Paula "Tennille" Creekmore

Paula Tennille Creekmore 46, the strongest, bravest, most loving and most fiercely protective mom, wife, daughter, sister and friend to everyone that knew her. Left her earthly existence on Saturday March 4^th, 2023 at 6:55 pm into her heavenly fathers arms. She is with her beloved brother Matthew (Pudd) Ervin, who probably had the doors super glued shut like he did her lunch. She graduated from William Blount Highschool in 1994, then went to work for BTR. After BTR she started nursing school to become an RN, her dream. She worked for Ft. Sanders, where a cardiologist noticed her amazing talent and she became that doctors right hand at Knoxville Cardiology. She then expanded her amazing talent at UT ER. While working at UT she met the love of her life and soulmate, Richard Creekmore. She said “There was just something about a man in a uniform.” In less than a year they were married and started their amazing love story and traveling the world. Tennille loved to travel. This moved her to Kentucky dragging Lindsey and Lance, kicking and screaming. She truly got her dream job of being a flight nurse for Ky Air Evac. She loved being a flight nurse but it took too much time away from her family. One day while being at Parkwest with a family member making sure the doctors were doing their job to her standards, they knew they needed her on their team. She then started working rapid response team until she became the Stroke Coordinator and got Parkwest stroke certified. Tennille started her melanoma journey in 2017. She fought so courageously while NEVER losing her faith in Gods promise, despite the struggles that followed. She made it her goal to help others with this awful illness. She was the first woman in the world to undergo a trial procedure TILs with Pd1 knockout. This drug is predicted to be a cure for melanoma and her cancer was not spreading but the treatment was too much for her. She did however pave the way to a cure for millions.

She leaves behind to carry on her memory loving husband Richard Creekmore, daughter Lindsey Cagle (Andrew Russell), son Lance Cagle, Mom & Dad, Danny and Mary Ervin, Mother and father in law Pam and Rick Creekmore, brothers Donnie (Christi), Brian (Claudette), sister in law Monica Ervin & Misty Hamlin and many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends. She always said “No matter what, I win.”

In lieu of flowers please make a donation to Mt. Carmel youth group. Receiving of friends will be from 4:00 until 7:00 PM on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, 910 Walker School Road, Maryville, TN 37803. We will have a celebration of life to follow at 7:00 PM. Condolences may be shared through Smith Funeral & Cremation Service, Maryville, 865-983-1000, www.SmithFuneralandCremation.com