Mrytle Liles

Born on October 31, 1938

Departed on February 1, 2021 and resided in Kingston Springs, Tennessee

Myrtle Halleen Jones Liles, age 82, passed away February 1st, 2021 after living a full, richly blessed life with a large family and circle of friends that extends far beyond her local community.

Halleen was born in Sweetwater, TN on October 31, 1938 and was raised as a child in Oak Ridge, TN where her mother worked for the U.S. Department of Defense during WWII. She attended Oak Ridge High School, and later, the University of TN, Knoxville. When visiting Kingston Springs, the home of her stepfather, she met the love of her life, Thomas James Liles who had returned home from serving in Germany in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. They eloped July 6, 1957 in Ringgold, GA and briefly lived in East Nashville before moving to Kingston Springs into a home Tom designed and built for her in 1960. They remained there for the duration of their 63 years of marriage.

All who were blessed to know Halleen would say that she lived her faith, was strong and determined, and generous to a fault. She was vivacious and fun and had abundant compassion and empathy for people. She thrived on spending time with friends and family, especially her eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren. Intensely community-minded, Halleen served several years as a volunteer with the Kingston Springs Community Club, the Kingston Springs Historical Association, Cheatham County Animal Control, and Kingston Springs United Methodist Church (KSUMC), where she held various leadership positions. She was a staunch University of Tennessee football fan and understood the game rules better than most. She enjoyed waterskiing earlier in her life and was a voracious reader who loved to dance, spend time at the family fishing camp on the Tennessee River, and later, on the beaches of Florida. Her zest for life was contagious.

Highly regarded professionally and personally, Halleen worked as the bookkeeper for Ensworth School for 29 years before retiring in 2003. For nine years following retirement she managed the financial books for Gallery One in Belle Meade, contributing greatly to the art gallery's success.

Halleen is preceded in death by her husband, Thomas Liles, her mother Mayme Sue Presley Lampley, father, Thomas Royston Jones III, stepfather, Arnold Lampley, and brother, Thomas Royston Jones, IV. She is survived by her sister Patricia Arlene "Mickey" Jones Vaughn, daughters Leslie Ann Liles Allen (Ralph), Susan Michelle "Shelley" Liles McBurney, and Cathy Renee Liles Frisch (Randy), in addition to eight grandchildren - Amber Williams, Jeremy Hinton, Tabitha Knight, Devin Norcross, Joshua Hinton, Taylor Sullivan, Rachel Morris and James St. Laurent, as well as 12 great-grandchildren, two step-grandchildren, Chad and Chase (Sarah) and one step-great grandchild, a surrogate daughter and niece, Lisa Elaine Beck, as well as other close nieces and nephews.

The family is particularly thankful for the care given to her by a close friend and caregiver, Debi Pistole and Beth Nickens and her long-time cardiologist, Dr. Jeffrey Webber.

Join us in celebrating Halleen with a final "going away" party on Saturday, February 6 at the Pavilion located at Harpeth Hills Funeral Home at 9090 Highway 100, Nashville, TN. Visitation is at 10 a.m. and the service at 11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts can be made to the Kingston Springs United Methodist Women at 368 N. Main St., Kingston Springs, TN 37082. Donations will be earmarked for church camp youth scholarships, a cause Halleen long supported.