Ira Lee “Airalee” Moore Fugate, 87, of Calhoun, died Sunday, Jan. 1, 2012, at the home of her son Donald Lee Fugate in Calhoun.

A native of Thompson, Ga., and longtime resident of McMinn County, she was the daughter of the late Lenton Clea Moore and Lillie Mae Cox Moore.

She was also preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Lawrence Horace “Shorty” Fugate; two sisters, Gladys Leola Moore Lewis and Virginia Maybell Moore Casteel Brock; and two brothers: Wayne Harold Moore and Milton Ray Moore.

She was regarded as a most spiritual Christian woman, was a dedicated member and the oldest living member of Hiwassee Baptist Church and was a 50-year member of the Tennessee Order Of The Eastern Star, No.187 Calhoun Chapter.

She was retired from the McMinn Co. Board of Education where she had worked as manager of the Calhoun Elementary School cafeteria and later as a cook for Calhoun High School/Elementary School Cafeteria; where many students knew her as “Grandma Fugate.” She was well known in the community for her culinary skills, especially baking and desserts.

Cherished by family and friends, she is survived by a sister, Nellie Irene Moore Saffels; five children: Wilma June Fugate Stanley and husband, Don L. Stanley, Lawrence Leo Fugate and wife, Glenda Coe Fugate, Donald Lee Fugate and wife, Linda Weaver Fugate, Phillip Edward Fugate and wife, Annette Coe Fugate, and Ronald Allen Fugate and wife, Michelle Dunn Fugate; nine grandchildren: Joseph Anthony Stanley and wife, Holly Chapman Stanley, Lisa Kaye Fugate, Donna Lynn Fugate, Rebecca Diane Fugate Casteel, and husband, Rodney Casteel, Tonya Suzanne Fugate English Nash, and husband, Aaron Nash, William Andrew Coe Fugate, Martha Helen Lee Fugate Miller, and husband, Marcus Miller, Melissa Anne Fugate and husband, Brent Tuggle, Amanda Leigh Fugate ; seven great-grandchildren; and many, many nieces and nephews

The funeral will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Jan. 4. 2012, at Hiwassee Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Sneed officiating.

The body will be at the church for a wake one hour prior to the service.

Interment will follow in Calhoun Cemetery with Joe Stanley, Andrew Fugate, Marcus Miller, Aaron Nash, Rodney Casteel and Brent Tuggle serving as pallbearers.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 8 this evening at Ziegler Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to Hiwassee Baptist Church, 506 County Road 950, Calhoun, TN 37309.

If you are unable to attend the visitation or funeral service, please sign the online registry at:

www.zieglerfuneralhome.com.