Birth date: Nov 22, 1936 Death date: Mar 16, 2022
Lovely was born to Murrell and Essie Hunley in Church Hill Tn. November 22, 1936, the 2nd of 5 siblings (2 sisters and 2 brothers, Dorothy, then Mom, Lyle, Lowell and Trula. She was named after her older sister’s best friend at he Read Obituary
I only met her one time. My mother talked about her all the time, she loved Dr. Free's name, Lovely. My mother worked in the ER area with the Red Cross back in the 60's when they went to accidents and the emergency rooms. She talked about Dr. Free so warmly, and I was so excited when I did finally meet her. I want to extend my condolences on her family's loss.
I can’t say or express exactly how much this woman meant to me and many, many more people. In 1995, I was 23 and fresh out of nursing school. I took a job at the minor med clinic down the street with sweet hours and same pay as the hospital. I was going to work there until I got my feet wet and decided what I really wanted to do. Both of the full-time physicians there were women and very accomplished. Dr. Free was one of them and she had come out of retirement because she needed more to do. She could only play so much GOLF! She had been medical director of Methodist central ER for 15 years, had been a general surgeon prior to that at John Gaston hospital. She was smart and sharp as a tack. She was soft spoken, but always straight forward. She was sweet and kind, but she wasn’t afraid to verbally Kick Some A$$ when the occasion rose. With her experience, background, and plain Bad-Assery, us clinic staff got to see and assist with a lot of ummm.... not clinic type stuff. And she always rocked it!
During my 5 years working with her, we all became like family. She was always giving advice on relationships, finance, and helping to guide us younger ones. She sparked a love for flowers, and especially roses in me and gave me my first box of miracle- gro and Jackson & Perkins rose catalog.We would peruse through the pages and talk flowers all goo-goo eyed.
Once, I was in a very unhealthy relationship and didn’t have the gumption to get out of it and she took it upon herself to do it for me. She threatened him and he listened. She was always thoughtful with any life event.
She wasn’t just that way with me. She was that way with many of us. And life goes on and we have families and get busy. We kept in touch over the years, but over the last several I didn’t call her and let her know just how much she meant to me and how much I loved her. My life has definitely been brighter because of her light and love.
Stephanie Meridieth, RN and friend
