Mrs. Jim P. Gilreath, age 80, of Pine Knot, passed away Friday, November 27, 2009, at the Lake Cumberland Regional Hospital in Somerset, Kentucky.

Funeral services will be 8:00 p.m. Sunday, November 29, 2009 in the chapel of Pine Knot Funeral Home with Rev. Dennis Bryant and Bro. Carl "Cubby" Clark officiating. The family will receive friends Sunday from 6 - 8 p.m. Burial will be Monday morning at 11:00 at the Pine Knot Cemetery.

Mrs. Gilreath was born in McCreary County on March 13, 1929, to the late James Perk and Clara Correll Coffey. Also preceding her in death are a brother Theodore Coffey and half sister Gertie Gilreath.

She was united in marriage to her husband Odell Gilreath on February 20, 1953, and they were wonderfully blessed with three children; Regina (and Gilbert) Irvin of Pine Knot, Marion (and Lisa) Gilreath of Pine Knot, and Clay (and Susie) Gilreath of Pine Knot, Kentucky. There are six grandchildren; Tyler and Tamara Gilreath, Benjamin (and Nikki) Irvin, Parker (and Jessica) Jones, Amber Gilreath, Ashley (and Jason) Spradlin, and four great grandchildren; Hayden and Makinsey Irvin and Kynder and Kase Spradlin. Her surviving brother is Woodrow Coffey of Stearns and half sister Gloria Jones of Marshes Siding two half brothers Forrest and Gilson Phillips both of Sydney, Ohio.

Mrs. Gilreath was a retired teacher having worked for the McCreary County Schools for 31 years. After her retirement she wrote many children's books and returned back to the schools to read those books to the children. She was a member of the Pleasant Run Church where she taught Sunday School for 50 years and was the church historian. She also retained her membership at the Lower Wolf Creek Baptist Church. She was an author having written "From Dusk Till Dawn" and many other unpublished books. She enjoyed remembering her childhood years and telling stories of the past.

She will be sadly missed by her dear family, wonderful friends and the community who loved her so much