Eleanor Kay Howles Shamblin

Eleanor Kay Howles Shamblin, 84, passed away peacefully on Wednesday, November 24, 2021. She was born in Memphis, Tennessee on February 12, 1937 to Ruth and William Howles. She married William Henry “Bill” Shamblin on August 20, 1955 in Hernando, Mississippi. They had 3 children together.  Bill and Kay recently celebrated their 66^th wedding anniversary.

Kay loved working with children.  She taught Sunday School, VBS, and helped start a church preschool while she raised her family.   Later, she taught remedial classes at Ooltewah Elementary and Snow Hill Elementary School in Ooltewah, TN.  Encouraging and helping people were just a few of her God given talents.  Her beautiful blue eyes, smile, and quick wit could light up a room.  She was a dedicated wife, mother, sister, and Nana to her family.

Over the years she served her community in a variety of different roles.  She worked tirelessly as a volunteer promoting the Republican party in Bradley County.  In 2003, Kay received the Republican Women of the Year Award by the Bradley County Republican Party.  In 2007, she was honored for her years of dedication and service to the Bradley County Republican Women’s Club.  In 2013, she received the Tennessee Republican Party Statesman of the Year Award.  Kay also received the Paul Harris Fellowship Rotary Award in 2018.

Mrs. Shamblin attended Messick High School and graduated from Council Rummel Business School.  She also attended Chattanooga State Community College. Kay grew up in Memphis,
TN and attended Park Avenue Cumberland Church.  She accepted Jesus as her savior when she was 12 years old.  Kay and Bill were active members of East Ridge Presbyterian Church in Chattanooga, TN for many years.  They also attended Westwood Baptist Church in Cleveland, TN and Bayside Baptist Church in Harrison, TN.

She was preceded in death by her parents Ruth and William Howles; daughter, Brenda Kay (Chris) Franklin; brothers, William Reid Howles and Joe Ward Howles; sister, Wilma Lee Jones.

She is survived by her husband, Bill; children, Sheila Walker (Dan), and Steven Shamblin (Charla); grandchildren, Lindsey Johnson (David), Jacob Franklin (Morgan), Kelly Walker, Sullivan Shamblin, Ethan Shamblin (Ryan), and Aubrey Shamblin; great grandchildren, Griffin Johnson and Hayden Johnson; sisters; Jane Ruth Hooker and Mary Alice “Tookie” Mosley. 

A celebration of life will be held on Tuesday, November 30, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. at Ralph Buckner Funeral Home with the Rev. Grady Cooper officiating. Interment will take place at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, December 1, 2021 at Chattanooga National Cemetery with Sullivan Shamblin, Ethan Shamblin, Aubrey Shamblin, Jake Franklin, Tim Riggs, Al Rogers, and Dan Walker serving as pallbearers. A white dove release ceremony and the playing of bagpipes honors will conclude the service.

The family will receive friends from 3:00-5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, November 30, 2021at the funeral home.

A special thanks to the staff at Hearth Hospice and The Lantern at Morning Pointe Alzheimer's Center of Excellence, Collegedale for their love and care of our mother.

We invite you to send a message of condolence and view the Shamblin family guestbook at www.ralphbuckner.com.