Billie Cullivan

Billie Gene Cantrell Cullivan, 88, Paris, Tennessee died Saturday, February 8, 2014.

The funeral service will be at 1:00 P.M. Tuesday at McEvoy Funeral home. Dr. Rob Martin will officiate. Burial will follow at Johnson Chapel Hill Cemetery on Briarpatch Lake Road.

Family members will serve as pallbearers.

Visitation will be from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. Monday at McEvoy Funeral Home and after 11:00 A.M. Tuesday until service time.

Born May 1, 1925 in Palmersville, TN, she was the daughter of the late William Cecil and Hilda Alderice Cantrell.

She graduated from Palmersville High School in Weakly County where she was named salutatorian and excelled as an athlete (basketball). She then acquired her associate's degree in Chemistry from the University of Tennessee Junior College at Martin and was employed by the federal government at their laboratory in Oak Ridge, TN. She later received her bachelor's and master's degrees in education from Murray State University where she met (and on June 1, 1950 married) Owen James "Jim" Cullivan Jr., who survives.

She retired after a 40 year teaching career in science and chemistry that included tenure at both the high school and college level including UT Martin and Murray State University.

Throughout her teaching career she played a role of offering compassion and counsel to youngsters who seemed to be struggling emotionally or involved in an uncomfortable situation at home.

In Paris she was a member of First United Methodist Church. She was a member of United Methodist Women and served for a term as their district chairperson. She was also active in the garden club, book club and the Republican party.

In addition to her academic achievements, she had an adventurous side of her nature. She acquired her recreational pilot's certificate, went on outings for rock rappelling and white water rafting as well as having made several trips abroad including England/Ireland, Australia/New Zealand, Mexico, Guam and Singapore.

In addition to her husband she is survived by a daughter Lynda Griffith of Dresden, two sons Jim Cullivan, III of Stewart County and Robert Patrick (Lydia) Cullivan of North Carolina and grandson Rea Cullivan, two granddaughters Gwen (Hank) Dalehite of Mississippi and Jody Griffith of Dresden and two great-grandsons Marcus and Andy Ford. She is also survived by four brothers, Bob (Marilyn) Cantrell of Palmersville, Glen (Judy) Cantrell of Milan, Jim (Nancy) Cantrell of Athens, Georgia and Ben (Rose) Cantrell of Nashville, as well as many nieces and nephews.

Mrs. Cullivan was predeceased by a son, William Cecil Cullivan.

In lieu of flowers it is requested to make a donation to the medical research concerning Alzheimer's and cancer. Alzheimer's Foundation of America 322 Eight Avenue. 7th Floor New York, NY 10001, or American Cancer Society P.O. Box 22718 Oklahoma City, OK 73123-1718.

Obituary Courtesy of Anderson-Laws and Jones Funeral Home www.aljfh.com