Nellie Catherine Stearley

Mrs. Nellie C. Stearley, of Cleveland, Tennessee passed away Saturday, September 21, 2024, at Life Care Center of Cleveland following a brief illness. She was 95 years old.

Mrs. Stearley was born May 31, 1929, in Colfax Township, Michigan to the late W.M. and Gladys Still Gilde. Mrs. Stearley was an entrepreneur owning her own gas station in Manton, MI. Later in her career she was also a seamstress, worked in retail grocery stores, also worked as a secretary at Collegedale Credit Union. Mrs. Stearley retired from McKee Foods. She also enjoyed puzzles, games, macrame, and going on long car rides and painting. She also enjoyed hosting home parties with Tupperware. Mrs. Stearley was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church at Bowman Hills.

Mrs. Stearley was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Roger Smith in 1948, also a daughter, Janice Danford in 2014; her three husbands, Milfred Zuehlke, in 1986, Kenneth Stearley, in 2002, and Franklin Smith in 2012; three brothers, Everett Gilde, Leonard Gilde, and Loren Gilde; one sister, Goldie Arrington 

Survivors include her children, Lelah Hilliker, Cleveland, TN., Joan Smith, Cleveland, TN., Mark Smith, Michigan, Douglas Smith, Michigan; Victoria Hoffman, Cleveland, TN; seventeen grandchildren, twenty-nine great grandchildren, and eleven great-great grandchildren; many nieces and nephews; one sister, Lillian Brasseur; one sister-in-law, Judy Gilde.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 3:00 pm., Sunday, September 29, 2024 at Bowman Hills Seventh Day Adventist Church with Pastor Larry Owens officiating.  

Online condolences may be made at www.pfhcleveland.com