Wilma Lee Bays

WILMA LEE BALL BAYS, - age 84, passed away Saturday, January 25, at Tennova Residential Hospice, Halls, TN, after a short illness. A resident of Knoxville, TN, for 50 years, she was a native of Middlesboro, KY, where she was born on August 9, 1929. After a semester at the University of Kentucky, she married Coy W. Bays in February 1948. Within a few years, they moved to Corbin, KY, where they raised their family. She was an active member in First Christian Church and social service organizations and served as a Girl Scout troop leader. Upon moving with the family to Knoxville in 1963, she worked as an Interior Designer with Sears and Mill Agent until retirement. She enjoyed arts, crafts, and painting.
She was preceded in death by her father W. Floyd Ball; her mother Mary Lee Brown; husband Coy W. Bays; daughter Alva K. Bays; and sister Sally Henson of Virginia Beach, VA.
Survivors: daughters Coy Jo Bays and Shannon Lee Bays and son Floyd Ball Bays, all of Knoxville, TN; grandchildren Erin Yates and her husband Brock Yates of Louisville, KY, and Amanda Bausch and her husband Sherman Bausch of St. Paul, MN; great-grandsons Lucas Yates of Louisville, KY, and Elijah Bausch of St. Paul, MN.
The family will receive friends on Monday from 6:30 - 8:00 pm at Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel.
The funeral service and burial will take place on Tuesday at 1:00 pm at Vankirk-Grisell Funeral Home in Corbin, KY, with Rev. Tyler Thompson officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be sent to East TN Small Breed Rescue or Smoky Mountains Children's Home in Sevierville, TN. Knoxville arrangements by Rose Mortuary Mann Heritage Chapel. Online condolences may be made at www.rosemortuary.com