Kelly Lytle
Kelly Harless Lytle, 60, of Chattanooga, peacefully passed away December 4, 2022, after a long battle with Primary Progressive Aphasia, a rare form of Dementia.
Kelly studied at Girls Preparatory School and the University of Richmond, where she served as Honor Council Chairperson. She received her Master of Public Health degree at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Kelly was known at college for her endless smile, silly songs and toasts, and for starting every dance party. If there was beach music playing, she was there; let’s never forget the time she “touched a Tam!”. However, don’t discount her love of David Allen Coe and “you don’t have to call me darlin’…”. She made everyone feel special with personalized notes/books when they graduated and her hand-crafted Christmas cards for years afterward.
Roller Coasters, Crafting, Puzzles, Motorcycles, Ski Slopes, Dancing and Leaf Sledding…Just a few of her passions!
Kelly worked for the Hamilton County Health Dept. and then Memorial Hospital as a spokesperson for their Wellness Programs. She was well known for sharing her heart healthy eating tips and recipes which she would present on local television and through numerous articles in Southern Living’s Cooking Light Magazine.
Kelly was a former president of the Tennessee Dietetic Association and a master gardener.
Kelly loved her church family at First Centenary United Methodist where she was lifelong member. She served on the Altar Guild and was a past president of the Hardin Sunday School Class.
Kelly is survived by her husband Bill and daughter Evelyn; parents, Butch and Tootsie Harless; siblings, Evelyn Harless (Jay Martin), Libby Haun, Charlie Harless (Viki). Aunt Kelly was adored and will be missed by her nieces, nephews, Harless cousins, aunts and uncles, all of whom took many a ride with her on the “Midnight Train to Georgia”.
The family would like to thank the caregivers from Alexian Valley Residence and Senior Saints Home as well as Dr. Terry Melvin, all who have lovingly taken care of Kelly over the past six years. We would also like to extend a very special thank you to Kelly’s dear friend, Gin Johnston.
The family so appreciated her lifelong local friends and her very special Richmond Girls for their love and visits over the years.
The family wishes to extend a special thank you to Evelyn’s friends and their families and Evelyn’s GPS family for six years of love and support.
A visitation and memorial service will be held in early January at First Centenary United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, Kelly’s family requests that donations be made in her memory to First Centenary United Methodist Church, the Tennessee Aquarium, or the Humane Educational Society.