Funeral for Gerald "Cotton" Boroughs

Gerald Brooks “Cotton” Boroughs of Oak Ridge, Tennessee passed away on November 8, 2024, at his home with family at his side. He is survived by his wife Linda Gayle Boroughs and multiple children and grandchildren including Jon Brooks Boroughs, M.D. and his wife, Eileen Young Boroughs, M.D. and their children Isaak Bing and Billy Boroughs of Chattanooga, TN; son Craig Bryant Boroughs, PhD of Keystone, Colorado; and daughter Jilleah Gayle Welch, PhD and her husband John William “Billy” Welch and their sons, Wyatt Welch, Jacob Welch, and Oscar Welch of Farragut, TN. His wife, children and their families were the treasure of his life. He is also survived by sister Linda Gail Boroughs Russell of Franklin, TN; niece, Margaret Ann Boroughs Schaff of Crawfordsville, Indiana; niece Deborah Jean Boroughs Sowell of Savannah, TN; and nephew Michael Lynn Russell and wife Heather of Brentwood, TN.

He was born at home on April 27, 1938, in Saltillo, TN. He was the middle of three children to Emma Estelle Brooks Boroughs and William Robert Boroughs who preceded him in death. Grandparents were John Gordon Boroughs and Edna Mae Kitchen Boroughs, Chester Custus Brooks and Nora Lee Young Brooks. He was also preceded in death by brother James Robert Boroughs, sister-in-law Mary Lucille Shelby Boroughs and brother-in-law Jerry Lynn Russell. He attended Saltillo Elementary school and graduated from Saltillo High School in 1956 where he played basketball and baseball and became a lifelong fan of the St. Louis Cardinals. During his youth, he was thrilled to accompany his father during the harvesting of mussel shells and fishing on the Tennessee River, quail hunting with his older brother Jake, and simply being a small-town kid in the 1950’s. After high school he attended Memphis State University, where he received a BS in Mathematics, followed by a BS in Mechanical Engineering from Christian Brothers College, and a MS in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

After his marriage to Gayle on June 1, 1963, they lived in Memphis, until they moved to Oak Ridge in 1966, making the trip in their blue 57 Chevy. He worked at the K-25 gaseous diffusion plant in Oak Ridge for 35 years in the process equipment research and development department, contributing to developing the most efficient and reliable process equipment for the uranium enrichment gaseous diffusion process. During retirement he was a part time technical consultant with the Y-12 Site, and C. J. Enterprises, Strata-G LLC, and URS/CH2M (UCOR) at the K-25 Site, Oak Ridge Associated Universities, Information International Associates, and KeyLogic Associates at OSTI. His combined full and part time work career in Oak Ridge spanned 55 years. He was also a member of the Tennessee Army National Guard from 1961 to 1967.

To some he was known as Gerald, to most of his coworkers he was known as “Gerry”, but to his family, friends, and church family, he was always known as “Cotton”. He treasured his time being with family and derived a fervent satisfaction from fishing and hunting with family, Al Van Hull, and other friends. He loved reading, genealogical research, writing his memoirs for his children, and as of late playing duplicate bridge with his more accomplished partner, Gayle.

He and his family would like to express their sincere appreciation to the Fellowship Sunday School members, his church family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers for their kindness, encouragement, and comforting support. Heartfelt gratitude is also expressed to Dr. David Seay, Dr. Ron Lands, Dr. Michael Thompson, Dr. Lee Carder, Dr. Elliot Navo, and Dr. Joseph Wang in Oak Ridge, health providers at the Myeloma Institute for Research and Therapy in Little Rock, Arkansas for their expert health care, and Professional Case Management nurses for their compassionate support and home care. He confronted death with courage and dignity and will be missed by his wife, children, grandchildren, other family members, friends, and coworkers.

A memorial service will be conducted on May 31, 2025, by Pastor Jenny Caughman, at the First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge, Tennessee immediately followed by inurnment in the First United Methodist Church Memorial Garden. It is requested that in lieu of flowers, memorial donations be made to the First United Methodist Church, 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, Tennessee, 37830 or to the charity of choice.