Florene Speakman Love of Farragut, Tennessee, passed away on Wednesday July 6, 2022, at the age of 83. A memorial service was held in Knoxville, Tennessee, on July 9th. Florene was laid to rest at East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery.

Florene was born on September 5, 1938, the daughter of Leroy L. Speakman and Lois D. She grew up on the family dairy farm in Ponca City, OK where she met her husband and the love of her life, Billy Joe Love, of Red Rock, OK while she was in high school. They married August 26, 1955 in Newkirk, OK. After Billy Joe served in Japan with the United States Air Force, they moved to his next duty station in Chicago where their oldest daughter, Gayla, was born. Their other two children, Cathy and Lonnie, were born in Kansas City, MO. The family then moved to Springfield, VA where she was very active in her children’s grade schools, their sports teams and Springfield Christian Church. Florene was an accomplished Genealogy Research Assistant. She later retired to pursue her true passion, her grandkids.

In 2001 she and Billy Joe moved to Knoxville, TN to live closer to her grandkids. Florene was a fighter, an advocate, loving neighbor, and an avid UT Lady Vols Fan. In her spare time she loved international travel and playing the slot machines with her sisters and mother. Florene was never one to miss a birthday, sports game or a robotics tournament no matter the distance. Nothing stood between her and her grandkids.

She was preceded in death by her father, Leroy Speakman; mother, Lois Speakman; brother, Larry Speakman; and brothers-in-law Leroy and Gary Love. Florene is survived by her husband of 66 years, Billy Joe Love; daughters, Gayla Silies and Cathy (Philip) Driscoll; son, Lonnie (Beth) Love; grandchildren London Silies, Matt Love, Whitney Driscoll, Emily Love, Rachel Driscoll, Josh Love, and Andrew Driscoll; sisters, Mavis(Charles) Condit, Lois Marie (Orville) Thorton, Linda (Robert) Hart, Donna (Tom) Ross, and sisters-in-law, Nila Speakman, Betty Love, Nona (Bill) Shahan, and Linda (Mickey) Ratliff, brother-in-law Carl (Becky) Love; and numerous nieces and nephews.

A memorial Service will be held in Ponca City, OK at Community Christian Church, 2109 West Grand, on July 23, 2022, at 10:00 a.m. with Pastor Tom Howard, officiating.