Theresa "Terry" Lavely

September 28, 1925 - September 21, 2012

Mrs. Theresa Terry Lavely, age 86, wife of Melvin Lavely, and a resident of Harvard Drive in Columbia, TN passed away Friday morning, September 21, 2012 at Life Care Center in Columbia. Funeral services will be Sunday, September 23, 2012 at 4:00 PM at Heritage Funeral Home with Father Davis Chackaleckel officiating. The family will visit with friends from 2:00 PM until the service hour at 4:00. Inurnment will be held at Maury Memorial Gardens Cemetery at a later date. Heritage Funeral Home is assisting the family and in charge of arrangements. A native of Detroit, Michigan, Terry was born on September 28, 1925. She was the daughter of the late Paul and Mary Vellemberger. She was happily married to Melvin for over 61 years as they began their journey of love together when they were wed on September 30, 1950. She previously worked for Michigan Bell Telephone which later became Bell Telephone. She worked there as an operator, then moved up to a Chief Operator and later upgraded to a Supervisor where she traveled, taught, and trained switch board operators. Her hobbies included tennis, ballroom dancing, and couple roller-skating, which she and her husband won many trophies from. Terry deeply loved her family especially her two grandsons and her great-grandson. In addition to her husband, Terry is survived by her son, Doug (Gail) Lavely of Columbia, TN; sister, Marion (Clayton) Beneteau of Clinton Township, MI; two grandchildren: Jeremy Lavely and Matthew (Tara) Lavely both of Columbia, TN; and great-grandson, Landon Lavely. You may send condolences to the family at the top of this page.