Doris Shanks

Mrs. Doris "Dot" Lea Gillen Shanks age 82 of Buffalo Valley, passed away Saturday evening September 6, 2014 at Kindred Nursing and Rehabilitation in Carthage, TN. Mrs. Shanks was born February 12, 1932 on a large dairy farm in the Cherry Creek Community at the foot of the Cumberland Institute in White County to the late G. C. and Edith Geer Gillen. She was also preceded in death by her brother, Charles Gillen and sister-in-law Frances Sewell Gillen, brothers-in-law Walter W. Shanks, Ralph Fike and sister-in-law Andelene Shanks. Doris was an active member of Baxter Church of Christ serving as an elder's wife. She was a retired Tennessee Master Teacher who received Career Ladder III Status, and taught school in the following communities: Buckner, Silver Point, Buffalo Valley, and Baxter Elementary for 42 and one half years. For the past 10 years, after retirement she continued to teach students as a volunteer and substitute teacher at Carthage Elementary. She had a deep respect for each student as an individual and championed their endeavors. Students who attended Baxter Elementary still talk about her competitive coaching and zest for winning with her Shanks Sharks Basketball teams. Mrs. Shanks is survived by her husband of 62 years, Robert A. Shanks (whom she married March 20, 1952 in Rossville, GA); two children Joy Chadwell (Gary Bodenstein) and Jyl Smith of Buffalo Valley; three grandchildren Jamie (Paul) Gossett of Norris, TN, Lee (Ashley) Chadwell of Cookeville, and Jason Robert Smith of Buffalo Valley; one great grandchild Gillen Paul Gossett of Norris TN; brother Bob (Glenda) Gillen of Manchester, sister Gayle (Dr. Robert) Ward of Brentwood, sister-in-law Dorothy Fike of Madison, sister-in-law Wanda Shanks of Buffalo Valley, and brother-in-law Reggie Shanks of Cookeville. Funeral services for Mrs. Shanks will be held at 11:00 AM with visitation at 10 AM on Wednesday, September 10, 2014 at Baxter Church of Christ, 224 Buffalo Valley Road, Baxter, TN 38544. Interment will follow in the Maddux Family Cemetery, 2900 Maddux Cemetery Road, Silver Point, TN 38582. The family will receive friends from 5-8 PM on Tuesday, September 9 at Hooper –Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home, 59 N Jefferson Ave. Cookeville, TN 38501. Pallbearers will be Jon Ward, Dean Smith, Bill Gillen, Bruce Gillen, George Gillen, Jim Gillen, Alton Roark, Kip Kite, Chris Weber, Mark Thomas, Wayne Shanks, David Fike, and Walter Hargis Shanks. Honorary pallbearers will be Teresa Mofield (Kindred Wound Care Specialist), Kindred Caregivers, Wallene Thompson (special friend), Anna Frances Johnson (college roommate), the late Brandon Thomas (great-nephew), the late Stanley Shanks (nephew), and all of her former students. John Pippin, Bob Gillen, and Dr. Robert Ward will officiate at the services. Jason Robert Smith will lead congregational singing and Lee Chadwell will read a special tribute to their grandmother. (grandsons) The Shanks family request that in lieu of flowers, memorials in Doris Shanks memory be made to: the Stanley Warren Shanks Memorial Endowment for Baseball c/o Middle Tennessee State University, PO Box 109 Murfreesboro, TN 37132; the Jordan Hackett Foundation, c/o Community Bank of Smith County Attn: April Swann PO Box 100, the Smith County After School Theatre (SCAST) c/o Smith County High School 312 Fite Ave; or the Carthage Elementary School Library 149 Skyline Drive, (all in Carthage, TN 37030.) Hooper-Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements (931) 526-6111. You may share your thoughts and memories at www.hhhfunerals.com.