Patsy Lynch

February 9, 1927 - May 9, 2013

Patsy Lynch, age 86, a resident of Franklin, passed away Thursday, May 9, 2013 at Claiborne & Hughes Health Center in Franklin.

A celebration of life service will be held on Sunday, May 19, 2013 at 3:30 PM at Clearview Baptist Church in Franklin. The family will visit with friends from 2-3:30 PM on Sunday at the church. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family and in charge of arrangements.

Patsy LeMay was born in Knoxville, TN in 1927, but the family soon moved to Elizabethton, TN for her father to find work in the aftermath of the Great Depression. Bob LeMay, her “protective” older brother, joined the Air Force. As a high school senior, Patsy scored high on a musical aptitude test, but finances did not permit her to pursue an upper level study of piano. On the day after she graduated, she left home for a job at the U.S. State Department in Washington, where she worked 2-1/2 years. Returning to TN, she found a “temporary” job as a stenographer at TVA in Knoxville, where she met and married Kelly Lynch on Dec. 1, 1951. Daughter Susan was born on their 6th anniversary. Although the marriage did not last, her job at TVA continued 37 years until she retired. Through the years, she supplemented her income by teaching piano. In her leisure time, she tirelessly devoted herself to church music, playing piano and organ for children’s choirs and Sunday services. Her glory days peaked in 1985 when her lifelong dream of becoming a grandmother came true. Music, dogs, and three grandchildren were the center of her universe until the frailties of aging with diabetes began to take a toll. She moved to Franklin, TN in 2002 to be near Susan and family. In October 2011, she fell and broke multiple bones in her leg. Two subsequent falls and additional broken bones caused her to remain bed-bound during her final 18 months. Through it all, her cheerful disposition delighted nursing staff members. In what we believe is a divine alignment, her brother Bob also passed away within minutes of her passing on May 9, 2013.

Patsy is survived by a daughter: Susan Lynch (Larry) Banner; granddaughters: Lauren Elyse Banner (Matthew) Hill and Olivia Erin Banner; grandson: Ryan Lane Banner; and great-grandson: Owen Banner.

The family wishes to express sincere gratitude to the Clearview Baptist home-bound visitation team, who faithfully visited and encouraged Patsy for several years after she became unable to attend church services. We have been blessed by John Gardner at Clearview Baptist, who comforted us on vigil in Patsy’s final days; and Judy Felts, whose prayers and musical gifts honor Patsy; and Mike Felts, who is the spiritual leader for Larry and Susan’s church fellowship group.

“I play the notes as they are written, but it is God who makes the music.” - Johann Sebastian Bach

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