Charleene Gourley Edwards

Charleene Gourley Edwards was a caring wife, aunt, sister, and friend. She left this world on August 22, 2021, after a courageous and hard-fought battle with cancer at the age of 77. She was born to Theodore and Ruth Gourley, on June 19, 1944, in Maryville Tennessee. She was the loving big sister to Larry and Marcella Gourley. After graduating high school, Charleene met and married the love of her life, Foy William Edwards in June 1966. Though she had no children; she treated her niece Evon as if she were her daughter. Charleene’s career was in fashion where she was a buyer for Miller’s and eventually head buyer of women’s wear for Proffitt’s. After retirement, she invested her time in numerous charities for the arts and music scene in Knoxville. She is a past president of the Knoxville Symphony Women’s League, she volunteered for the Knox Heritage Society, Farragut Town Hall, and was a supporter of the Knoxville Museum of Art. She was an avid fan of the UT Vols and had not missed a home game in over 40 years. She was an active member of the choir at Concord Hills Methodist Church. She is preceded in death by her parents Theodore and Ruth Gourley, her husband Foy William Edwards and her step siblings Leon Gourley and Violet Walker. She is survived by her sister, Marcella Gourley and Herman Love, her brother and sister-in-law, Larry and Linda Gourley, her sister-in-law, Louise Cook, her niece and nephew-in-law, Evon and Russell Hulse, her nephew and niece-in-law, Mark and Jody Ballard, and the many friends who have loved and cared for her over the years. The family wishes to acknowledge and to say thank you to her very dear friend, Barbara Millsaps, who was by her side during her courageous battle. A funeral service is scheduled for noon on Saturday, August 28, 2021, at Rose Funeral and Cremation-Mann at the corner of Northshore Road and Kingston Pike. The family will receive friends prior to the service from 10 a.m. until noon. The interment will be to follow at Highland Memorial Cemetery. In lieu of flowers please send donations to either the Knoxville Museum of Art (www.knoxart.org) or the Knoxville Symphony (www.knoxvillesymphony.com). Arrangements by Rose Funeral and Cremation – Mann. Online condolences may be made at rosefuneraltn.com.

Tributes

Charleene Gourley Edwards

June 19, 1944 - August 22, 2021