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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 For Monday, March 30
Ms. Debbie Diane Margeson, age 62 of Doyle passed away Sunday evening March 29, 2020 at her residence. Debbie was born January 14, 1958 in Sparta to the late Willie J. Margeson, Sr. and Betty Ross Cope. She was a logger alongside her daughter. When she could not log, she worked with scrap metal. Her true joy was her grandson Jonah. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by brothers Johnny Margeson and Willie J. Margeson, Jr.; and her sister Denise Baker on March 24, 2020. Survivors include her daughter Brett Margeson and Dillion Webb; Grandson: Jonah Webb; Sister: Angel McCurry; Several nieces and nephews also survive. In honoring of Debbie’s wishes, she will be cremated and no services are planned.
Robert Farlow, age 60 of Sparta, passed away on Saturday, March 28, 2020 at his home. Robert was born on July 2, 1959 to Hiram Olen Earl Farlow and Reba Nell Rogers. He was preceded in death by his parents, Hiram Olen Earl Farlow and Reba Nell Rogers. He is survived by his wife, Cheryl Farlow; sons Robert Olen Farlow Jr., Ryan Mitchell Farlow and wife Nikke Nichole Farlow ; brothers, John Earl Farlow; sister, Roxanna Gale Farlow, 4 grandchildren, Amy Lay, Brandi Davenport( Brandon Officer), Layton Davenport, Steven Davenport, 1 great grandchild, Kinsleigh Welch ; 4 nieces, Rebecca Krenzke, Katherine Mendez, Amy Gutzman, Renee Farlow and one unknown niece, 4 nephews, George Stewart Jr., Cody Farlow, Brendon Farlow, Nicholaus Jones. Robert was a lover of all sports, he enjoyed watching football any chance he could with his son Ryan. Arrangements will be held at a later date.
William Eston Green, age 82, passed away Saturday March 28, 2020 at his home in Sparta, Tennessee. William was a son, a brother, a husband, a Father a Veteran, and A friend. William was born on January 30, 1938 in Sparta, Tennessee. The son of William Jay Green and Pauline (Woodlee) Green Kerr, brother of Rebecca Jane England, husband of Peggy (Randolph) Green, father of William Edward (Eddie) and Bryan Lee Green. He joined the Navy in 1956 and enjoyed a 20 year career retiring in 1976 as a Chief Petty Officer. His Naval career took him several different Countries including Vietnam during the Vietnam War. He enjoyed the friendship of many having them scattered over the United States. He was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying both fishing and hunting. Due to the recent COVID-19 outbreak there will be a private graveside service for family only conducted with full military service.
Mrs. Wilma June Reel Nivens, age 94, of Livingston passed from this life on Saturday evening, March 28, 2020 from the Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Private Funeral Services will be conducted later this week, with burial in the Overton County Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Wilma was born in Carlisle, IN. on April 11, 1925 to the late William Esau & Sylvia Goldie Ridgeway Reel. She graduated from Blackhawk High School in 1943, and was a member of the Cumberland Presbyterian Church in Livingston. Wilma loved crocheting, gardening, reading, traveling, and picking on her children. Wilma leaves behind her son, Greg Nivens & wife Mechelle of Hilham, TN; daughters, Sheryl Darlene Nivens of Nolensville, TN, and Janine Christopher & husband Mark of Brentwood, TN; grandchildren, Tera Hawkins, Kim Julian, Zaac Christopher, Luke Christopher, Taylor-Mac Nivens, and Trent Nivens; great-grandchildren, Coleman Hawkins, Paige White, Ryan Julian, Cayla Dooley, and Rory June Christopher; great-great-grandchild, Farris White; brother, Kenneth R. Reel & wife Bessie of Vandalia, OH; and several nieces and nephews, and friends.
