Ila Woody

MRS. ILA MEALER WOODY, age 92, known to many in the Dalton area as "Nurse Woody" passed away on the 8th of November 2008, at Ridgewood Manor Nursing Home.
Born in the mountains of Gilmer County on November 30, 1916, to Philip and Lola Mealer, Ila grew up in a large and loving family of hard working farm people. Church was a regular part of life and on August 13, 1933, at age 16, she and Clarence Felder Woody eloped and were married after a service at Ebenezer Baptist Church.
During this time of the Great Depression, Ila worked for 75 cents a day “pulling fodder,” while Felder often walked 10 miles a day to find work gathering crops out in the field. Trying to make a better life for their family, they moved to West Virginia in 1939, so Felder could work in the coalmines; Ila was 23 and expecting their third child. When World War II began, they returned to Georgia to be near family.
In 1942, they moved to Dalton to work in the textile industry – renting a tiny unpainted house on Abutment Road. To earn money, Ila arranged to have a large chenille sewing machine delivered and set up in the middle of their small living room, where she made bedspreads that were sold along Highway 41 ("Peacock Alley").
In 1945, they were able to build their first house, located on Bear Creek Road, and Ila began working full-time in a spread house. After laboring long hard days, Ila came home to care for her family; working in the garden, canning and preparing food, sewing her children’s clothes – doing whatever was needed. She never questioned hard work and faith in God. She was truly a member of what we now call the "Greatest Generation."
In her mid-forties, while working as a volunteer for the local Civil Defense Chapter, she discovered her true calling in life. She enrolled in Hamilton Memorial Hospital's nursing program and worked at the Hospital until she was over 80. She was passionate about her job and loved caring for the sick. Still today, many affectionately refer to her as "Nurse Woody," someone who took care of them or one of their loved ones at the Hospital.
Ila had a real zest for life. She loved sewing, knitting, crocheting, and especially oil painting. Her beautiful landscapes adorn the homes of family and friends. She enjoyed traveling to Florida, Hawaii and especially California, where she once lived. She bowled on two leagues for several years and won a large collection of trophies. She loved to laugh and have fun, and was an avid reader. She was a best friend always to her two daughters and granddaughter, and made every effort to provide them with a good life.
Ila was a Christian, and a long time member of Burnt Mountain Baptist Church.
She is preceded in death by her parents, her husband of 52 years, and their infant son William Carl; three brothers, Glen (WWII), Roy and Robert Mealer; three sisters, infant Bessie, Mae Reece and Winnie Fowler.
She is survived by her daughters, Dorothy (Wylie) Kendall of Dalton and Millie (Larry) Shaw of California; one granddaughter, Joyce Kendall, and two great-grandchildren, Nicholas and Victoria Meyer of Chattanooga; two sisters, Bonnie Parks of Dalton and Esther Fountain of Jasper; and one brother, Clarence Mealer of Douglasville.
A memorial service will be held on Wednesday, November 12th, at 11:00 a.m., in the Chapel of Love Funeral Home, with the Rev. Dr. Fred Andrews officiating. A graveside service will follow at 2 p.m. from the Burnt Mountain Baptist Church, with her nephew, the Rev. Charles Holbert officiating. The family will receive visitors at Love Funeral Home on Tuesday, November 11th, from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.
Our family would like to thank the staff at Ridgewood Manor Nursing Home, Hamilton Hospice, and Dr. John Land, for the kindness that was shown during the last few months of her life.
Words of comfort may be sent to the family at www.lovefuneralhomega.com.
Love Funeral Home, 1402 N. Thornton Ave., Dalton (across from Hamilton Medical Center) is in charge of arrangements.