Sandra Kay Filston

Sandra Kay Maples Stoutt Filston

April 13, 1942 – September 6, 2025

Sandra Kay Stoutt, 83, known to most as "Kay," to a special few as "Mom," and to a delightful host of grands and great-grands as "Granny," died on Saturday evening, September 6, at Parkwest Hospital from complications of Parkinson's Disease.

A proud daughter of East Tennessee, Kay was born and raised in Strawberry Plains. She was the third of four children of Luke and Ethie Maples, and a graduate of Carter High School. Her love for her alma mater endured - she later chaired the steering committee that helped establish the now-thriving Carter High School Alumni Association, which continues to support current students, teachers, and activities.

At just 17, Kay married her high school sweetheart, Bob Stoutt. Together, they built a life filled with purpose and love - raising two sons, starting a company, and becoming deeply rooted in their community. As a very young woman, Kay earned a position at KUB as a general secretary, but very quickly rose through the ranks and served for quite some time as the Executive Assistant to the General Manager. Upon leaving her work with KUB, Kay joined Bob at Star Construction, which took them to various cities, with Kay often going ahead to lay the groundwork for new ventures. Along the way, she returned to school - earning her Bachelor of Science in Business from the University of Tennessee as a mother of two, at age 43.

Kay and Bob enjoyed both the work they shared and the leisure time they carved out - especially on the golf course or cheering for UT football. But more than all of that, their greatest joy was parenting Allen and Bo and later grandparenting Trevor, Austin, and Rachel.

Star Construction was not their only endeavor. When their sons were teenagers, Kay and Bob developed Cherokee Estates on Cherokee Lake, while also building a dockside restaurant upon acquiring the Black Oak Marina, where both boys worked and learned the ropes of business and hospitality.

Tragedy struck in 1998 when Bob died suddenly. Kay was just 55. In the years that followed, she sought meaningful ways to fill her days and find her footing. She trained for and completed a marathon in Ireland in honor of the Alzheimer's Foundation, adopting her beloved miniature schnauzer, Lucy, during training walks along the Lakeshore path. She bought and ran JAWS (Just Add Water Swim), a store supplying swim gear for summer leagues, high school teams, and the UT varsity swim program. She stayed active in her grandkids' lives and found peace in her home on the Tennessee River at Mariner's Pointe.

Then, in 2003, a recently widowed pediatric surgeon named Dr. Howard Filston moved in next door. What began as friendly dog walks and shared Tennessee games grew into something deeper. As they shared stories of the great loves they had lost and the lives they had built, Kay and Howard discovered a new love - one that honored the past but embraced the present with tenderness, humor, and hope. Their story was a testament to the truth that love is neither limited nor linear.

Kay had a gift for leadership and a heart for service. She was a founding member of the Clarence Brown Theatre Society Board and served on the board of her beloved Carter High School. She also helped lead the Stephen Ministry programs at both Farragut Presbyterian Church and Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church. After Bob's passing, Kay launched a mentoring program at Knox Area Rescue Ministries (KARM) in his honor-a tribute to the many Thanksgivings they spent together serving meals there. Their shared commitment to helping others found a lasting legacy in the lives of the men and women the program served.

For the last twenty years, Kay and Howard have built a beautiful, shared life - welcoming each other's children and grandchildren into their home and hearts. From "Granny Camp" to shared holidays and vacations, their home was full of laughter, love, and legacy.

In 2015, Kay was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease - the same condition that had taken her mother. She faced it with courage, grace, and a quiet strength, seeking treatment and therapy even as the disease progressed in both visible and invisible ways.

Kay is survived by her husband, Dr. Howard Filston; her sons, Allen and Pam Stoutt, Jeffrey "Bo" Stoutt and Angela; her grandchildren: Rachel (Grant Birchmeier), Trevor (and children Peyton, Sawyer and Dawson), and Austin (and children Dax, Kinley and Aiden; as well as Howard's children and grandchildren: Tim and Beth Filston (David and Ella, Caroline and Philip, Jameson, Benjamin and Abby), and Eric and Megan Johnson (Scott and Frances, Phinehas, and Leif) - all of whom lovingly called her "Ganny." There are scores of nephews, nieces, and cousins, who also considered her dear.

She is also survived by her sister, Beulah, and her brother, Doc. Her youngest brother, Ben, preceded her in death.

Our sincerest thanks goes out to Dr. Kristen McFarland, Dr. Michelle Brewer, and Dr. Christopher Tolleson at UTMCK for their years of compassionate and thoughtful care for Kay.

The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 PM Tuesday, September 16, 2025, at Bridges Funeral Home with the service to follow at 7:00 PM with Brother Bo Stoutt officiating. Family and friends will meet at 10:15 AM Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at the funeral home and proceed to Greenwood for the Entombment at 11:00 AM, with Rev. Megan Johnson officiating.

In lieu of flowers, the family offers several ways to honor Kay's memory:

• The Cole Center for Parkinson's & Movement Disorders

https://www.utmedicalcenter.org/locations/cole-center-parkinsons-movement-disorders

• Carter High School alumni are encouraged to join and support the Alumni Association. https://carterhighschool.net/knoxville-tn/

• Friends of the Maples family may give to Huckleberry Church. 1716 Huckleberry Springs Road, Knoxville, Tennessee | huckleberryspringschurch@gmail.com

• Donations to the Volunteer Ministry Center are always welcome. https://www.vmcinc.org/

• The Howard C. Filston M.D. Surgery Fund at the University of Tennessee Medical Center, named in honor of her husband Howard, supports research by surgical residents https://com.utmck.edu/support/giftfunds.cfm

Arrangements by Bridges Funeral Home, 5430 Rutledge Pike, Knoxville, TN 37924. www.bridgesfuneralhome.com