Obituary of Willie Grace Angel

Willie Grace McMillon Angel passed away peacefully on Saturday, February 10, 2024, at the age of 89 in Pikeville, TN. She was born on March 30th, 1934, in Evensville, TN, to the late Milton and Lavada Lester McMillon. Her family moved to Bledsoe County when she was a young child where they sharecropped on several different dairy farms. She was the 12th of 13 children and the only child to graduate from high school in her family, graduating from Bledsoe County High School in 1953. She married the late Norman Franklin Angel in 1953 and they were together for 62 years before his death in 2015. They lived on Cumberland Mountain. Willie Grace worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse for 40 years. She spent the majority of her career working at the Pikeville Clinic and Bledsoe County Hospital, worked at Dr. Wilhoit's dentist office, and ended her career working at the state prison where she retired in 1993 In retirement she and Norman enjoyed living on the mountain tending to their farm, working in and canning their large vegetable garden, camping, spending time with family, being a wonderful Granny and Papa to their many offspring, and babysitting several of their great-grandchildren. She had a personality that could light up a room and had a wittiness that never left her, even in her later years following strokes and other illnesses. She rarely missed a Friday beauty shop appointment. She was of the Church of Christ Faith and had attended Bethel Church of Christ. Willie Grace was preceded in death by Norman, her parents, and all 11 of her older siblings. In birth order they were Maude McMillon, Virgil McMillon, Church McMillon, Alice Swafford, Carl McMillon, Jim McMillon, Edith McNeil, Dorothy Morrow, Louise Palumbo, Harold McMillon, and Eugene McMillon. She is survived by three children and their spouses, Norman Dale (Debbie) Angel of Pikeville, Ralph (Karyn) Angel of Pikeville, and Nyla (Mike) Brown of Dayton; six grandchildren, Christy (Chad) Simmons, Travis (Kristin) Angel, Ashley (Matt) Boynton, James Angel, Bradlee (Lindsey) Brown, and Tyler Brown; 11 great-grandchildren, Erica (Layne Shockley) Simmons, Emily (Nathan Ellis) Simmons, Carlie Simmons, Javan-Turner Angel, Reagan Brown, Jaimie Grace Angel, Owen Brown, Margo Boynton, Oscar Boynton, Emery Brown, and Miriam Boynton; one great-great-grandchild, Hudson Ellis; sister Elizabeth Smith of Soddy-Daisy, TN; and sister-in-law Mary Tollett of Cookeville, TN. Services will be held Tuesday, February 13, 2024 at 1:00 p.m. CST in the funeral home chapel with Bro. T.A. Smith officiating. Burial will be in Iron Hill Cemetery. Online condolences can be made at www.reedfamilyfh.com. Arrangements are by Putnam-Reed Funeral Home, 1171 Main Street, Pikeville, TN. Visitation will be held on Monday, February 12, 2024 from 2:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. CST and Tuesday, February 13, 2024 from 10:00 a.m.-1:00 p.m. CST. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Bledsoe County Cancer Care Team or the Bledsoe County Nursing Home activities fund.