Nancy Lee Underwood

Nancy Lee Trotter Underwood, age 76, of Maryville, TN, departed this earth for her eternal heavenly home on September 20, 2024, surrounded by her family. 

Nancy was born on June 13, 1948, in Maryville. She grew up a member of Unity Baptist Church and later attended the Maryville Church of Christ. She was a 1966 graduate of Everett High School. Her husband, Ron, was in the Navy and they spent time in Jacksonville, FL, and Norfolk, VA, before settling back in Maryville. She served as an assistant librarian with the 1982 World’s Fair in Knoxville and later became a substitute teacher in Blount County. Her soft-spoken nature, passion for reading, writing stories, and entertaining children led her to a position in the Children’s department of the Blount County Public Library where she enjoyed hosting story hour and managing the Imagination Library program. Family was her most valued treasure and she always found a way to make each of her three grandchildren feel special. 

Nancy is preceded in death by her husband of 54 years, Ronald Lynn Underwood; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jasper (Ona Lee) Trotter; parents-in-law, Mr. & Mrs. Emory Dills (Arlie); brother, Kenneth Trotter of Stanwood, WA; brother-in-law, Allen Holbrook of Nampa, ID; and many other special family members. 

Nancy will be sadly missed by her daughters, Andrea (Josh) Mills of New Market, TN and Ashlee (Stephen) Hooks of Knoxville, TN. Grandchildren, Gabriel “Gabe” Mills, Aaron Jay “AJ” Mills, and Scarlet Mills, all of New Market; sister-in-law, Doris Trotter of Stanwood, WA; sister, Evelyn Holbrook of Nampa, ID; brother, Clyde (Kathy) Trotter of Maryville, TN; brother, Richard (Jean) Trotter of Ashburn, VA; brother, Herb (Sue) Trotter of Maryville, TN; brother-in-law, Alton Underwood of Nashville, TN; and sister-in-law, Carol Ferguson, of Tallulah, LA; and many nieces, nephews, and long-time friends. 

Family will receive friends Tuesday, October 1, 2024, from 11:30 am to 12:30 pm with the funeral service to begin at 12:30 pm at Smith’s Funeral Home in Maryville, TN. Graveside service will follow the funeral that afternoon at 2:00 pm at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery, 2200 E. Governor John Sevier Hwy, Knoxville, TN. Condolences may be shared through Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com