Cora Lilly

Cora Lee “Ann” Lilly, 81, of Cumberland Furnace, Tennessee, quietly passed away the afternoon of Wednesday, October 15, 2014 at Grace Healthcare in Clarksville, Tennessee in the presence of her loving family.
The former Cora Lee Anderson was born on Saturday, January 20, 1934 in Dahlonega, Lumpkin County, Georgia, the daughter of John Grover and Birdie Mae (Eaton) Anderson. She was the Great-Great-Great-Great Granddaughter of Revolutionary War patriot General Robert Anderson, as well as the direct descendant of veterans from the War of 1812, the Mexican American War, and the Civil War. She was a 1951 graduate of Lumpkin County High School and entered the United States Army later that same year.
Whilst in military service, Ann received training as a medical technologist at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and Fort Gordon, Georgia. Upon completion of her training, she served in duty stations in Fort Ord, California and Fort Lawton, Washington.
While stationed at Fort Lawton, Ann met then-Sergeant Oren Ray Lilly, and they married on June 6, 1953 in Seattle, Washington. From this union were born two children, William Ray in 1954 and John Henry in 1962. After rising to the rank of Private First Class and earning her honorable discharge, Ann became a loyal and loving military wife and mother, living in Virginia, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Georgia, and Heidelberg, Germany.
Master Sergeant Lilly retired from his final duty station at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and he and Ann purchased their farm in nearby Cumberland Furnace, Tennessee. After raising her children, Mrs. Lilly worked as a Certified Nursing Assistant at Goodlark Regional Medical Center for 18 years until her retirement. Mrs. Lilly was also a member of the Order of the Eastern Star.
She is survived by her husband of 61 years, Oren Ray Lilly, of Cumberland Furnace, Tennessee; sons, William Ray Lilly of Jackson, Louisiana and John Henry Lilly of Nashville, Tennessee; siblings, Larry Anderson, Peter Anderson, Jerry Anderson, Flossie Smith and Bessie Peters, all of Dahlonega, Georgia; brother-in-law William Lilly of Crestview, Florida; grandchildren, Jeb Lilly, Zeke Lilly, Grace Lilly, and Oren Christopher Lilly; great-grandchildren, Gavin, Haley and Allison; and a host of nieces, nephews, friends and others who were touched by her life.
She was preceded in death by her parents, John and Birdie Anderson; in-laws, Jefferson Davis Lilly and Mary Hazel Lilly Conner; sister-in-law, Delores Lilly Meyer Stever; siblings, Grover “Bud” Anderson, J.D. Anderson and Mary Geraldine Nall.
Visitation for Mrs. Lilly will be held Saturday, October 18, 2014 from 6:00pm-8:00pm and Sunday, October 19, 2014 from 4:00pm-7:00pm at McReyonlds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home, 1209 Madison Street, Clarksville, Tennessee, with funeral services, at the same location, at 10:00am, Monday, October 20, 2014. Interment, with full military honors, will take place at 12:00pm, Monday, October 20, 2014 at Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West in Hopkinsville, Kentucky.
In lieu of flowers, the family of Mrs. Lilly requests that donations be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee (www.stjude.org).
Arrangements are in the care of McReynolds-Nave & Larson Funeral Home, 931.647.3371. Online condolences for Mrs. Lilly may be directed to www.NaveFuneralHomes.com.