We Remember: Obituaries For Friday, May 5

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 Friday, May 5

A Gathering of Family and Friends, Celebrating the Life of Kenneth Carl Caldwell, age 78, of Rickman will be held 11 a.m., Saturday, May 6, 2023, from the Dodson Chapel UMC. Ken passed from this life on January 7, 2023, from the comforts of his home in Rickman. He was born January 11, 1944, in Detroit, Michigan to the late Joseph Carl and Mary Barraco Caldwell. Ken worked for many years installing HVAC units across the country. Ken enjoyed cooking for his family, friends, and church family. He was a good handyman to his neighbors and people in need. Ken loved traveling, a well-cooked meal and visiting with his church family. Ken leaves behind his wife, Linda Sue O’Connor Caldwell of Rickman; daughters, Roxanne Glass and husband Clif of Tampa, FL, and Becky Gifford and husband Chad of Forsyth, GA; sons, Steven Caldwell of Seminole, FL, David Caldwell and wife Emily of Palm Harbor, FL, and Joe Muhrlin and wife Colleen of Tampa, FL; grandchildren, Parker, Piper, Holden, Emily, Cameron, and Connor; sister, Anne Marie Berglund of Michigan; niece, Carrie Ann Romine and husband John of California; uncle Robert “Bobby” Caldwell of Hickory, MS. Ken was also survived by his loving Church Family. In addition to his parents, Ken preceded the death of his brother-in-law, Byron Bergland. The family will welcome friends at the gathering.

Funeral services for Mrs. Linda Gale Wair Goff, age 79 of Sparta, will be conducted 11am Saturday, May 6, 2023 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home with burial in Plainview Cemetery in Cassville. She passed away Tuesday, May 2, 2023. Mrs. Goff was born October 7, 1943 in Nashville, to the late Clyde William Wair, Sr. and Fannie Louise Taylor Wair. In addition to her parents, Linda is preceded in death by her husband Jackie Goff; brothers Clyde Wair, Jr. and Virgil Wair; sisters Brenda Williams and Patricia Moseley. Linda is lovingly survived by her Children: Steven Hailey, Robert Hailey & wife Misty, Frances Morrighan; Grandchildren: Brigget Hailey, Kesslie Hailey, Alicia Hailey, Joshua Huntsman, Shonna Huntsman, Chloe Weaver, Landon Weaver, Jayde Weaver, Michael Young, Tabitha McAleesejergins, Christopher Young; Great-grandchild: Sophie Nora McAleesejergins; Sister: Peggy Curtiss & husband Charles; Brothers: James Wair & wife Darlene, Eugene Wair; Several nieces & nephews; Beloved Friend: Lisa Blakely. The family will receive friends after 10am Saturday at Hunter Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Mrs. Tommie King, age 82 of Cookeville, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday May 6 at Washington Avenue Baptist Church. Pastor Mark Gaw will officiate. Nurse honors will be rendered by the TN Nurses Honor Guard. Interment will follow at Smith Chapel Cemetery. Her family will receive friends Friday from 5 – 8 p.m. at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home and again Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time at the church.

Memorial Services for Lorena Frances McKay, age 79 of Sparta, will be held at 12:00 PM on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at Oak Lawn Funeral Home with Derik Zooashkiyani officiating. Burial will follow in Shady Grove Cemetery. She passed away Thursday, April 20, 2023, at her home. She was born Wednesday, November 3, 1943 in Sparta to the late Roy Looney and the late Frances Russell Looney. In addition to her parents, Lorena was preceded in death by her two brothers – Russell and Joseph Looney. Survivors include: Sister – Sarah Dodson of Sparta; Sons – Henry McKay (Pam) of Sparta, Donald Hugh McKay of Sparta, and Mark McKay (Terrie) of Sparta; Daughters – Loreen Melton of Sparta, and Doreen Schrade (Brian) of Rockwood; Grandchildren – Joshua Hutchings (Leslie), Roy Schrade (Carly), Richard Melton, Jennifer Langston (Sam), Jazmine McKay, Carl Manus, Mary Frances Schrade; Great Grandchildren – Georgia and Denver Schrade, Declan Hutchings. Lorena loved spending time with her family, adoptive family, and her pets. The family will receive friends on Saturdayfrom 10:00 A.M. until the time of the service at the funeral home.

