Eloise Kirkland

Waynesville, Eloise Gates Kirkland, age 87, of Friendly Acres Drive, passed away on Tuesday, September 8, 2015 at her residence surrounded by her family. A native of Cullman, Alabama and a prior resident of Bradenton, Florida, she had resided in Haywood County for the past 23 years. She was the daughter of the late Claude Nelon and Vera Estelle Webb Gates and was also preceded in death by a sister, Alene Gavin and one brother, Marlin Gates. Eloise was a 1950 graduate of Asbury University in Wilmore, Kentucky and first taught music to the mentally challenged in 1949. She continued her teaching career in music and elementary education over the next 30 years in Florida. Eloise loved her family, who were of utmost importance to her. She also enjoyed gardening and took great care of her health. Eloise was a lady and selfless in her role as a devoted minister's wife and was a member of First United Methodist Church of Waynesville. Eloise is survived by her husband of 66 years, Reverend Dr. Jiles E. Kirkland; two sons, Willis Nelon Kirkland and Jiles Ellsworth Kirkland, Jr., of Bradenton, Florida; a daughter, Marsha Kay Kirkland of Waynesville; a sister, Theolene Thompson and her husband, Rodney, of Tampa, Florida; a brother-in-law, Fred Gavin, of Zephyrhills, Florida; eight grandchildren, Kourtney E. Beall, Carlton Beall and wife, Taryn, Brianne Russo and husband, Giovanni, N. Bryant Kirkland, Connor Kirkland, Chloe Kirkland, Jiles Ellsworth Kirkland, III, and Cristin Rumler and her husband, Jeff; two great-grandchildren, Josiah Liam and Lydia Jayne Beall; a close family friend, Oregon E. "Peaches" Lybass of Waynesville; several nieces and nephews; and Eloise's yellow lab, Brandy. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 12, 2015 at First United Methodist Church of Waynesville with Reverend Sanford L. Giles, Jr. and Bishop Charlene P. Kammerer officiating. Burial will follow at Green Hill Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 10:00 a.m. until service time at the church. The family would like to acknowledge the kind and compassionate care given to Eloise by her caregivers, Patty Cable, Millie Wilson, Annette King and Ann Rice. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Kirkland-Kinlaw Scholarship Fund, c/o Asbury University, 1 Macklem Drive, Wilmore, KY 40390.

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