Lela Boch

It is with deep sadness to announce the passing of our mother, Lela M. Gipson Boch, who joined God’s heavenly family on September 22, 2024 at the age of 98. A wonderful mother and remarkable person, she was always there when we needed her offering support, wisdom and love in abundance. Lela was born November 6, 1925 in Grundy County, Tennessee. She is preceded in death by her parents, James and Zora Meeks, six siblings (Dorothy Mayes, Eva Baker, Owanna Hill Sarton, Vera Rhodes, Cecil Meeks and Robert (Bobby) Meeks, previous husband, Grover C. Gipson, youngest child, Robert Jeffrey Gipson and son-in-laws, Garrett B. Asher and Paul Fogarty, and sister-in-law, Linda Boch. She was the widow of Alfred L. Boch who passed away August 14, 2006 after nearly 30 happy years of marriage. 

Lela was an active member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oak Ridge for many years and a present member of St. John Neumann Catholic Church in Farragut. She graced this world with her deep love for her family and a lifetime of sacrificial and selfless giving to all who knew her. A woman of enormous strength, kindness, fervent spiritual convictions and genuine goodness who found her deepest joy in sharing life’s simple pleasures with friends and family. Blessed with a beautiful singing voice, Lela was also a very talented and gifted person, active in and past president of the Knoxville Porcelain Artist Society and found great joy in sharing her talents in art, crafts, needlework and gardening. She loved life, never avoided hard work, was a resourceful problem solver and remained active and engaged in life. 

She is survived by her seven loving children and stepchildren: James Terry Gipson (Belen), Pamela G. Asher, Christy Gipson, Tom Boch (Janice Skievaski) and Sharon Fogarty; twenty-eight grandchildren and thirty-one great-grandchildren: Jeremy Gipson and daughter, Amber; Chris Gipson (Yuko), and children, Bryan and Katie; Sahnybel Tan, (Brad Chun) and children, Samatha and Alexis; Elizabeth Gipson; Michael Gipson; Ashley Mullins (Steve) and children, Britney (Aaron), Austin (Allison), Zachary, Natalie (Charlie); Blakely Bills and children Benjamin, Bailey (John); Nicole Gore (Randall) and children, Colby (Julian), Ashtyn and Kennedy; Kelle Boch (Patricia Bouer); Tom Boch, Jr. (Joyce), and daughter Kitty; Jillian Meszaros (Will) and children, Quincy, Zoey and Zander; Jason Boch (Cara); Lisa Reilly (Eric), and children Tyler, Katie, and Conner; Christopher Fogarty (Jessica), and children Clair, Leah and Nora; Timothy Fogarty (Jorenda) and children Isabella and Alex; Brian Fogarty (Sarah), and children Laurel and Callan; as well as many nieces, nephews, great-great grandchildren and countless friends and loved ones. 

A Special thank you to Smoky Mountain Hospice for their exceptional professional care and genuine loving attitude. 

To honor Lela’s remarkable life, a receiving of friends will be held at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 327 Vermont Avenue, Oak Ridge, on Thursday, October 10 at 10:00 am with a funeral mass to follow. Immediately following the Mass a brief reception will be held at the Church, with graveside service at 2:00 pm at Anderson County Memorial Gardens, Oliver Springs Highway, Clinton Tennessee.