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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 Monday, January 6
Mr. Rural Peace, age 89, of Cookeville, passed away Sunday evening at life Care of Sparta. Arrangements are incomplete.
Mrs. Del Epps, Age 78, Of The Cumberland Cove Community, Passed Away On Sunday, January 5, 2020. Arrangements are incomplete.
Roger Lee Anderson, Age 69, Of Monterey, Tennessee, Passed Away On Sunday, January 5, 2020, At His Home. Mr. Anderson Was Born On December 9, 1950, In The Sharp Community Of Jamestown, Tennessee, To The Late Leroy And Mairlyon Slaven Anderson. He Lived In Monterey For The Last 30 Years Of His Life. Mr. Anderson Was Owner/Operator Of A & S Auto Sales And Several Other Auto Sales Businesses. He Was Of The Baptist Faith. He Is Survived By His Wife, Roben Anderson Of Monterey, TN; 8 Children, Shawn Russell, Brandie Phillips, Kyle Barnes, Candice Manis, Leah Anderson, Tristan Anderson, Tiffany Anderson And Angel Anderson; 8 Grandchildren, Lauren, Landon, Camilla, Jaxon, Logan, Owen, Emory And Kayson; Siblings, Carol Geer, Fleeta Fox, Ramona Watson, Cleeta Turner, Diana Trentham, Dester Anderson And Dale Slaven; And Several Nieces And Nephews. In Addition To His Parents, He Was Preceded In Death By His Infant Son, Michael Shane Anderson; And Siblings, Reggie Anderson And Gloria Anderson. His Wishes Of Cremation Are Being Honored With Private Graveside Services At A Later Date.
Funeral services for Mrs. Irene Fletcher, age 88 of Livingston, will be held on Tuesday, January 7, 2020 at 11 AM with burial to follow in the Overton Co. Memorial Gardens. Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday evening, January 6th starting at 5 PM until 8 PM. Officiating the service will be Bro. Randy Pickens. Mrs. Irene Fletcher age 88 of Livingston went home to be with her Lord and Savior on Saturday evening, January 4, 2020 at the Signature Health and Rehab in Putnam Co., TN. Mrs. Irene Fletcher was born in Monroe, Overton Co., TN on February 7, 1931 to the late Aurther and Beualah (Clayborn) Sells. Irene was a member of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Allons. She loved going to church and spending time with her family, she will be greatly missed. Survivors include 1 Son: Terry Fletcher and wife Barbara; 1 Daughter: Peggy Alcorn and husband Neil; 3 Grandsons: Chris Fletcher and wife Amanda, Michael Alcorn and wife Geri Anna, Phillip Alcorn; 2 Great Grandchildren: Olivia Lynn Fletcher, Will Alcorn.In lieu of flowers please make donations to the Fellowship Church in her memory.
Funeral services for Mrs. Opal Johnson, 91 of Cookeville will be held Tuesday January 7 at 1 p.m. at Collegeside Church of Christ with Joe Roberts officiating. Graveside services and interment will follow at 3:30 p.m.at Crestview Cemetery in Gallatin, TN. She was born July 31, 1928 in Athens, AL to the late Edwin Earl and Dula Wooldridge Brizendine. She and her mother were members of the Madison Church of Christ in Nashville, TN. She graduated from David Lipscomb High School and was married to Howard Reese Wakefield of Gallatin, a minister and school administrator for 39 years. They served Churches of Christ in Tennessee, Georgia, and Kentucky and the students of Crossville High School and Georgia Christian School. They were house parents at Happy Haven Home in Cookeville. After Mr. Wakefield’s death, Mrs. Wakefield remained a widow for 14 years. During that time, “Mama O” served as dorm mother for men at Freed-Hardeman University. The family appreciates the many expressions of gratitude “her boys” have shared with them for her loving care.Mrs. Johnson’s family will receive friends Monday from 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. at Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home and Tuesday from 12 noon until service time at the church. Mrs. Johnson passed away Thursday January 2, 2020.
