Geneva Gearing

Geneva Elise Collins Gearing, age 93, of Jacksboro, Tennessee, passed away on Sunday, August 9, 2015. She was born in Taft, California to Enoch and Ellen Collins on August 2, 1922 and grew up in Paint Rock, Tennessee. After graduating from Kingston High School and working to pay for her education, she attended the University of Tennessee (graduating in 1950) where she majored in Education and minored in Office Administration. Geneva was a skilled basketball player and served as the women's Intermural Director while attending college. During college, Geneva worked at Y-12 and continued there for 15-years, attaining supervisor status over the IBM department. In 1964, she began her teaching career at LaFollette High School as the girls Physical Education and the Chorus teacher. During this time she earned her MA from Union College. She retired from Campbell County High School in 1990 and continued to substitute teach and sell tickets at high school sporting events for many years. She was a long-time member of the Jacksboro United Methodist Church where she enjoyed directing the choir and teaching the Ladies Sunday School class. She enjoyed traveling, singing, dancing and she was especially proud of all her chorus classes. She loved her family, friends and all her students. Geneva always had a happy disposition and she never met a stranger.

Geneva was preceded in death by her loving husband of 48 years, Paul F. Gearing, mother - Ellen (Elsie) Paisley Collins, father - Enoch Edward (Ed) Collins, brother - John (Jack) Collins and son-in-law - Jackie Ray Shepard. She is survived by son - Dan Gearing, daughter - Kathy Gearing-Shepard, grandsons - Jake and John Shepard, first cousins - Billy Paisley and Betty Hawkins and the extended Francis family.

The family will receive friends from 4:00 PM until 7:00 PM Tuesday August 11, 2015 at the Jacksboro United Methodist Church with funeral service to follow with Reverend Dave Grant and Reverend Jim Mullins officiating. Private Interment at a later date. Special friends include: All her neighbors, church family, Dave and Donna Pierce (Jacksboro), Queener families (Dalton, GA), Peggy Batts (Knoxville), Eric Batts and Yar Wei (California).