Mrs. Leila B. McGuire, 96, of Johnson City, went home to be with her Lord, on Monday, March 21, 2011, at Pine Ridge Care and Rehabilitation Center, Elizabethton, following an extended illness. A native of Carter County, she was a daughter of the late Michael R. and Lucy Bartee Hardin. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, Eustace C. McGuire, on February 6, 1990; six sisters, Mabel Forbes, Golda Grindstaff, Mary Hardin, Bessie Blevins, Ina Hardin and Ida Hardin; three brothers, Alex Hardin, Erve Hardin and Homer Hardin; and a son-in-law, Glen Whaley. Mrs. McGuire was a member of Roan Street Church of God, Elizabethton, and a former charter member of Unaka Baptist Church, Elizabethton. She was a beloved mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt and friend, who was affectionately called “Mother†by most of her family and friends. Her love, her humor, and her sparkling personality will be missed by all who knew her.
Survivors include a daughter, Sonja Whaley, of the home; a grandson, Scott Whaley and his wife, Melanie, two granddaughters, Jordan Whaley and Leah Whaley, and three step-grandchildren, Holly Thompson, Kasey Bailey and Aaron Oliver, all of Johnson City; nine nieces, Wanda Peters, Norma Carrier and her husband, Gray, Mattie Payne and her husband, Nat, Geraldine Peters and her husband, Meryl, Brenda Vines and her husband, Teddy, Flora Forbes, Shentonta Thomas, Lema Gay Cross and her husband, Harley, and Carolyn Pate and her husband, John; six nephews, Hal Blevins, Earl Blevins, Anthony Grindstaff and his wife, Betty, Mickey Hardin, Richard Gray and his wife, Joann, and Wilburn Gray and his wife, Ollie; a brother-in-law, Russell McGuire of Ohio; several great-nieces and great-nephews, several great-great-nieces and great-great-nephews; several great-great-great-nieces and great-great-great-nephews; and many dear friends, including Cookie Lovelace, Bertie Shankle, Ken and Judy Bewley, Betty and Walter Smith, Homer and Bertie Sims, Jerry and Barbara Livingston, Larry and Joyce Kennedy, Carl and Eunice Estep, Bill and Sue Merritt, Larry and Carolyn Creed, Betty Hardin, Ann Hardin, Earl and Ann Rock and Ella Jean and Dean Lunceford.
The funeral service for Leila will be conducted at 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 23, in the Riverside Chapel of Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, with Rev. Ken Bewley and Rev. Mack Presnell officiating. Music will be under the direction of Rev. Presnell. The family will receive friends in the funeral home chapel from 6 to 7 p.m. Wednesday, prior to the service. The committal and entombment service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Thursday, March 24, in the Mausoleum of Peace at Happy Valley Memorial Park. Active pallbearers will be Ed Vanover, Richard Gray, Willie Mathis, Eddie Manning, Richard Estep, Jason Lunceford, Dean Lunceford and Larry Creed. Honorary pallbearers will be Anthony Grindstaff, Nat Payne, Gray Carrier, David Vanover, Harley Cross, Dr. Jeff Hopland, Dr. Collier Jordan and friends and members of Roan Street Church of God. Those wishing to attend are asked to meet at the cemetery at 1:45 p.m. Thursday. Those who prefer memorials in lieu of flowers may make donations to the Central Volunteer Fire Department, 215 Hopson Road, Johnson City, TN 37601. The family would like to extend a special thank you to the staff of Pine Ridge Care and Rehabilitation Center, and especially to Jeff James for all the love and care shown to Mrs. McGuire. Online condolences may be sent to the family by visiting www.tetrickfuneralhome.com and signing the guestbook or by fax to (423) 542-9499. Tetrick Funeral Home, Elizabethton, is serving the McGuire family. Office: (423) 542-2232. Obituary Line: (423) 543-4917.
