Emma "Gene" Clement Peery

Mrs. Emma "Gene" Clement Peery, age 88 of Nashville, passed away December 18, 2013 in Bellevue, Tennessee. "Gene" was born March 16, 1925 in Scottsville, KY. She is preceded in death by her parents Robert S. & MayBelle Goad Clement, brother Frank Goad Clement (former Governor of Tennessee), and sister Annabelle Clement O'Brien (first female TN state Senator), as well as her husband of 58 years Bruce Young Peery, son Don Carney Peery, and granddaughter Anna Jo Peery. She is survived by sons Bruce Young Peery II (Deborah) and Robert Peery (Carrie) of Dickson, daughters Ann Whitis (Warren) of Osceola, Arkansas, Sara Kyle (Jim) of Memphis, BettyBelle Nicks (Bill) of Nashville; nephews Bob Clement (Mary) and Frank Clement (Lynn; and several grandchildren. "Gene" graduated from Dickson High School, where she was both homecoming and FFA queen, as well as DAR Representative and Miss Dickson High School, class of 1942. She attended Middle Tennessee State University. Then, while working for the NC & St. L / L&N Railroads at Union Station in Nashville, she met and married her husband who was a pilot in WWII. They lived in his hometown (Coeburn, VA) where he was in the coal mining business. She was active in numerous civic organizations and was a member of the First Baptist Church. They lived in Kingsport for five years before moving to Dickson where they lived for 37 years. There, her husband was a real-estate developer and she was a broker. In 2001 they moved to Franklin where she joined the West Franklin Baptist Church. She enjoyed politics and was a strong member of the Democratic Party. She enjoyed needlework (especially knitting), reading, and current news. She possessed a remarkable spirit and was an inspiration to countless others. It was well known how very much she loved her family, her friends and support group of 44 years. A "Celebration of Life" service will be held at the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum, 100 Frank Clement Place in Dickson on Sunday, January 5, 2014, beginning at 2 pm. Refreshments will be served following the service. Visitation with the family will be from Noon - 2:00 pm. "Gene" chose to donate her body for research to the University of Tennessee, seeking a cure for bile duct cancer. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Clement Railroad Hotel Museum or the Odds 'n Ends Class Benevolent Fund of First Baptist Church. Arrangements by Dickson Funeral Home.