Funeral Services for Shirleen “Shirley” Murphy, age 81, of Monterey, will be conducted on Saturday, May 6, 2023, at 12:00 PM from The Chapel of Goff Funeral Home. Pastor Steve Looper will officiate with interment to follow in the Sand Springs Memorial Gardens. Mrs. Murphy was born on Sunday, February 1, 1942, in Crossville, to the late Ulyess and Zora Ramsey Johnson. Mrs. Murphy passed away on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at the Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Murphy lived a life of hard work and dedication. She was a cook for over 40 years, spending most of that time as the lead cook at Standing Stone Rehabilitation Center. Her commitment to her work was an inspiration to all who knew her. She was a woman of faith and was a member of Sand Springs Baptist Church. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her. She is survived by her 2 sons, Michael Murphy of Monterey, James “Scott” Murphy of Monterey; 2 grandchildren, Joshua Murphy and Brittany Murphy; 6 great grandchildren; 9 nieces and nephews; 2 sisters and a brother-in-law, Gail and Paul Murphy of Monterey, Ailene Gunter of Dayton, OH; and special friend, Bridget Murphy of Cookeville. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Earnest Murphy; son, Casey Lee Murphy; brothers, Lester, Chester, and Ulyen Johnson, and Jay Hall. The family will receive friends at Goff Funeral Home on Saturday, May 6, 2023, from 10:00 AM until time of services at 12:00 PM.

Funeral services for Evelyn Wynell (Hunter) Brown of Livingston, will be held at 2;00 pm Saturday, May 6, 2023, at the Livingston Church of Christ, with burial at the Ruth Chapel Cemetery. Bro. Chris Coil and Randy Boyd will officiate. Evelyn was born on July 21, 1929 in the Holly Springs community of Livingston, the youngest of four children to Washington Lafayette (Fate) Hunter and Julia Evelyn (Swift) Hunter. She lived in the Holly Springs community for most of her childhood, where her father preached for the Holly Springs congregation. Evelyn graduated from Livingston Academy in 1949 and then went on to school to become an LPN, where she worked at the Lady Ann Hospital in Livingston Tennessee for a number of years. She later worked and retired from Oster Corp. in Cookeville. She was a member of the Livingston Church of Christ. Evelyn loved working outside in her yard, making a garden each summer that resulted in many hours of canning, freezing and preparing the fruits of her labor. She loved tending to her flowers, especially her rose bushes that were her favorite. She was quite talented in working with her hands as she loved to do needle work, sewing and her favorite was making quilt tops. She took great pride in making each of her children and grandsons a quilt of their very own. Evelyn was also a wonderful southern cook, and loved cooking for her family. She also loved cooking for others who were sick, shut-in or had experienced the loss of a loved one. She had a servant’s heart and loved helping others. Her greatest joy came from her three grandsons who she loved so deeply! Evelyn is survived by her daughter, Lisa Brown Boyd (Randy) ; grandchildren, Hunter Boyd, Andrew Boyd and John Clayton Boyd. In addition to her parents, Evelyn is preceded in death by her husband, Lloyd Clinton Brown; son, Lloyd Douglas Brown; and brothers, Durell Hunter, John Hunter and Clyde Hunter. The family will welcome friends from 12:00 – 2:00 with the funeral immediately following.

A graveside service for Jackie Wayne Johnson, age 72 of Sparta, will be held at Lost Creek Cemetery on Saturday, May 6, 2023 at 2:00pm. He passed away on Tuesday, May 2, 2023 at his home in Sparta. Jackie was born on June 8, 1950 in Sparta. He is preceded in death by his parents, John “Richard” Johnson and Macie Mae Clemons. He is survived by his daughter, Janet Johnson Tussey (Koi); granddaughter, Journey Pastorick; and grandson, Zackary Tussey. Jackie worked at the Sparta Spoke Factory and was an avid farmer.

