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Here are the latest obituaries and notices as provided by the
funeral homes serving Cookeville, Baxter, Monterey, Sparta, Gainesboro and Livingston.
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Obituaries are presented by Presley Funeral Home, West Jackson Street in Cookeville.
Obituaries For Tuesday, February 5
Elizabeth Louise Esposito, 78 of Sparta, passed away on Sunday, February 3, 2019, at her home. She was born Sunday, August 11, 1940 in Ridgely, Maryland, she was the daughter of the late William Welch and the late Mildred Haley. Survivors include: Husband of 61 years- Joseph Esposito of Sparta; Son- Joseph Esposito (Barabara) of Baltimore, MD; Daughter- Kimberly Prochazka (David) of South Carolina; Daughter- Theresa Smith (Chris) of Cookeville; Daughter- Christina Wilson of Sparta; Sister- Barbara Eburg (Tom) of Baltimore, MD; Many in-laws, nieces, and nephews also survive. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Donald Welch (Betty), and her granddaughter, Michelle; Son in Law- Emmett Wilson. The family has chosen cremation. No services are scheduled at this time.
Eddie Carlen McBroom, age 73 of Cookeville, passed away Sunday, February 3, 2019 at his home in Cookeville. Eddie Carlen McBroom was born Monday, June 18, 1945 in Cookeville, to the late Hazel Marie Smith McBroom and Kenneth Cecil McBroom. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by two brothers, Fred McBroom and Larry McBroom; his grandparents and several aunts and uncles. Eddie is survived by a sister, Betty Sue Rushing and husband Jessie of Cookeville; sister in law, Faye McBroom of Sparta and four nieces. No public funeral services are planned.
Funeral services for Lizzie Eathleen Brown Haste, age 75, of Livingston, will be at 11 a.m. Wednesday February 6 at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home. Bro Larry Self will officiate. Interment will follow at Harris Chapel Cemetery. Lizzie passed away Sunday evening February 2, 2019 at Livingston Regional Hospital. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 5 – 8 p.m. and again Wednesday from 10 a.m. until service time.
Funeral services for Mr. James Thomas Ray, age 88 of Sparta, will be conducted 1:00pm Wednesday, February 6, 2019 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home with burial in Saylors Cemetery. Military honors will be presented by the Veterans’ Honor Guard. Mr. Ray passed away Monday night, February 4, 2019. Mr. Ray was born on August 5, 1930 in Sparta to the late James Sylva and Lena Belle Farley Ray. He was a remarkable man who courageously served his country as a Flight Crew Chief in the United States Air Force during the Korean War. Mr. Ray retired from Fleetguard but had a noteworthy career with Lockheed Aircraft and Douglas Aircraft. He was a proud member of the UAW and enjoyed traveling to their conventions yearly. In 2018, Mr. Ray was honored as the Grand Marshall of the Veteran’s Day Parade in Sparta. He was a longtime, loyal member of Robinson Chapel Presbyterian Church. He was also a longtime, active member of the American Legion. At home, Mr. Ray was a very detail-oriented man who kept his tools neatly organized and labeled. He was always prepared, keeping duct tape and vaseline handy for any situation. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by siblings Walter Ray, Mattie Hazel McCormick Garmen and A.Z. Mitchell Ray. Mr. Ray is survived by his loving wife of 62 years, Ollie Mae O’Connor Ray; Daughter: Brenda Ray Saylors and husband, Richard; Granddaughter: Tara Saylors Loftis; A host of nieces and nephews also survive. The family will receive friends from 11am until the time of service at Hunter Funeral Home.
Funeral Service for Carleen (Guess) Phy, age 82 of Cookeville, will be held Wednesday, February 6, 2019, at 2:00 pm from the chapel of Crest Lawn Funeral Home with Bros. David Hill and Paul Wilmoth officiating. Interment will follow in the Crest Lawn Memorial Cemetery. The family will receive friends from 11:00 am until time of services on Wednesday, February 6, 2019, at Crest Lawn Funeral Home. She passed from this life on Sunday, February 3, 2019, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Carleen was born Wednesday, September 30, 1936, in Jackson County, Tennessee and she was the daughter of the late James Franklin “Frank” and Gordie “Ann” (Reynolds) Guess.
Funeral Services for John G Zook, 84 of Sparta, will be held at 10am on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at White County Mennonite Church with Lee Diler officiating. Burial will follow in the White County Mennonite Cemetery. John passed away on Monday, February 4, 2019, at his home. He was born Sunday, February 3, 1935 in Talmage, Pennsylvania, he was the son of the late Henry Zook and the late Leah Glick. Survivors include: Wife- Betty Zook of Sparta; Children- Samuel Zook of California, Stephen Zook (Erma) of Sparta, Elizabeth Zook of Sparta; 4 Grandchildren; Several other extended family members also survive. Visitation will be held on Wednesday, February 6, 2019 from 5-8pm at the church.
