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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, December 31
Funeral services for Olen Roosevelt Ashburn, 86 of Baxter, will be Wednesday, January 1, 2020 at 1 PM from the Cookeville chapel of Hooper Huddleston Horner Funeral Home. Bro. Gary West will officiate. Interment, with military honors will follow in Crest Lawn Cemetery. Mr. Ashburn died Monday morning, December 30, 2019 in Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was born November 27, 1933 in Putnam County to the late John and Mary Dunn Ashburn. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife Mary Lou Ervin Ashburn on November 15, 2003, and a grandson Brad Madewell, sisters and brothers-in-law Clara Nell Thomas, Mildred and Jim Gammill, Melba and Howard Allison, Betty Sue Ashburn and Orby Goff. He was a graduate of Baxter Seminary. He was a veteran of the Army. He was a retired assembler with Dana Corporation. Survivors include daughter June Madewell Smith of Cookeville, son and daughter-in-law Milton and Donna Ashburn of Baxter, sister Rose Lee Goff of Cookeville, brother and sister-in-law Alfred and Faye Ashburn of Cookeville, brother-in-law Carlyn Thomas of Baxter, grandchildren Julie Ashburn and Jamie and husband Adam Brown, great-grandchildren Bradi Madewell Betcher, Lillian, Olen and Geneva Brown. Family will receive friends Wednesday from 11 AM until service time at the funeral home.
Funeral Services for Debra Lynn Williams, 59 of Cookeville, will be held Thursday, January 2, 2020, at 11:00 am from the Cookeville chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Bro. Larry Self will officiate. Entombment will follow in Crest Lawn Cemetery. Debra passed away on Sunday, December 29, 202, at her home. Her family will receive friends Thursday, January 2, 2020 from 10 a.m. until time of service at the funeral home.
Funeral Services for Mr. John R. Compton, age 89, of the Willow Grove Community will be conducted 2 p.m., Thursday, January 2, 2020, from the chapel of Speck Funeral Home. Bro. Josh Shaw will officiate. The family will welcome friends on Thursday morning, from 11 a.m. until time of services at Speck Funeral Home. Burial will be 1 p.m., Friday, January 3, 2020 from the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Goodlettsville, TN. Mr. John Compton passed from this life on Sunday morning, December 29, 2019 from the Overton County Health & Rehab Center. He was born in Davidson County, Tennessee on August 26, 1930 to the late Harry N. & Elma Sue Chunn Compton. John was a 1949 graduate of East Nashville High School. John was a member of Jackson Park Church of Christ in Inglewood in Nashville and the Free Communion Church of Christ. John worked for many years as a Purity Dairy Sales Representative. He enjoyed traveling, and going to church at Free Communion Church of Christ. John loved his wife, children, camping, and Dale Hollow Lake. John leaves behind his loving wife of 70 years, Mrs. Juanita McConnell Compton of the Willow Grove Community, TN; daughters, Cathy Goodman & husband Baker, and Connie Kendrick & husband Jim all of Wilson County, TN; son, Bob Compton & wife Susan of Lebanon, TN; grandchildren, Renee Smith, Matt Tunstall & wife Erin, Michael DeWerff; step grandchildren Anthony Wilson, Michael Johnson, and Ashley Adams & husband Dustin; 8 great-grandchildren; 5 great-great-grandchildren. Memorial Donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the Alzheimer’s Association by contacting Speck Funeral Home, 300 North Church Street, Livingston, TN. 38570/ 931-823-1201.
Celebration of Life services for Mr. Luther Ray Buford, age 92 of Livingston, will be conducted 12 noon, Saturday, January 4, 2020, from the West End Church of Christ. Mr. Buford passed from this life on Friday, December 27, 2019, from the Overton County Health and Rehab Center. He was born in the Willow Grove Community of Clay County on May 13, 1927, to the late Luther Moore and Hettie Clark Buford. Ray was a 1943 graduate of Rickman High School, then went to Tennessee Tech for three years before serving his country in the Army during WWII. He loved playing cards at the senior center, going to church, and spending time with other people. Luther loved his family dearly, was always happy where he was, and never met a stranger. Mr. Buford leaves behind his wife Dean Webb Buford of Livingston; son Michael Ray Buford and wife Peggy Jean of Rickman; grandson John Michael Buford and wife Chelsea of Rickman; granddaughter Alison Michele Hensley and husband Brian of Mt. Juliet; great granddaughter Sara Jane Buford of Rickman; sisters Betty Jean Burroughs of Sunny Shade, Kentucky and Billie Reece and husband Felix of Tullahoma; and brother James Buford of Murfreesboro. Mr. Buford was preceded in death by his parents.
A Memorial Service for Janet Jolene McPeak Rodgers, 68 of Walling, will be held at 4pm on Friday, January 10, 2020 at Oak Lawn Funeral Home with Bro. James Rittenberry officiating. She passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2019, at NHC Healthcare of Sparta. She was born Saturday, October 6, 1951 in Sparta, to the late John Wallace and Clara Belle Sanders McPeak. She liked to shop, spend time with her sisters, and she always was cutting up and carrying on. Above all, she loved spending time with her grandbabies and family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Rita McPeak and Jeanie McPeak Smith. Survivors include: Sons- Phillip Adcock (Brooke) and J.D. Humphrey (Cathleen); Sister- Gwanna Mason (Ricky); Brother- Dewayne Mac McPeak (Lorena); Grandchildren- Zander Adcock, Jaxon Humphrey, and Cainnan Humphrey; Half-Sister- Sabrina McPeak; A host of nieces and nephews also survive. The family will welcome friends on Thursday from 2pm until time of the service at the funeral home.
A memorial service for Lieutenant Colonel Robert Martin Fowler, USA, Retired, age 91 will be held Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. at Cookeville First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Rev. Christian Smith and Dr. Charles McCaskey will officiate. Interment with military honors will follow at Crest Lawn Cemetery. His family will receive friends Saturday 10:00 a.m. until service time at the church. LTC Fowler died Friday December 27, 2019 at Bailey Manor, Cookeville. He was born October 14, 1928 in Corbin, KY to Carl Fowler and Elizabeth Welch Fowler. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska, Omaha. LTC Fowler enlisted in the United States Army in 1953 and was a Veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars as a fixed-wing pilot, helicopter pilot and aircraft maintenance supervisor. During his distinguished military career, he was awarded many honors, including the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. He was an excellent, loving father who raised six daughters from two marriages. He never used swear words or raised his voice. He instilled a strong work ethic in his girls and grandkids. His motto was-“work hard and get ahead.”He also taught his children and grandchildren practical skills such as changing a tire, using a screwdriver and fixing minor things around the house. He was a longtime member of Cookeville First Cumberland Presbyterian Church where he was an Ordained Elder. He also taught Sunday School and served on the Building and Grounds Committee. He is survived by his adoring family, daughters, Kathy Fowler of Cookeville, Mym Fowler of Virginia Beach, VA, Rebecca Michael of San Francisco, CA, Nancy Townsend Byers and husband Gary, Tina Townsend Thurman and husband Ron, all of Cookeville; niece Linda Disney McBurney and husband Bob of Corbin, KY; grandchildren, Jason B. Courtney of Knoxville; Justin Lytal and wife Rachel of Knoxville; Loren Lytal Korch and husband Jonathan of Charlotte, NC; Blake Thurman and Parker Thurman of Cookeville; Richard, Nicholas, and Alex Michael all of California; and by great grandchildren, Palmer and Sutton Lytal and Emery and Nora Korch. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimers, TN, Cumberlands Office, 1459 Interstate Dr., Ste 211, Cookeville, TN 38501.