Funeral services for Mr. Richard F. Crider, better known as Rick, age 68 of Doyle, will be conducted 3:00pm Saturday, May 6, 2023 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home with burial in Doyle Cemetery. He passed away at 2:55am Thursday, May 4, 2023 at his residence surrounded by his loving family. Rick was born December 5, 1954 in Chicago, Illinois to the late Charles Edwin and Magdalene Blanton Crider. During his 34-year career as a truck driver, Rick visited all of the continental United States and made trips into Canada and Mexico. When he was not on the road, he enjoyed fishing and camping. Rick loved to mow his yard and have his grandkids ride in his lap as he did so. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by siblings Edwin Crider, Sharon Peters, Arthur Crider and Melvin Crider. Surviving family members left to cherish the memory of their beloved husband, father, Pawpaw and Poppy include his Wife of 45 years Violet Crider; Children: Bobby Crider, Angelia (Joseph) Nelson, Crystal (Ronnie) Dishman, Daniel Crider, Brett Rutherford; Grandchildren: James Crider, Kimberly (Ethan) Deck, Harry Smiley, Joseph Nelson Jr., Alexis Dishman, Dylan Nelson, Blake (Kristin) Dishman, Nicholas Nelson, Nathan Crider, Waylon Seibers, Emily Rutherford, Alex Rutherford; Great-grandchildren: Keely Deck, Dallas Deck, Raylan Deck; Siblings: Kenny Crider, Michael Crider, Kevin Crider, Beverly Kelly. The family will receive friends after 1:00pm Saturday at Hunter Funeral Home. Eugene Bray will officiate.

Funeral services for Billy M. Taylor, age 85 of Cookeville, will be held Saturday, May 6, 2023, beginning at 3:00 pm from the chapel of Crest Lawn Funeral Home with Bro. Johnny Fox officiating. Interment will follow in Crest Lawn Memorial Cemetery. Billy passed from this life Tuesday, May 2, 2023, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center in Cookeville. Born Sunday, August 22, 1937, in Smithville, he was the son of the late Jimmy Greston and Lona (Young) Taylor. Billy was a loving father, Papa, brother, and friend to all who knew him. His family meant everything to him. He loved the Lord and his Church which was Holladay Church of Christ and worked many years in management and sales in the trucking industry. He is survived by: 2 daughters and sons-in-law: Lisa R. and David C. Bush of Cookeville, Teresa S. and Angelo Leonardi of Mt. Juliet; 4 grandchildren: Kyle Bush, Justin Bush and wife Kayla, Abbie Swindell, and husband Spencer, and Peter Leonardi; 4 great-grandchildren: Bryson Bush, Josie Bush, Sawyer, and Carter Swindell; 2 sisters and 1 brother-in-law: Nelma and Jimmy Tidwell of Nashville, Jimmie Hardin of Nashville; A special nephew: Gary Taylor. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his loving wife of 55 years, Sylvia A. (Apple) Taylor, 1 brother and sister-in-law, Amos M. and Myrtle Taylor, and mother and father-in-law: Walter and Dora Apple. The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday, May 6, 2023, from 11:00 am until the time of service at 3:00 pm.

A Celebration of Life Service for Richard Allen Vice, age 72 of Sparta, will be held at 4:00 PM on Sunday, May 7, 2023, at Hickory Valley Baptist Church located at 5865 Hickory Valley Road in Sparta, Tennessee with Bro. Doug Benningfield officiating. His ashes will be returned to Kentucky to be spread on the farm where he grew up. He passed away on April 15, 2023 after an extended illness at his home. He was born May 13, 1950 in Covington, Kentucky. Richard worked at Cincinnati Gas & Electric (Duke Energy) for 37 years. He was married to his soulmate, Carolyn Gentry, at the age of 65, and they shared eight beautiful years together. He has three children and six grandchildren with his first wife, Barbara. He acquired two step-sons, five grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren when he married Carolyn. Richard was a member of Hickory Valley Baptist Church in Sparta. He loved his children and grandchildren and couldn’t wait for the times that he could be with them. He loved telling everyone he met about his kid’s accomplishments and what a great bunch of grandkids he had; he was always quick to share a picture or two. He had a great love for golf and made many friends over the years playing. He was also an avid UK fan, and pretty much any sport you could name he enjoyed watching. Before he moved to Sparta, he was a member of a Swing Dance Club, and he was pretty smooth on his feet. Richard never met a stranger, he loved sharing a story about everything and anything. He was preceded in death by his parents, Ray and Dorothy Lucas Vice. Survivors include: Wife- Carolyn Gentry Vice of Sparta; Daughter- Bethany and David Bowling and children, Braxton Mabel of Park Hills, KY; Son- Kyle Vice and Gretchen and daughter, Amelia of Arlington, MA; Daughter- Sarah and Josh Clark and children, Isaac, Isabelle, and Elias of Nicholasville, KY; Step-Sons- Eddie Gentry and Jeff Gentry; Sisters- Diana and Edwin Bridley of Burlington, KY and Mary and Keith Morris of Boone County, KY. Fellowship will begin at 3:00 PM until time of the service at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations can be made to Hickory Valley Youth Group.

