Louise A. Liddell's Obituary
Louise Amos Liddell, 98, retired teacher and author, passed away Friday, December 7, 2018. She was a charter resident at the Village of Germantown. She was predeceased by her husband of 68 years, W.”Jack” Liddell, and is survived by her sons, Bob Liddell,(Anne) of Hernando, MS, Dan Liddell,(Jane) of Germantown TN, and daughter Mary Davis of Terrell, TX.; three grandchildren, Mike Liddell (Denise),Michelle Woods, and Eric Liddell (Rachel) and four great-grandchildren, Parker, Payton, Jackson, and Evelyn Liddell.Born July 18, 1920 in Crawfordsville, Georgia, she was one of six children of William and Bessie Amos, and graduated from Monticello, Georgia High School and grew up on a on a small dairy farm. The demanding chores of a farm girl instilled in her a work ethic that stayed with her throughout her lifetime. Using an early work-study program, she graduated from Abraham Baldwin College,in Tifton, GA, a two year agricultural school and then transferred to the University of Georgia where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science degree in home economics. She later earned a Master of Education degree from Memphis State University.While at Abraham Baldwin College she was voted “Miss Baldwin” both years she was there, as well as “Most Popular” and “Miss Posture”. Early yearbook pictures had a tagline describing each student and her’s was “To know her is to love her”, an amazingly accurate foretelling of her future life.She was most proud of her college life at the University of Georgia, where she was selected in 1940 to be on the first cheerleading team to include women. Earlier teams were restricted to men only. Her cheerleading teammates and memories of this time were so cherished by her that she continued to participate in many homecoming games well into her 60’s and 70’s as part of the Alumni cheering squad. TV cameramen often showed her cheering and teasing the UGA mascot. Her picture and stories of the “long skirts”, as the early female cheerleaders were called, were featured in The Atlanta Constitution, Athens, and Memphis newspapers. In 1996, along with Mr. Bill Malone, the 1940 team captain, they donated their uniform letters to the University cheerleading museum. These items are currently on display with their history and pictures of her and Bill.While at Georgia, she met and married the love of her life, Jack Liddell, in 1941, right before he was called to active duty during WWII. In the mid 1950s she was hired by Whitehaven High School to teach all levels of home economics, a job she held until 1970. She was grateful for the impact her teaching had on her students, as over the decades many a former student called or wrote her to thank her for giving them the life skills they needed in cooking, sewing, and homemaking, and the social skills she taught to help them have successful marriages and careers.During her teaching career, she continued to be involved in numerous clubs and greek honor societies and served as chairman or president of several national associations and organizations. But she found time to be a Sunday school teacher, cub scout den mother, beauty pageant judge, Mid-South Fair flower arrangement judge, and many other community activities. She was appointed to the advisory council for vocational education in Memphis City Schools. In addition to her many activities, she and Jack also found time to pursue their favorite hobby, traveling the world.In 1976 Goodheart-Wilcox textbook publishers realized that traditional home economics was becoming outdated in schools, with boys needing the same life skills for today’s world as girls did. She was contacted by the publisher’s president who asked her to use her experience and skills to create textbooks for modern day, co-ed classes. After months of writing and revising, she authored four textbooks with lesson plans that are now used in schools in 34 states, with revised editions being published every few years. Her books were approved by the Texas school book review board, the nation’s premier school book review committee. Her contributions to yesterday’s and today’s generations will continue to live on through her writing.The family wishes to thank the memory care staff at the Village of Germantown for their loving care of Louise during her stay with them. The Crossroads Hospice care team also provided care and comfort to her for which we are very grateful.The family will receive friends beginning at 10 AM on Monday, December 10, at Memorial Park Funeral Home Fireside Chapel with services to be held at 11 AM.Arrangements have been entrusted to Memorial Park Funeral Home and Cemetery, 5668 Poplar Ave., Memphis, TN 38119 (901) 767-8930. “Celebrating Life… Behind the Stone Wall”.
What’s your fondest memory of Louise?
What’s a lesson you learned from Louise?
Share a story where Louise's kindness touched your heart.
Describe a day with Louise you’ll never forget.
How did Louise make you smile?