces and nephews and other children in the community will remember her talent at telling “ghost” stories at night while gathered around a campfire.
She was the Pied Piper to the cousins in this close Walton’s Mountain type community. She always stopped whatever she was doing to take them to swimming holes, on camping trips, to drive-in movies, roller skating, day trips for picnics and drives through the mountains. She was also known among these children as the “go-to” person for clarity and truth when answering their “birds and bees” questions.
She was an active community member as the child of parents that, together with others, built the original building of the First Church of God in Del Rio. She continued throughout her life in supporting this dearly loved place of God. Her love for singing in the home choir, traveling throughout area churches and frequently traveling to Asheville NC, and Atlanta GA, to sing with her siblings’ quartet on local radio stations, was one of the many hats she wore while serving her Christ.
Loiree dropped out of high school to support WW II by being part of the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge, TN. She was extremely proud of her contributions to the war effort. She also worked as a telephone operator in support of the Naval Base of Norfolk, Virginia.
Later in life, she acquired her GED and college credits. She was a blessed child of God who KNEW she was blessed. As a proud self-proclaimed “Mountain Woman,” she traveled to places she never dreamt of seeing, such as Alaska where, while visiting Mount McKinley (Denali), she had a very close encounter with a huge grizzly bear.
She visited Europe, Mexico and Central America, and always praised God for the beauty of the world she was privileged to see. Her life was certainly one of many mountain tops and deep valleys but she faced it all with grace, dignity and a positive attitude, always looking for the silver lining. She loved nature and the outdoor world and boastingly could name any tree or plant in her beloved mountains.
However, being a mountain woman did not stop her love of bright, colorful clothes and an abundance of beautiful shoes and jewelry. One piece of advice that she gave an ardent fan (niece) of hers was to “Wear all the jewelry you want all the time because we never know if we’ll get the opportunity to wear a favorite piece, so just put it all on! ” Her family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to the many people who were there to support Loiree and her family with their words and prayers.
Their generosity is greatly appreciated. Her struggle and that of her family was continually covered by the Holy Spirit and the angels He sent to fill our space in her last moments on this earth. Our Ballad Hospice team angels were Becky Edens, RN; Angie Nelson, CNA; Anna Butter, Chaplain; Michael Ugale, RN; Sara Beth Trahan, RN; Pam Burdett, LPN; Andrew Gibbons, Chaplain; Katy Rosolowski, Volunteer.
Our thanks also to Ashley Steele, Loiree’s PA. Special thanks to her beloved “Golden Girls” and “cohorts in crime”: Jan Dellinger, Evelyn Smith, Glenda Gregg, and her very special friend, 5 yr old Jake Dellinger. Thanks to Nancy and Rick Lemieux for their love and support of Dianne and Troy during the planning phase.
A Celebration of Life Service will be held on Friday, May 4, 2018, at Tetrick Funeral & Cremation Services, Johnson City, TN. Visitation will begin at 11:00 am. The funeral follows at 12:00 Noon, and burial will be at 1:45 pm at Mountain Home National Cemetery.
Loiree’s request was that bright celebratory colored clothing and lots of jewelry be worn to celebrate her life well lived. Please, no flowers. Contributions may be made to the St Jude Hospital Project, Sushi at Sunset, in honor of leukemia survivor, Layton Burrow, Loiree’s great grandson.
Checks may be sent to Amanda Burrow, 2302 Rambling Road, Johnson City, TN 37604, payable to Amanda Burrow and list Sushi at Sunset in the For line. Sushi at Sunset is a fundraiser for St Jude and is a 501C3 tax deductable donation. Contributions may also be made to the First Church of God Fellowship Hall and mailed to 1049 Blue Mill Road, Del Rio, TN 37727.
To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Loiree Smith Grigsby Collins please visit our Sympathy Store. Upcoming Events Visitation 2018 MAY 4. 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM Tetrick Funeral & Cremation Services – Johnson City 3001 Peoples Street Johnson City, TN, US, 37604 tetrick-jc@tetrickfuneralhome.com Order Flowers for the Visitation Guaranteed delivery before Loiree’s Visitation begins.
Celebration of Life 2018 MAY 4. 12:00 PM Tetrick Funeral & Cremation Services – Johnson City 3001 Peoples Street Johnson City, TN, US, 37604 tetrick-jc@tetrickfuneralhome.com Order Flowers for the Celebration of Life Service Guaranteed delivery before Loiree’s Celebration of Life Service begins. Commital 2018 MAY 4.
01:45 PM Mountain Home National Cemetery 421 West Main Street Mountain City, TN, US, 37683 Order Flowers for the Commital Service Guaranteed delivery before Loiree’s Commital Service begins.
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