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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 Thursday, February 7
James Edward Dent, age 95, of Cookeville, died Wednesday February 6, 2019, at NHC Health Care after a brief illness. Jim was born January 27, 1924, in Clarksburg, WV, son of the late Charles Stuart and Rachel Ann Yoho Dent. On September 27, 1951, Jim married Roxie Virginia Cain who preceded him in death on August 20, 2008. In addition to his parents and wife, he was preceded in death by one sister, Mary Lou Moss and one brother, Russell Paul Dent. He is survived by two daughters, Brenda Kay Gregory (Philip) of Murfreesboro, and Donna Louise Smith (Larry) of Cookeville; two grandsons, Clayton Michael Smith (Sascha) of Knoxville, and Blake Edward Smith (Kate) of Cookeville. Jim graduated from Roosevelt Wilson High School and Salem University with a degree in Education, both in West Virginia. He was a long time employee of Union Carbide Corporation in Columbia. He served in the US Army during WWII and the Korean Conflict. He was stationed in India, Japan & Germany. He was an avid golfer and enjoyed spending time with his family. Jim loved to read his Bible and was a member at Church on the Hill in Algood. Jim spent his last four years at Cedar Hills Senior Living and his last months at NHC HealthCare. In keeping with his wishes, Jim’s body has been donated for medical research to Restore Life USA. The family will have a private service at a later date. Memorial contributions may be made to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s research.
Nina Sue Erney, 79 of Sparta, passed away on Wednesday, February 6, 2019, at Parkwest Medical Center. She was born Wednesday, October 11, 1939 in Sparta, she was the daughter of the late William Ledford and Clara Brock Ledford. She was a member of DeRossett Church of Christ. She loved to quilt and spend time spoiling her granchildren. Survivors include: Son- Darryl Erney (Anna) of Sparta; Daughter- Cheryl Johnson (Charles) of Sparta; Son- Barry Erney (Sonda) of Sparta; Grandchildren- Samantha Johnson, Josh Erney, Jessica Iniguez, Joshua Johnson, Amanda Henry, Jamie Williams, Matthew Erney, Neikka Starkey, Mykka Erney; 18 Great-Grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Fred Erney. The family has chosen cremation. A memorial service will be scheduled at a later date.
Jackie “Jack” Lynn Vaughn, 69 of Cookeville, Tennessee passed from this life on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, at his home. Jack was born Thursday, May 19, 1949 in Maryville, Tennessee, he was the son of the late Walter and Ada P. (Sellers) Vaughn. Jack chose cremation, the family followed his wishes, and a Celebration of his Life will be held in Maryville, Tennessee at a later date.
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.
Celebration of Life Services for Mr. Ronald “Ronnie” Ernest Qualls, age 79, of Livingston will be conducted 11 a.m., Saturday, February 9, 2019 from the Memorial Baptist Church in Livingston. Bro. Russ Scott and Bro. Bill Downey will officiate. Burial will be in the Overton County Memorial Gardens. Ronnie passed from this life in the comfort of his home surrounded by his loving family and friends on Wednesday evening, February 6, 2019. He was born in Overton County, October 14, 1939 to the late Lonzo Nathan & Effie Mae Key Qualls. Ronnie was a member and deacon of the Memorial Baptist Church for over 40 years. He was a retired line foreman for the UCEMC. He loved fishing with his friends and family, playing cards, pool and bowling. Ronnie leaves his loving wife of 59 years, Mrs. Barbara Ann Bilbrey Qualls of Livingston; daughters, Penny Peek & husband Charles of Rickman, and Dawn Voss of Livingston; grandchildren, Jade Peek Thrasher & husband Matt of Rickman, Tyler Peek of Cookeville, Rhiannon Voss of Crossville, Luke Voss and wife Courtney of Livingston, Candance Kirk & husband Sam of Livingston, and Abby King of Livingston; great-grandchildren, Huxley Thrasher, Ben Kirk and Paxton Anderson. In addition to his parents, Ronnie was preceded in death by his son, Russel Brian Qualls; sister, Marie Carr; twin brother, Donnie Qualls and brother A.J. Qualls. The family will welcome friends on Friday evening from 5 until 8 p.m., then on Saturday from 10 a.m. until time of services at the Memorial Baptist Church in Livingston. Family request that memorial donation be made to the Memorial Baptist Church Building Fund at 202 East 4th Street, Livingston, Tenn. 38570 or by contacting Speck Funeral Home.
Funeral services for Mrs. Willie Mae Burgess, age 90 of Cookeville will be held Saturday February 9 at 1 p.m.. at Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Homer Funeral Home. Mrs. Burgess died Thursday morning February 7, 2019 in Madison. Mrs. Burgess’s family will receive friends Saturday from 12 noon until service time at Hooper-Huddleston & Horner.
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.
Funeral Services for Donna Lee Farmer, age 80 of Sparta, will be held at 2pm on Sunday, February 10, 2019 at Oak Lawn Funeral Home with Dewey Young officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Pisgah cemetery. Visitation will be held on Thursday, February 7, 2019 from 4 until 8pm at Bond Memorial Chapel in Mt. Juliet, TN. and on Saturday, February 9, 2019 from 4 until 8pm at Oak Lawn Funeral Home. Mrs. Farmer was born June 23, 1939 in St. Louis, Missouri, the daughter of the late LaVern & Vera (McNew) Reeds. She passed from this life on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Samaritan’s Purse.
A celebration life for Georgia Lee (Colburn) McCurdy, 63 of Cookeville, will be held at Willow Avenue Church of Christ in Cookeville, on Saturday, February 16, 2019 at 11 a.m. Georgia entered into eternal peace on Thursday, February 7, 2019 at her home surrounded by her family. Georgia was born on October 10, 1955 in Grand Rapids, MI, to Leon & Marian Colburn. She graduated from Caledonia High School in 1974. On June 29, 1974 she married Richard Oliver McCurdy, Sr. in Alaska, MI. Georgia dedicated her life to Christ and was a servant to all those around her. She is survived by her husband Richard McCurdy, Sr. and her children Richard, Jr. (Jeanne) McCurdy of Jamestown, NY; Nathaniel (Mary Evelyn) McCurdy of Gainesboro; Matthew (Kelli) McCurdy of Knoxville; Elizabeth (Christopher) Lawrence of Cookeville; and Rebecca (Joseph) Cabla of Onsted, MI. Georgia’s legacy will live on through her grandchildren: Olivia, Deirdre and Susanna McCurdy; Clara, Wesley, Peter and Thomas McCurdy; Daniel, Caleb, Benjamin, Abigail, Luke, Elizabeth and Charleston McCurdy; Aubrey, Therin, Clayton, Lilliana and Ruthanne Lawrence; Taryn, Levi and Ellie Cabla. Also surviving are her siblings Kathy Nolff, Karen Burri, Ron Colburn, Lon Colburn and numerous extended family. Visitation with the family will be from 9-11 a.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to Kindred Hospice at 750 E Spring Street, Suite B, Cookeville, TN or to Willow Avenue Church of Christ.
