Lela Clair Gosslee

Lela Clair Gosslee, 96, formerly of Oak Ridge and Clinton, TN, and of Maryville, TN in the past seven years, passed away peacefully Tuesday morning, April 18, 2023, at Blount Memorial Hospital.

Lela was born to parents Gilman and Josephine (Ostgard) Berg on November 7, 1926, on her parents’ farm near Sharon, North Dakota, one of five children who grew up on the family farm and attended a nearby country school.  Following graduation from Sharon High School, Lela later attended the University of Minnesota and then taught school in Stanton, North Dakota.  Lela was married to David Gilbert Gosslee on June 29, 1947, in Crookston, Minnesota where her parents were living at the time.  She and David were blessed with three sons, David Scott, Kent Thomas, and Robert Clark Gosslee, and the family moved to Oak Ridge, Tennessee, in the summer of 1961 where David was employed with the Oak Ridge National Laboratory through the remainder of his professional career.  

Lela is survived by son, Kent Gosslee and wife, Lois, Alcoa; daughter-in-law, Francie Gosslee, Nashville; Grandchildren, Donna Michelle Swiney and husband, Doug, Maryville; John David Gosslee and wife, Jessica, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Lydia Lorraine Gosslee and Joshua Stephen Gosslee, Nashville; Alexis Thurmer, Oliver Springs; great-grandchildren, Chad Joines, Maryville, and Kayla Joines, Kingston; great-great-grandchildren, Colton, Cheyenne, and Paisley Joines, Maryville; sister, Merna Vind, Crookston, Minnesota; together with many dear nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends.  Lela was preceded in death by parents, Gilman and Josie Berg; husband, David Gilbert Gosslee; son, Robert Clark Gosslee; son, David Scott Gosslee; daughter-in-law, Carmen Leila (Gosslee) Lindsey; sister, Marjorie Bernadean Combs; two brothers, James Berg and Gerald Berg; and two brothers-in-law, Charles Vind and Hobart Charles “Toby” Combs.

Family will receive friends from 1:00 until 2:00 PM Saturday, April 29, 2023 at First United Methodist Church, Oak Ridge, Tennessee. A Memorial Service will be at 2:00 PM with the Reverend Jenny Caughman officiating.  Interment will directly follow in the First United Methodist Church Memorial Garden.  An online guest book may be signed at Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be in the form of donations to First United Methodist Church, Missions Fund, 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830.