Allison Gay (Palmes) Starks

Mrs. Allison Gay Palmes Starks, age 92, passed Saturday, October 15, at Oak Hill Senior Care Facility in Portland, TN.  She was born September 6, 1930, in Macon County, TN and grew up in the Rocky Mound community.  Her parents were the late Ward Leo Palmes and the late Lizzie Bell Bradley Palmes.  She was a 1948 graduate of Westmoreland High School.

Visitation will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 19th at Gilbert Funeral Home & Crematory.  A graveside service for family, friends, and community will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, October 20th, at Sulphur Spring Cemetery, 2504 Sulphur Spring Church Road in Simpson County, KY.

She is preceded in death by her parents; her husband, Gerald Starks; and her sister, Bennetta Holloway.

She is survived by her son, Sid Starks (Dawn) of East Longmeadow, MA and her daughter, Sallie Starks of Franklin, KY.  Also surviving are one nephew, Stephen Snider (Barbara); three nieces, Ann Kaelin (James), Jan Holloway, and Susan Helms (Bryan); several great-nieces and nephews; and several great-great-nieces and nephews.  She was an employee of Southern Bell as a phone operator for many years, until taking on the role of stay-at-home wife and mother.  She volunteered in many capacities, such as serving over 30 years as a hospital volunteer.  She proudly embraced the term farm wife and wore the crown well.  She loved nothing more than to put her feet up at 11:30 and enjoy her lunch while watching The Young and The Restless.  She could tell you everything about any CBS soap opera as she watched them from day one.  Other hobbies included gardening, sewing, and talking on the phone.  Her most coveted role was taking care of family.

The family thanks Oak Hill Senior Living for the love, care, dignity, and respect they provided the family the past year.  The family also thanks Caring With A Smile for their care the prior year.

As an expression of sympathy in remembrance of Mrs. Starks, the family asks for donations to be made to Oak Hill Senior Living, 639 North Broadway, Portland, TN 37148.  Envelopes will be provided at the funeral home or you can venmo to @Sallie-Starks.

Gilbert Funeral Home & Crematory website is www.gilbertfhonline.com. The Facebook page is Gilbert Funeral Home & Crematory, Inc.  The obituary phone line is 270-586-8844.