Kathy Gail Stubblefield

STUBBLEFIELD, KATHY GAIL - of Knoxville, TN passed on to God's hands at her home Sunday March 6th after ending her courageous battle with cancer. Kathy was preceded to heaven by her Father, Jay English, her sister Regina Ayers and her son James French. She is survived by her husband of almost 25 years , Bob Stubblefield, her loving mother and step-father Evelyn and Dale Hensley of Chuckey, TN and her two beautiful granddaughters, Hailey and Zoe French, also of Chuckey, TN and her nephew D.J. Ayers of Greeneville; also numerous uncles, aunts and cousins. She also leaves behind all of her wonderful friends that worked with her at Ben Atchley Veterans Home in Knoxville, Tennessee and so many numerous friends of "Bill W" that have loved and supported each other for more than 24 years. Kathy's life was remarkable by her greater than 35 years of caring for people at their times of greatest need. She began her service as a 17 year old mother working part time as a Nurse's Aide, then caring for severely developmentally disabled and behaviorally troubled children and youth for over 10 years. After becoming a nurse, Kathy assisted in the delivery of more than 500 babies as a labor and delivery nurse. She then ran programs that provided substance abuse treatment to hundreds of adolescents and adults. Kathy then entered the final stage of her public service by working as a nurse with Alzheimer's, Dementia, and Special Needs patients at nursing homes, even after her diagnosis and treatment for lung cancer in 2009. She retired from Ben Atchely Veterans Home only after her cancer had spread to her brain in December 2010. The family wishes to express its gratitude and love for all the many friends that helped her move into her new home shortly before her passing. Their generosity allowed her to go to God in her new home that she always wanted. A special thanks for two angels, Ruth and Susan, her coworkers and friends that helped care for her up until her moment of passing. The family also thanks the nurses and staff of Covenant Hospice, the 5th Floor Staff of Park West Hospital and Dr Daniel Ibach and all of his wonderful team at Thompson Cancer Center-West for their love, dedication and tireless efforts to assist Kathy during her courageous fight. The family will receive friends at Doughty-Stevens Funeral Home, Greeneville, TN 5 - 8 PM on Tuesday, March 8th. Services will follow at 8 p.m. Tuesday with the Rev. Ronnie Duncan officiating. Family and friends will gather at the funeral home on Wednesday, March 9th at 9:00 to go in procession to Pleasant Hill Cemetery on Kingsport Highway for the 10 a.m. committal services. Pallbearers will be Bill Christopher, Derick Neal, George Massengill, Rick and Ricky Stubblefield and Blaine Scott.