We Remember: Obituaries For Friday, August 4

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, August 4

Charles Gary Lanz, age 77, of Cookeville passed away on Thursday, August 3, 2023, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was born on May 2, 1946 in Toledo, Ohio. Surviving family include: Wife – Linda Lanz; Son – Gary Lanz; Four step-children and many grandchildren also survive. A remembrance of life service will be held at a later date.

Funeral services for Mrs. Ruby Gail Roberts Dial, age 71 of Sparta, will be conducted 1:00pm Saturday, August 5, 2023 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home with burial in Highland Cemetery. She passed away at 6:50pm Tuesday, August 1, 2023 at Alive Hospice Murfreesboro. Gail was born September 22, 1951 in Sparta. She was last surviving child of the eleven born to the late Norman Eldridge and Minnnie Mae Silcox Roberts. She was retired from Mallory. She enjoyed working in her yard and being outside. She was an active member of Shiloh Church of God of the Prophecy where she enjoyed singing and being with her church family. In her spare time she enjoyed reading the bible and talking to her numerous family members on the phone. Above all else, she dedicated her life to her family. In addition to her parents and siblings, she is also preceded in death by a son Joel Steven Blanton who died October 4, 2022. Survivors include her husband Buford Dial of Sparta; Daughter:Tina (Richard) Fortner of North Carolina; Son: Rodney Blanton of Sparta; Step-daughter: Penny (James) West; Grandchildren: Rachel (Sean) O’Neill of North Carolina and Kirsten West, Jason (Nora) Flatt of Cookeville, Luke Blanton and Caleb West; Great-grandson Alan Stoner; A host of nieces and nephews also survive. The family will receive friends after 11:00am Saturday at Hunter Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Ms. Mary Melissa Hickey Roberts, affectionately known as Missy, age 54 and a native of Sparta, will be conducted 2:00pm Sunday, August 6, 2023 at the Blue Spring Presbyterian Church with burial in Blue Spring Cemetery. She passed away Thursday morning, August 3, 2023 in Knoxville. Missy was born September 11, 1968 in Sparta, to John and Geraldine Hickey. There will be no visitation prior to the service.

Memorial services for Mrs. Janice Kay Pittman Plemons, age 74 of Sparta, will be conducted 2:00pm Sunday, August 6, 2023 at Christpoint Church in Sparta. She passed away unexpectedly at 11:58am on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Janice was born October 17, 1948 in Sparta to the late Zollie Martin Pittman and Hattie Slatten Pittman Adcock. She was a longtime beautician and beautician instructor. She was a well known Yogo instructor at the YMCA and the Senior Citizens Center. In addition to Yoga, she was a Tai Chi’ and aerobics instructor. Janice as an active member of Christpoint Church and was a founding member of the Christpoint Smithville campus. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by a sister Myrna Brown and brother Jimmy Pittman. Survivors include her high school sweetheart and husband of 14 years Larry Plemons; Two sisters: Billie Ruth Harris and Vickie Pittman; Step-children: Les (Ariann) Plemons, Jamie (Michael) Millians, Whitney (Jerry) Smith, Angela (Robbie) Hamby; Special granddaughter: Shaylah; Special nephew: Cole (Amber) Vinson; Two nephews: Danny (Shelly) Harris and James (Lisa) Harris. The family will receive friends after 11:00am Sunday at the church.

Funeral services for James Ramsey, 83 of the Burristown Community in Jackson County, will be held on Sunday, August 6, 2023, at 2 P.M. at Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home, with Tim McHenry, Drew Houser, and Kenneth Anderson officiating. Burial will follow in the Lynn Cemetery in the Burristown community. He was born March 10, 1940, in Jackson County, and he passed away on Thursday, August 3, 2023 at Mabry Healthcare Center in Gainesboro. He was the son of the late James K. Polk Ramsey and Clara Henley Ramsey. On December 24, 1960, he was married to Ina Bernice Taylor Ramsey, who survives. He worked as a machinist, and was an elder and member of the Burristown Church of Christ. He was a resident of the Burristown community of Jackson County. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his Son-in-Law: Chris Houser; and Sisters: Velcie Johnson, Dois Chrisman, Jewel Lumpford, Lassie Oliver, Nadie Chrisman, and Agnes Ray. Survivors include his Wife: Ina Bernice Taylor Ramsey of the Burristown community; Son: Anthony Edward (Cherry) Ramsey of Whitleyville; Daughter: Donna Machelle Houser of Maryville, TN; Brother: Hollis Ramsey of Gainesboro, TN; Sisters: Sue (Jerry) Spivey of Rock Island, and Linda Williams of Lebanon; Grandchildren: Drew Houser of Maryville, Jessica (Jackie) Tipton of Maryville, Jennifer Houser of Knoxville, Rebekah (Troy) Daniels of Livingston; and Great Grandchildren: Jaxon and Jase Tipton, Savannah Daniels, and Susannah Daniels. Visitation will be Saturday from 1 P.M. – 6 P.M., and Sunday from 10 A.M. until time of services. Memorial donations may be made to Tennessee Bible College in Cookeville, TN, or Lynn Cemetery by contacting the funeral home.

Celebration of Life Service for Mr. Ronald Keith Ledbetter, age 66, of Bloomington Springs and formerly of Livingston, will be conducted 5 p.m., Saturday, August 19, 2023, from the chapel of Speck Funeral Home. Ron passed from this life on Sunday, morning, July 30, 2023, from the Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was born in Livingston, on December 5, 1956, to the late Earl Anderson and Betty Reagan Ledbetter. Ron was a 1976 graduate of Livingston Academy graduating earlier than his classmates. He was a member of the Life Church of Cookeville. Ron enjoyed boating on Dale Hollow Lake, also fishing and camping with his grandchildren. Ron leaves behind his son, Matthew Ledbetter and wife Lauryn of Cookeville; grandchildren, Grace Mesler and husband Trevor, Noah Ledbetter, Makenna Ledbetter, Max Ledbetter, Connor Williams, Asher Johnson, Atticus Womack and Rowan Womack; sister, Penny Milton and husband Steve of Cookeville; stepchild, Aurelia Womack of Cookeville; friends that became family, Michael and Amber Lawhorn, Tommy and Barbara Bandie, Diane Mullinax, and Victoria Carmack. Ron was preceded in death by his parents. The family will welcome friends on Saturday, August 19, 2023 from 3 pm until time of services.