Willa Mae Earley, 87, of Murphy, passed away Thursday, May 24, 2018, in Athens, Tenn.
She was a native and lifelong resident of Cherokee County. She worked for several years at Murphy Laundry.
Willa Mae was a member of Shoal Creek Baptist Church.
She was the daughter of the late Lloyd and Icie Jane Craig Crowder, and wife of the late Fred Earley, who died Aug. 3, 2006. She also was preceded in death by three sons, Freddie, Robert and Larry Earley; two grandchildren; two sisters; and five brothers.
Surviving are a daughter, Carolyn Bennett of Elkhart, Ind.; two sisters, Minnie Allen and Martha White, both of Dalton, Ga.; two brothers, T.J. Crowder of Farner, Tenn., and Joe Crowder of Dalton; seven grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and seven great-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 26, in the chapel of Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy, with the Rev. Jerry Beaver officiating.
The interment was in Shoal Creek Cemetery. Grandsons served as pallbearers.
The family received friends from 10-10:45 a.m. Saturday, May 26, at Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy, prior to the services.
Ivie Funeral Home, Murphy, was in charge of all arrangements.
An online guest register is available at www.iviefuneralhomeinc.com.