Graveside services for Michael Dale “Mike” Nash, age 65 of Baxter, will begin at 12:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 8, 2020 at the Nash Cemetery on Cookeville Boat Dock Road with Seth Presley officiating. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers. On Friday, January 3, 2020, Michael Dale “Mike” Nash, loving son, father and brother, passed away peacefully in his home in Foley, Alabama with family at his bedside after a courageous 15 year battle with cancer. Mike, 65, was born on February 3, 1954 in Detroit, Michigan to Joann Nash of Cookeville and the late Homer Nash. After growing up in Baxter, he traveled to California and began a career in sales and marketing before starting his own business. He has been a manufacturing entrepreneur and the successful business owner of NASHonal Display Inc. and Coastal Foam Molding in Alabama for more than 35 years. Mike had a passion for deep sea fishing, antique cars and the sport of hang gliding. He was a charter pilot member of Wills Wings in California and continued to fly his hang gliders competitively and recreationally for many years. He was an accomplished deep sea fisherman and his collection of antique cars were admired by friends and family. Mike will be remembered for his strength and relentless determination, his unwavering loyalty to those he loved and his sense of humor and daring spirit. In addition to his mother, Mike is survived by his son Lucas Nash (Kori) of Foley, AL, daughter Raena Garcia ( Milorad Stojanovic ) of Mobile AL, Collen Schiehl, mother of his children of Foley, AL, grandchildren Anna Katherine Garcia and Quinn Stojanovic, Conner Nash and Haley Nash, sister Marsha Johnson (Mark) of Spring Hill, TN and brother Tony Nash (Tracy) of Baxter TN. The family will greet friends at the cemetery before the service or at the family home after the service.
Funeral services for Mrs. Mildred Swindell Alcorn, age 87 of Sparta, will be conducted 1:00pm Wednesday, January 8, 2020 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home with burial in O’Connor Cemetery. She passed away Sunday morning, January 5, 2020 at Hendersonville Medical Center in Hendersonville. Mildred was born to the late Lester and Vernon Swindell on November 23, 1932. She attended school in Sparta. She married Fred Alcorn on May 22, 1954 in Rossville, Georgia. Before she was married, she worked briefly at Caney Fork Electric Company until she began the life she loved – being a mother to Debbi and Sheree. Being a competitive one, she loved playing canasta with her monthly card group and playing the occasional Spades game with her nephew, niece, and Debbi. Though she didn’t play sports, Mildred was Debbi and Sheree’s biggest cheerleader as she enjoyed watching them play basketball and softball all through school. Her newest passion was NFL football, and she watched several games every Sunday. Mildred attended the First Baptist Church in Sparta and was blessed to be baptized alongside her daughter Debbi at her church in Hendersonville. Anyone who knew Mildred, knew of her love for Elvis Presley. It is only fitting that she is laid to rest on his birthday. In addition to her parents, Mildred is preceded in death by her husband, Fred Alcorn and her brother, Earl Swindell. She is lovingly survived by her daughters: Debbi Alcorn Booton of Goodlettsville and Sheree Alcorn McReynolds (Steve) of Hendersonville; Granddaughter: Shea McReynolds Robbins of Nashville; Great-granddaugther: Cadence Scout Robbins; Brother: Ben Swindell of Sparta. The family will receive friends from 11am until the time of service on Wednesday at the funeral home. Billy Lowery will officiate the service. Memorial donations may be made to the O’Connor Cemetery in care of Hunter Funeral Home, PO Box 90, Sparta, TN 38583.
Funeral services for Mr. Mark Andrew Parker, age 45 of Sparta, will be conducted 11:00am Thursday, January 9, 2020 at the DeRossett Brethren in Christ Church with burial in Copeland Chapel Cemetery. He passed away Sunday, January 5, 2020 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. Mark was born February 21, 1974 in Crossville to the late Rev. Irving Daniel Parker, Sr. and Peggy Ann Bennett Parker. He was a former cabinet craftsman and carpenter. He was an avid outdoorsman, loving to hunt and fish but his true enjoyment came from playing with and caring for his grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by his sister Laura Ann Parker. Family members left to cherish his memory include his wife Jamie Randolph Parker of Sparta; Children: Adam Steven Parker and wife Alexis Jean, Andrew Sabashtian Parker all of Sparta; Step-daughters: Kimberly Randolph and Diane Randolph; Grandchildren: Lillian Parker and Elijah Randolph; Brothers: Rev. Danny Parker and wife Opal of Smithville, Bruce Parker and wife Bonnie of Sparta; Sister: Faith Lynn Parker and husband Jamil Charki of Virginia; A host of nieces and nephews also survive. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 5-8:00pm at Hunter Funeral Home and Thursday from 10:00am until service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hunter Funeral Home, PO BOX 90, Sparta, TN 38583 to help the family with funeral expenses.
