Peggy Ann Welch

I was blessed as an adult with mature passions; God, Church of Dandridge, my family, and a serious fervour for my lifelong job of teaching students to love singing, performing and just sharing life stories and great times with them. I leave my siblings, Joan Holt, Sam, and Greg Bouchillon, all their mates, Mike, Mary, Marcia, and Jerry’s Merla. My nieces and nephews: Brandon, John Mark, Christina, Clint, Andrew, Grant and Chase, and Ricky and Billy Bouchillon, and Wendy Orenstein and Stacey Branyan. My great nieces and nephews: Michael Bouchillon, Hunter, Josh, and Carter Holt, and Molly and Abby Smith. We are truly a clan. I go to the place prepared for me “as promised” joining my parents Cecil Lamond and Annie Griffin Bouchillon, my beloved brother Jerry Bouchillon, my nieces Rosemary Holt Smith and Jennifer Bouchillon Seezen, my nephew Samuel Bouchillon, Jr., and step son-in-law Greg Simpson. I have seven blood grandchildren. By Spencer and Dusty, Treyson, Caroline, and Knox. Tyler and Morgan are parents of Ben, Cate and Lachlan. Hunter and Thu are parents of Joshua and Allison. My three grandchildren by marriage, Max, Noah and Jonah, by my step children, Wendy Welch (Tim Chu) and Jessie Simpson (Greg). They have expanded this clan and become wonderful additions to my life. It is my real loss and regret that I do not get to see them all grow up, be with them, and teach them my love of playing the piano and singing. I grew up with many aunts, uncles, eight on both sides, and so, so many cousins. I cherish to this day what they meant to my life. I had two marriages, Jim Brasfield and Lloyd Welch, who are great fathers to our five children. Without them, I would not be who I am today or have the beautiful, loving sons and daughters that are my life. I travelled to my favorite places in Europe and the United States with my best friend and husband Lloyd. I lived a fulfilled life and emptied my bucket list. I would be remiss to not mention my support group, my best friends in this life Deborah, Marilyn, Nancy, Ladonna, Bob and Bill; neighbors, Rick, Deb and Mark, John and Cathy, John and Peggy, Andie and George, Betty and Dean, and Barbara Pearson and Kathy Arbing. And the greatest supporters, my sis and brothers. All of you have given countless hours helping me through my multiple myeloma.

My heart was wrapped up in my softball friends, too numerous to mention. They constantly asked me how I was doing.  I hated to not tell them the truth.

Okatee Baptist Church “stood strong” and prayed me through. My church friends, Jackie, Barbara, Suzanne, Cheryl, and the card senders—I love them—Thank you all!

I fought the good fight since 2016 and with their help I went down “swinging” at the age of 69 with more than a hundred softball club supporters.

So, you see, I was Blessed.

Now I can “Fly Away”. My Lord and my God, the Eternal One, has given me my wings.