Barbara Jeanne McNiell Handley

Handley, Barbara Jeanne McNiell – age 98 of Maryville, passed away at home on June 22, 2025. Barbara, or, as her friends knew her, Bobbie, was born May 13, 1927, in Townsend, Tennessee to Stuart P. McNiell, Sr. and Stella Myers McNiell. She graduated from Townsend High School and Maryville College and was a longtime member of St. John United Methodist Church. She worked as an elementary school teacher for many years in the Knox County and Blount County systems before leaving her profession to devote her time to supporting her children's activities and education. Bobbie and her sister, Shirley Heatherly, were dedicated to preserving the history of Townsend, Tennessee, particularly the history occurring during their father's tenure as the business manager for the Little River Lumber Company. They documented nearly 100 years of local history through photographs, news articles, and letters.

She was preceded in death by her husband George E. Handley; her parents; her brothers Stuart P. McNiell, Jr. and Joseph Walter McNiell, Sr.; her sister-in-law Evelyn Handley Gillespie (James); and brothers-in-law Don Heatherly and Walter Douglas. She is survived by her daughter Kim Perkins (Brian) of Maryville; sons Chris Handley (Pat) of Maryville and Brad Handley (Alice) of Knoxville; sister and best friend Shirley McNiell Heatherly; sister-in-law Wilma Douglas; grandsons Dale Love (Noel) and Wes Love (Mollie); granddaughter Kelsey Caughron (Kraegen); step-granddaughters Melissa Gibson (Kevin) and Mary Elizabeth Jones; step-grandson Andrew Jones; great-grandchildren Kamden, Maggie, Kellyn, Eloise, KJ, Cate, Karsyn, James, Essie, Kynsie, and George (“Auggie”); step-great-grandchildren Will (Alysa), Zach, Mallory, and Grayson; great-great step-grandchildren Luke, Olivia, and Augustus; and many special nieces and nephews.

Funeral services will be held at 6:30 p.m. on Friday, June 27th at McCammon Ammons Click Funeral Home in Maryville, with visitation from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., officiated by Pastor Brian Inman. Family and friends will meet at 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 28th at Grandview Chapel, 2304 Tuckaleechee Pike, Maryville, TN 37803 for entombment services. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to St. John United Methodist Church, 2201 E. Broadway, Maryville, TN 37804; Myers Cemetery Preservation Association, 8161 Cedar Creek Rd., Townsend, TN 37882; or Little River Railroad Museum, 7747 E. Lamar Alexander Pkwy., Townsend, TN 37882.