Funeral services for Helen Faye Boles, 77 of Baxter, will be Thursday, February 7 at 1 PM from the Baxter Chapel of Hooper Huddleston Horner Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Crest Lawn Cemetery. Mrs. Boles died Monday, February 4, 2019 at NHC Healthcare of Cookeville. She was born February 15, 1941 in Putnam County to the late Amel Ethel and Ollie Avo Boyd Brown. In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by her husband David Boles, daughter Sherrie Boles, sister Eva McReynolds, brothers Junior Brown, Arnold L. Brown, Lehman Brown and Freeman Brown. She was a 1959 graduate of Baxter Seminary. She was a homemaker. She enjoyed going to the Veterans Building for dances and listening to country music. She attended Bethany Methodist Church. Survivors include sister Patricia Clark of Hermitage, brother and sister-in-law Earl and Nancy Brown, sister-in-law Janie Brown all of Baxter and a host of nieces and nephews. Family will receive friends Wednesday from 5 to 8 PM and after 11 AM Thursday at the funeral home.
Funeral services for Margie Woolbright Lester, age 94, of Cookeville will be held Friday, February 8th, 2019 at 11:00 am in the chapel of Presley Funeral Home with Pastors Ronnie Dunn and Mark Lee officiating. Interment will follow in Burris Cemetery. The family will receive friends on Thursday, February 7, 2019, 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM and Friday, February 8, 2019, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM at Presley Funeral Home. Margie passed away Sunday, February 3, 2019 at Bailey Manor in Cookeville, Tennessee. Margie Estelle Lester was born Tuesday, May 13, 1924 in Jackson County, Tennessee to Leander A. Woolbright and Martha Jane Garrison Woolbright. Margie attended Dodson Branch Free Will Baptist Church. “Aunt Margie” was a favorite to all of her nieces and nephews, and will long be remembered for the love she gave them.
Funeral Services for Mrs. Myrtle “Joanne” Moody, age 83 of Cookeville, will be Friday, February 8th at 11 a.m.from the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Myrtle died Monday evening, February 4th at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Visitation with the family will be Thursday from 4-8 p.m. and again Friday morning from 9 a.m. until time of service.
Funeral services for Mr. Harold Edward Williams, age 84, of Cookeville, will be at 1 p.m. Friday February 8 at Cookeville First Baptist Church. Interment will follow at Crest Lawn Cemetery. Harold passed away Sunday evening February 3, 2019 at Bethesda Heath Care Center. Harold was born Tuesday March 6, 1934 in Columbia, TN to the late W.T. and Allene Luna Williams. Harold served in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean Conflict and graduated from Tennessee Polytechnic Institute (TTU) in 1958. He worked as a Certified Public Accountant in various roles from 1958 to 2006, including his own accounting practice in Cookeville for 36 years. He also was an adjunct professor of Accounting at TTU for many years. Harold was a member of Cookeville First Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, Sunday School teacher, and member of numerous committees. He served for over 35 years as the volunteer treasurer for the Tennessee Tech Baptist Student Union (BCM) Alumni Board, a ministry near and dear to his heart. Harold is survived by his wife of 64 years, Helen Vandiver Williams, whom he married August 14, 1954 in Columbia, TN; daughter, Kim Williams of Nashville; son, Blair (Debbie) Williams of Erlanger, Kentucky; grandsons, Eric Dykes and Gavin Williams; honorary daughter, Linda Nash of Cookeville; and nine nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by a brother, Jerry T. Williams; and sister, Jolene W. Jett. The family will receive friends Friday from 11 a.m. until service time at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Tennessee Tech Baptist Collegiate Ministry Alumni Board, P.O. Box 45, Cookeville, TN 38503-0045.
Memorial services for Mrs. Barbara Jean Dudney, 80, of Gainesboro, TN, will be held at 1 P.M. on Saturday, February 9, 2019, at Anderson – Upper Cumberland Funeral Home in Gainesboro, TN. Mrs. Barbara Jean Dudney had chosen cremation. The family will receive friends on Saturday from 10 A.M. until time of services. She passed away on Sunday, February 3, 2019, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. She was born July 11, 1938, in Gainesboro, TN, to the late Averette Dudney and Mary Shephard Dudney. She was a factory worker at Nielsen, and attended the Fairview Free Methodist Church.