Celebration of Life Memorial Gathering for Richard Shawn Rogers, 66, of Cookeville, will be held Saturday, May 13, 2023 from 11:00 am – 1:00 pm at Crest Lawn Funeral Home. Inurnment will follow in the Crest Lawn Memorial Cemetery. Shawn passed from this life, Monday, April 24, 2023. Shawn was born on January 17th, 1957 to Eugene and Mary Jo Rogers in Cookeville, the place he called home for most of his 66 years of life. He married the absolute love of his life, Ann. Together they had two children, Cameron Shawn Rogers and Ashton Rogers Hitchcock. He is survived by his wife of 37 years, Ann Connell Rogers; his children, Cameron (Erin Hunter) Rogers and Ashton (Ammon) Hitchcock; his mother and brother, Mary Jo and Mark Rogers; his nephews, Shad (Diane) Shearer, Shay (Courtney) Shearer, and Justin Richardson; and his grandson, Rex Rogers Hitchcock. He was preceded in death by his father, Eugene Rogers; his sister, Jenny Rogers Marshall; and his niece, Mary Mac Darnell.

A celebration of life for Brantley L. Painter, 36 of Gainesboro, will be held on Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 2 P.M. in the chapel of Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home. He was born September 11, 1986, in Alton, IL, and he passed away on Friday, April 28, 2023 at his residence in Gainesboro. He was the son of Brantley Painter and the late Rachelle Johnson. He was a tattoo artist. Survivors include his Sons: Tyler Price and Braden Painter; Daughter: Alyssa Sidener; brothers: Caleb Springer, Jack Springer, Nathan Johnson, Alan Shoemaker, and Justin Price; Sister: Marissa Price; Father, Brantley Painter, Sr.; Girlfriend: Jamie Adcock; Pet: Biggie; nieces, nephews, other relatives, and lots of friends. The family has chosen cremation. Visitation will be Saturday from 1 P.M. until time of services.

Graveside services for Bonnie Jean Rivera, age 76 of Cookeville, will be held Saturday, May 27, 2023 beginning at 10:00 am at Crest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Cookeville. Inurnment will follow at the cemetery. She passed from this life Saturday, April 29, 2023, Born Sunday, May 26, 1946 in Compton, California , she was the daughter of the late Robert Lazalier and the late Jean Bartlett Sisler. Bonnie is survived by: 3 children: Renee Claborn Bennett and husband, Chip, Darrin Rich and wife, Jennifer; 2 step children, Trent and Rebekah) Jesse Rich and wife, Pam; 2 grandchildren, Ellen Rich and Taylor Claborn; 1 sister: Caroline Humphrey; 1 sister in law, Melody Lazalier; And several nieces and nephews.

A memorial service for Kaleen Emlee Fahrner, 72 of Cookeville, will be at 12:00 PM on Friday, June 23, 2023 at Presley Funeral Home with the Eddy Turner officiating. She died on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at home surrounded by loved ones. Born Monday, June 5, 1950 in Bay City, Michigan, she was the daughter of the late William Ervin LeMere and the late Catherine Bowden LeMere. She was the wife of Ronald Fahrner. The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Friday, June 23, 2023, at Presley Funeral Home.