Dora Mai Powell's Obituary
Dora Mai Powell, 92, of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, died on Monday, March 13, 2023. Born September 4, 1930, in Nashville, she was the daughter of the late Ford Michael Slea and Mary Ella Been Slea.
Dora was a dedicated and hardworking woman who spent much of her career working security for the Tennessean. She attended Cathedral of the Incarnation on West End and later, Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Donelson.
When she wasn’t working, she enjoyed playing cards and fishing. She was also an avid reader. Her family will miss the meals that she loved to provide them, and was known to cook a ‘Sunday meal’ every day of the week. Granny will be remembered as an independent lady with a fierce determination.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by the father of her children, Edward Lyons; sisters Josephine Stromatt and Priscilla James; brothers Robert Slea, Ford Michael Slea, Jr., and Thomas Slea; sons-in-law Cliff Gillespie, Neal Pistole, and James Dale.
She is survived by her daughters Gayle Gillespie and Brenda Dale; “Granny” is also survived by her grandchildren Jacob (Lissette) Schoenly, Luke (Bridget) Schoenly, Matthew (Mary Elizabeth) Gillespie, Lauren (Kelly) Agee, Michael (Lorie) Gillespie, Niles (Brooke) Pistole, and Nealy (Sean) James; great grandchildren Astrid Schoenly, Dries Schoenly, Holt Gillespie, Cari Beth Gillespie, Autumn Schoenly, Mia Schoenly, Eero Schoenly, Ella Agee, George Agee, and Murphy James; former son-in-law Peter Schoenly.
The Powell family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Alive Hospice in Murfreesboro for the care and compassion they showed while Dora was in their care.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Middle Tennessee State University Foundation for the Dr. Cliff Gillespie Scholarship Fund at, P.O. Box 109, Murfreesboro, TN 37132. A Funeral Mass will take place at Spring Hill Funeral Home on Thursday, March 23 at 2:00 PM. Burial will follow in the Historic Spring Hill Cemetery alongside her mother.
Arrangements entrusted to Spring Hill Funeral Home and Cemetery 5110 Gallatin Road in Nashville. A Landmark since 1785, “Where Nashville Comes to Remember.”
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