Elaine Funk

Funeral services for Elaine Funk, 96, of Cookeville will be held Friday, October 9, 2020 at 1:00 p.m. from Hooper Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home with Rev. Tom Halliburton officiating. Honorary services by the Tennessee Nurses Honor Guard will be provided. Interment will follow in Crestlawn Cemetery. Elaine died Sunday October 4, 2020 at NHC of Cookeville. She was born September 12, 1924 in Morgantown, WV to the late Warren Dalton and Marvel Alice Nash Peaslee. She graduated from high school in Rowlesburg, WV and was Valedictorian of her senior class. In 1948, she graduated as a Registered Nurse from the Capital School of Nursing in Washington, D.C. and trained there at Gallanger Hospital. Locally, Elaine worked as an RN at Cookeville General Hospital, where she served for a year as Director of Nursing. She worked in the medical office of Dr. William Mattson, assisted at the Tennessee Tech Infirmary, and worked as a private duty nurse for many Cookeville families. She was honored to receive the Florence Nightingale Award from the TTU School of Nursing. In addition to her work as a nurse, Elaine will be remembered for the legacy she leaves in the community and in her church. She was co-owner of Elaine's Flowers and Gifts, working as a wedding planner and bookkeeper. Many will remember her friendly smile at Kroger, where she worked as a hostess for 27 years. She was known as "The Cookie Lady" by Tennessee Tech basketball cheerleaders and the men's and women's teams, having baked cookies for them for each home game for 25 years. Elaine was a member of the Cookeville First United Methodist Church, where she was recognized as Queen Mother in 1976. She held several positions in First Methodist's Women's Society for over 50 years. She mentored teenagers as a Youth leader for Methodist Youth Fellowship, taught Sunday School classes for children, and started and organized a Junior Church for children of all ages. She received the Golden Rule Award for her work with children in the Church's Neighborhood Ministry Program. She cooked for the Wednesday evening services at the Church for over 10 years. Her family will always remember their favorite dishes, which include French Chicken, her home-grown and canned garden produce, oyster dressing and of course, chocolate chip cookies. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Keith Peaslee, a sister, Irene Bolyard and two grandchildren, Jeffrey Bennett and Derek Funk. Elaine is survived by three sons, Kevin (Tricia) Funk of Oak Ridge, TN, David (Lou Alice) Funk of Cookeville, and John (Suzanne) Funk of Nashville; two daughters, Linda (Richard) Bennett of Cookeville, and Alice Livingston of Hartsville; sister, Lorraine Peaslee of Lakeland, FL; twelve grandchildren, Greg (Sherry) Bennett, Cheri (Chad) Smiley, Shawn (Christa) Bennett, Tina (Craig) Napier, Brett Funk, Jerry (Aubrey) Livingston, Brian (Aleece) Livingston, David Jonathan Livingston, David Funk, Mary Catherine Funk, Jonathan Funk, and Jeffrey Funk, and 18 great-grandchildren; special friends at the Women's Society at First United Methodist Church, the TTU School of Nursing, many of whom are members of the Nurses Honor Guard. The family would like to express their appreciation for the constant care and dedication to the staff at NHC. The family will receive friends Friday from 11:00 am until service time at 1:00 p.m. at the funeral home. Grandsons will serve as pallbearers. Per the family's request and for the well-being of everyone, visitors will be required to wear a mask and observe social distancing measures. Memorial contributions to the TTU School of Nursing, Student Emergency Fund, Campus Box 1915. 705 N. Dixie Avenue, Cookeville, TN 38501-9921 or www.tntech.edu/giving. in Elaine's honor will be appreciated.