Patricia Peay

Patricia Ann (Gipple) Peay, 68, of Readyville, TN, was eternally healed on July 15, 2025, after valiantly fighting multiple serious health conditions for years. She was born August 7, 1956, in Mt. Pleasant, IA, the youngest of three siblings. She is preceded in death by her parents, Max and Lucile (Jones) Gipple, and her beloved big brother Donald Gipple.

Pat is survived by her devoted husband of 44 years, Robert; two daughters, Rachel (Kyle Cornett) and Katie (Manny Santana); and her five cherished grandchildren: Camille, Rocco, Isaac, Charlie, and Luca. She is also survived by her Gipple family, including her sister Elaine, sister-in-love Ellen, nieces Andrea Good (Tom), Sarah Gipple (Jack), Emily Vo (Tiger), and nephews Tom and TJ Gipple. There are many Peays in her pod, too. Surviving Peay family members include: Billie Jean Summers, Gregg (Sunnette) Peay, and Joey (Charlotte) Peay who are all brothers and sisters-in-law. Her nieces and nephews on the Peay side include Kimberly (Brad), Amy (Michael), Josh (Meghan), Adam, Madilyn (Cody), Natalie (Thomas), Zachary, Carolyn, Hayden (Brittney), Destiny (Matt), Alec (Stephanie), Rebekah, Walker, Rella, Nolan, Millie, Kasper, Toni, and Sam.

Though she left us too soon, her stories will live on through generations of her students. Pat held a career as a middle school home economics educator for close to four decades. She took great pride in helping cultivate culinary arts, safety, health, career, and sewing skills in her students. She could hardly enter a local business without someone recognizing her and reminiscing about what they had learned in her class. Many former students still own something they sewed in her class or regularly use one of her cooking safety tips. She was known for being both very strict and wildly enthusiastic—because in middle school, if you can’t beat ’em… join ’em!

Often seen behind the lens of a camera (and rarely in front), Pat helped many commemorate their special days over the years, taking pictures for weddings, showers, yearbooks, graduations—you name it! Pat was a talented seamstress who tailored everything from dream nurseries for expectant mothers and embroidered gifts to elegant matching dresses for her daughters. She served as an inaugural volunteer firefighter for Kittrell, passing the required state certification courses along with the rest of the crew. She could play piano and organ beautifully with her perfectly elongated fingers and grew up playing for her church. She had a love for animals, especially cats, of which she rescued many. She never let any animal or person go hungry. Her meals and secret recipes will be greatly missed by all who had the pleasure of enjoying them. Her grandchildren will fondly remember the book, It’s Baking Day at Grandma’s, since they lived out the scenes in real life on numerous occasions. They lovingly referred to her as Grammy.

"Faith as small as a mustard seed can move mountains." — Matthew 17:20

Visitation will be held on Saturday, July 19, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Woodfin’s Funeral Chapel (1488 Lascassas Pike #1600, Murfreesboro, TN 37130). A celebration of life will be held on Sunday, July 20, 2025, at 2:00 PM at the same location. A private burial will follow at a later date.

If interested, donations can be made in her name to the research organization that helped prolong her health or toward a local scholarship for future educators. Information for both organizations is below.

https://mpnresearchfoundation.org/donate-to-mpn-research/

Make educator scholarship checks to MTSU with "TN Theta ADK Chapter Scholarship" in the memo. Mail donations to:

Trish Murphy

1301 East Main Street

MTSU Box 108

Murfreesboro, TN 37132

Share memories and condolences with the family at www.gentrysmithfuneralhome.com. Gentry-Smith Funeral Home, 303 Murfreesboro Rd. Woodbury, TN 37190, 615-563-5337. Because every life has a story.