Funeral services for Mrs. Nancy Ellen Stidham, age 78, of Cookeville, will be held at 1 p.m. Thursday January 9 at Dyer Funeral Home. Bro. Johnny Fox will officiate. Interment will follow in the Boiling Springs Cemetery. Mrs. Stidham passed away Sunday morning January 5, 2020 at her home. She was born May 28, 1941 in Cookeville to the late John H. and Ethel Tolison Jones. She was a member of Holladay Church of Christ. She was retried from Red Kap with over 30 years of service. She is survived by daughters, Terri Stidham, and Cindy (Windy) Havens of Cookevile; son, Michael Stidham of Byrdstown; brother, Ronnie Jones of Cookeville; sisters, Villa (Ivan) Bilbrey, and Betty Robinson all of Cookeville; grandchildren, Candace Stidham, Kendrick Burton, Christopher Burton, Shannon Kutrich, Ryan Kutrich, Jessica Miller, and Ulrik Havens; and several great-grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband. Rex Stidham; daughter, Mitzi Hammock; and son, Derek Havens. Her family will receive friends Wednesday 5 – 8 p.m. and again Thursday from 11 a.m. until service time.
Memorial services for Vernon Leroy “Lee” Clinard, 74, of Gainesboro, will be held at 6 P.M. on Thursday, January 9, 2020, at Anderson – Upper Cumberland Funeral Home in Gainesboro, TN. The family has chosen cremation. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 3 P.M. until time of services. He passed away on Sunday, January 5, 2020, at his residence. He was born August 12, 1945, in Davidson County, TN, to the late Lawrence Hugo Clinard and Hazel Harris Clinard. On October 1, 1966, he was married to Patricia Mae Clinard, who survives. He worked as a roofer. Survivors include his Wife: Patricia Mae Clinard of Gainesboro, TN; 2 Sons: Chris (Sherry) Clinard of Cookeville, TN, and Seth (Dana) Clinard of Gainesboro, TN; 6 Grandchildren: Krista (C.J.) Cross, Brittany (Nick) Rush, Grace Clinard, Drew Clinard, Gavin Clinard, and Willow Clinard; 2 Great Grandchildren: Kaylee Cross and Sawyer Cross; 1 Brother: Terry (Mattie)
Clinard; 2 Sisters: JoAnn Vanderpool and Linda (Harold) Mosier; and his Dog: Athena, better known as “Ugly.”
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.
Funeral services for Mr. Benny Joe Smith, age 90 of Quebeck will be conducted 11:00am Saturday, January 11, 2020 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home. Burial will follow in Greenwood Cemetery. He passed away Saturday evening, January 4th at Rhea Medical Center. “Ben” as he was most commonly known was born August 9, 1929, to the late Gordon Hicks and Edna Marie (Myers) Smith. He grew up near the Tennessee community of Doyle, later moving to Chattanooga. He was enlisted in the U.S. Air Force from 1949 to 1952, where he repaired aircraft engines and instrumentation. Upon discharge from the military, he embarked on a 19-year aerospace career. Most notably, Ben worked at the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral in the 1960s where he worked as the electrical supervisor on the command and service modules of the Apollo spacecraft. He was proud to have helped achieve the national goals of human spaceflight and manned missions to the Moon. Mr. Smith left the space program in 1971 and returned to White County. Hobbies included hunting, fishing, competition pistol shooting, cattle farming, and watching football on TV. After working for 23 years in various supervisory roles for Mallory Controls, he retired in 1994. Ben and wife Almedia spent the remainder of retirement on their farm in Quebeck. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by his sister Helen (Smith) Land. Surviving family members include his wife of 66 years, Mrs. Almedia (Gravitt) Smith; two daughters: Anita Ann Worthington and Rose Marie Dunning; and one son, Ronald Joe Smith. Six grandchildren will recall their grandfather’s stories of the Apollo program: Jennifer Parks, Cody Vineyard, Jason Worthington, Nathan Worthington, Victoria Shiller, and Kayla Evans. The extended family includes nine great grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren. The family will receive friends Saturday from 10:00am until service time at Hunter 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.
