Helen Wear Talley

Talley, Helen Wear age 93 of Townsend, passed away Sunday, September 16, 2007 at the family home. She was a graduate of Knoxville Business College and she was bookkeeper for Huffstetler Lumber Company for 18 years with a break during WWII when she was secretary to the Commandant of Fort Oglethorpe, GA. She was a lifelong member of Bethel Missionary Baptist Church in Townsend where she served as treasurer and a Sunday school teacher. Along with her husband Tom, they started the Talley Ho Inn in Townsend in 1952 and later the Carriage House Restaurant which have become two of the longest continuously operated family businesses in Blount County. Mrs. Talley was actively involved with numerous business, civic and charitable organizations including the Townsend Chamber of Commerce, Smoky Mountain Visitors Bureau, Little River Railroad and Lumber Company Museum, Great Smoky Mountain Heritage Center, Sam Houston Schoolhouse, Tuckaleechee Garden Club and Hearts and Hands of Townsend. She served on the Board of Directors for Great Smoky Mountains Natural History Association and a member of the First Families of Tennessee through the Wear, Webb, Fancher and Sparks families. Along with her late husband Tom (posthumously) in 2007 they were awarded the Excellence in Tourism Award from the Blount County Chamber of Commerce. She was preceded in death by her husband, Victor A. "Tom" Talley; parents, Sheriden & Callie Wear; sisters, Thelma Bradshaw, Margaret Greaser, Mary Charles Myers & Ruth Culvahouse; and brother, Bobby Wear. Survivors include her son & daughter-in-law, Thomas S. & Diana U. Talley of Walland; grandchildren, J. Lynn Talley, Michael S. Talley & wife, Maria and Matthew C. Talley; brother & sister-in-law, Bill D. & Jackie Wear of Alcoa; sister, Evelyn West of Clinton; sister & brother-in-law, Shirley & Troy White of Maryville and sister-in-law, Joyce Kidd Wear of Alcoa. The family extends thanks to Blount Memorial Hospice and to caregiver, Joyce Emert and a very special thanks to grandson, Matthew for his dedication and unwavering commitment to the care of this grandma. The family will receive friends from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. Wednesday, September 19, 2007 at Smith Mortuary Trinity Chapel. Funeral service will follow at 7:00 p.m. with Rev. Steve Linginfelter officiating. The family & friends will assemble at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, September 20, 2007 at Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery for the interment. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Blount County Advocacy Center or the Blount County Children's Home. 865-983-1000. To send flowers or a memorial gift to the family of Helen Wear Talley please visit our Sympathy Store.