Cora Beatrice Loop Cantrell

Cora Beatrice Loop Cantrell, age 90, of Knoxville, TN passed peacefully into the arms of Jesus surrounded by her loving family on Friday, May 31, 2024. A beloved mother, grandmother and aunt, Beatrice was born on January 9, 1934, in Monroe, Michigan and moved to Knoxville in 1968.  Bea’s calling was to share her love of Jesus with family and friends. She was a member of Capps Creek Primitive Baptist Church and served as secretary for the former Dotson Creek Primitive Baptist Church.

Bea graduated from Monroe High School in 1952 and received the “Most Athletic Senior” award having excelled in basketball, softball and other sports. She was known for her athletic ability and competitive spirit throughout her entire life. In Knoxville she coached girls’ basketball and all-star teams in the Halls Junior Pro leagues, organized recreational volleyball for the Halls community, and was well known as an adult tennis instructor with Gladys Fisher at the University of Tennessee. She enjoyed teaching and organizing tennis league play at Fountain City Park for many years. As a bowler, she scored a perfect 300 in league play. In her later years she participated in the Senior Olympics winning medals in both swimming and tennis. She will always be remembered by her family for her love of all types of dancing especially square dancing and line dancing.  Bea was employed as a teacher’s aide at Halls Middle School and Gresham Middle School in Special Education. She finished her career working as a substitute teacher with Knox County Schools.

Bea was married for 33 years to W. Alex Cantrell (divorced.) She loved family gatherings, especially Easter, and watching her children and grandchildren participate in sports, school activities, and dance performances. She will be greatly missed by her entire family.

Bea was preceded in death by her parents, Everett and Maggie (Carroll) Loop, beloved grandsons, Jonathan Price and Garrett Carr, and brother, Everett Loop, Jr. and his wife Faye, brother James (Jim) Loop, and sister-in-laws, Beatrice Loop, Audrey Hoyt  and Rob Nelson. She is survived by her seven children, Christine (Charles) Price, David (Janet) Cantrell, Earl Cantrell, Rick (Cynthia) Cantrell, Gale (William) Carr, Steve (Andrea) Cantrell, Scott (Jennifer) Cantrell; grandchildren: Joshua (Kristen) Price, Sarah (Joshua) Long, Alex (Lisa) Cantrell, Mechelle (Donnie) Hutchison, Tiffany Cantrell, Derrick (Jordan) Cantrell, Lacy (Adam) Haney, Ahmed (Alissa) Abdalla, Jared Massey, Madison Massey, Isaac Carr, Hannah (Derrick) Sise, Noah Carr, Hailey (Robb) Lyczynski, Megan Cantrell, Michael Cantrell, Katelyn (Brandon) Donison, and Lathan Cantrell; great-grandchildren: Caroline, Benjamin, Samantha, Avery (Ryan), Lena, Preston, Madison, Autumn, Kloe, Stella, Parker, Camdyn, Isaac; great-great granddaughter: Saylor; brother, Clifford Loop, sister-in-law, Linda Carol (John) Lawson brother-in-law, Bill (Barbara) Hoyt, special niece, Dina Hughes, and many nieces and nephews.

The family is sincerely grateful to Bea’s primary care physician, Dr. Andy Adams, and health care workers at Amedisys Hospice. The family will receive friends from 5:00-7:00 pm on Wednesday, June 5, at Mynatt’s Funeral Home Powell Chapel with service to follow officiated by Elder Daniel Wood. Bea will be laid to rest in Woodland Cemetery, Monroe, Michigan next to her parents and where she once had a strawberry patch and played as a child. Graveside services will be Saturday, June 8 at 10:00 am. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Special Olympics of Greater Knoxville, P.O. Box 18373, Knoxville, TN 37928 or Knoxville Primitive Baptist Church, 5529 N Broadway St, Knoxville, TN 37918.