Ernest Denton Bennett, Jr., age 91, recently of Nashville and formerly a native and resident of Sparta, TN, passed away on March 27, 2020 at the Lodge at Natchez Trace in Nashville. He was born outside of Sparta, TN in White County on March 10, 1929. He grew up in White County and attended Bear Cove Elementary School and White County High School from which he graduated in 1948. He proudly served as a Tennessee State Trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol for over 7 years in the 1950’s and thereafter remained a lifelong friend and supporter to law enforcement generally, and specifically of the Tennessee Highway Patrol. His first posting as a State Trooper was Greeneville, TN, where he met and married his beloved wife, Charlotte Jones Bennett, a marriage that spanned almost 60 years until her death in April 2010. Ernest was posted back to his hometown of Sparta as a State Trooper in 1956 and was an active and prominent citizen of Sparta and White County from then until 2014 when his declining health necessitated his relocation to Nashville where he could be more effectively cared for by his son and family. In 1958 he began what became a career spanning 54 years in the explosives industry, with Trojan Powder Company and Austin Powder Company as an explosives salesperson and technician serving the quarry and road construction industries, interrupted only by a 4-year stint in elected public service. He was revered by his co-workers and customers, as evidenced by Austin Powder Company requesting that he resume his career in 1994 at age 65 after expiration of his term as County Executive, which then continued until 2012 just shy of his 83rd birthday. Ernest was elected and served as an Alderman of the City of Sparta from 1970 to 1974 and was elected and served as White County Executive from 1990 to 1994. He was a Mason, a Shriner, a member of the Eastern Star, and a Rotarian for many years, including holding the office of President of the Sparta Rotary Club. He was an active member of the Sparta First United Methodist Church, over the years serving the church in many capacities. In consideration for the health and safety of family and friends, a private service and burial will be conducted with interment at Oaklawn Cemetery in Sparta. In lieu of flowers, the family encourages online condolences and memorial donations to First United Methodist Church in Sparta.
Private funeral services with military honors for CMSgt Charles “Chuck” Gilbert Galemore, USAF (Ret), age 86 of Cookeville, will be held Wednesday April 1 at Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral. Interment will follow at Middle Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery. He passed away at his home on Saturday March 28, 2020.
Funeral Services for Mary Magdalene Luna, age 85 of Sparta, will begin at 12:00 PM Thursday, April 2, 2020. Interment will take place at Taylor’s Providence Cemetery. She passed from this life to be with the Lord on Saturday, March 28, 2020 at her residence in Sparta. She was born February 22, 1935 to Anthony P. Adcock and Rutha V. Taylor Adcock. She is preceded in death by her parents, and her brothers, Frank Adcock and Claborn Adcock. Survivors include her husband of nearly 33 years, Roston Luna; Her son Carl D. Young and wife Juany; Brother, Jessie Adcock; Nephews, grandchildren and great-grandchildren; Step children, Hilda (Harold) Thurman, Esther (David) Fouts, Karen Luna, Mary Luna, Amy (Howie) Knapp, Phillip (Vicky) Luna, Numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren. The family send many thanks to all those who have visited, brought food, and those who stopped by to check in. Due to COVID-19 outbreak the family will have a private family visitation from 10:00AM until 12:00 PM on Thursday, April 2, 2020 at Taylor’s Providence Freewill Baptist Church.
Visitation for the Honorable Oliver James Hill, age 87, a resident of Sparta, will be held April 10, 2020 from 4-7:00pm at Hunter Funeral Home following a private service at Sparta City Cemetery. He passed away Tuesday, March 17, 2020 at Life Care Center of Sparta. Judge Hill, affectionately known as “Judge” or “Pal”, was the General Sessions Judge in Sparta for 25 years. He was born December 19, 1932 in Sparta to the late Malcolm Carnes Hill, Sr. and Rebecca Lacy Hill. As an avid golfer and tennis player, Judge was a founding member of Sparta Country Club. He was also an outdoorsman, who enjoyed hiking in Scott’s Gulf or walking around his neighborhood on Story Mountain. If he was not in the woods, he was making things out of wood in his workshop at his home. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by his wife Lauretta Rich Hill on December 15, 1995 and his brother Malcolm Carnes Hill, Jr. Surviving family members include his Son: Justin Hill and wife Tatum of Cookeville; Grandson: Oliver Grey Hill; Granddaughter: Lennon Elizabeth Hill; Sisters: Carmine Smith of California and Sarah “Sado” Pfeiffer of North Carolina; Longtime Companion: Judy McDonald and her family Steve, Kim, Elin, Layne, Makayla, Robert, Sherry, Shayna, Rett, Lyla, Gage, Seth, Kendra, and Brody. Several nieces and nephews also survive.
Memorial services for Mrs. Freda Denise Margeson Baker better know as Denise, age 58 of Sparta. will be conducted 1:00pm Friday, April 10, 2020 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home. She passed away Tuesday morning , March 24, 2020 at Generations of Spencer. Denise was born November 12, 1961 in Sparta, Tennessee to the late Willie J. Margeson, Sr. and Betty Ross Cope Margeson. She was a farmer and a sawmill worker. At home, she enjoyed taking care of her chickens but her true joy was taking care of her grandchildren. Surviving family members include her daughter Dena Hopkins and husband JohnThe family will receive friends from 11:00am until service time at Hunter Funeral Home.
