We Remember: Obituaries For Tuesday, August 8

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 Tuesday, August 8

A family & friends graveside prayer and burial for Michael Dwain Davis, age 78 of Gainesboro, will be held at John L. Clark Memorial Cemetery on Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at 10 a.m. and will be officiated by Billy Buck. He passed away peacefully on August 5, 2023, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center with his family present after a brief illness. He was of the Church of Christ faith. Mike was preceded in death by his parents, Aaron C. Davis and Nettie Moss Davis of Gainesboro, brother Billy C. Davis of Cookeville. His son, Andrew (Andy) C. Davis of Nashville, and granddaughter, Kerra Marie Davis of Murfreesboro. Mike is survived by his son, Kerry Dwain Davis, Sr., daughter-in-law, Penny Hunter-Davis,and grandson, Kerry (KJ) Dwain Davis, Jr. of Murfreesboro, TN. Along with his sister-in-law, Faye Cherry Davis, nephews: Danny Davis, Paul (Pam) Davis of Cookeville, TN and niece, Treva Davis of Florida. Mike attended Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro, and remained in Murfreesboro to begin a family and start the Mike Davis Insurance Company. In approximately 1981, Mike returned to Gainesboro to care for his parents. Mike was married and divorced twice and never remarried. Mike lived a colorful life and like a cat with 12 lives he lived his life on his own terms, as the famous song goes, “I did it my way”. Mike was a connoisseur of women and home-made wine. Nothing brought him more joy than having his toes pulled. He was a gatherer of odds and ends and fancied himself a goat aficionado. Mike was a father like no other to his two sons Kerry and Andy, the stories they told of their experiences with and about their father were at times unbelievable and legendary. “I am prepared to meet my maker. Whether my maker is prepared for the great ordeal of meeting me is another matter” by W. Churchill.

Funeral Services for Mrs. Vada Colene Hull Norrod, age 95, of Alpine, will be conducted 11 a.m., Wednesday, August 9, 2023, from the chapel of Livingston Funeral Home. Bro. John Copeland will officiate. Burial to follow in the Grant Norrod Cemetery in Monroe. Mrs. Vada passed away from the comfort of her residence at Life Care Assisted Living in Sparta on Sunday, August 6, 2023. She was born in the Bethesadia Community of Overton County on August 3, 1928, to the late Ewing and Maudie Richardson Hull. Mrs. Vada is survived by sons, Gary Norrod and wife Victoria of Siler City, NC, and Mark Norrod and wife Pattie of Elkhart, IN; daughters, Phyllis Nix of Mobile, AL, and Sandy Shumate of Cookeville; grandsons, Roman Norrod and wife Ami of Sunbury, OH, and Matthew Garrett and wife Ophelia of Ramsuar, NC; granddaughters, Rene McGovney and husband Ron of Marion, NC, Robin O’Brien and husband Chris of Parsberg Germany and Summer Garrett of Mobile, AL; 15 great-grandchildren and 1 great-great-grandson; sisters, Louella Ledford of Livingston, and Betty Choate and husband Austin of Alpine; brother, Kelly Hull and wife Betty of Allons; also several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, Vada was preceded in death by her husband Marvin Norrod; baby son, and a baby daughter; brothers, Hubert, Hebert, Emerson, Leck, John and Jim Hull; sisters, Emmazelle Smith and Lexie Booher. The family will welcome friends Tuesday evening from 5 until 8 p.m. then on Wednesday from 9:30 a.m. until time of services at the Livingston Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Mrs. Reba Joyce Cunningham Young, age 73 of the Gum Springs Mountain Community, will be conducted 11:00am Thursday, August 10, 2023 at Hensley Chapel Baptist Church with burial in Young Cemetery. She passed away Monday, August 7, 2023 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Joyce will lie in state Thursday after 10:00am at the church. Joyce was born April 26, 1950 in Sparta, to the late Lester Franklin and Betty Reba Steele Cunningham. She was a former shirt factory worker but found her passion in being a home health nurse. She was a longtime Central View Fire Department Volunteer and was active many years in their fair booth and was a first responder. She was a doctor to many of her friends, neighbors and family. In her quiet time, she loved watching westerns. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her husband John Franklin Young, who died November 19, 2022; sisters Sue Cunningham and June Young; brothers Wayne and Tommy Cunningham; father and mother-in-law Paul and Pauline Young. Surviving family members left to cherish her memory include her three sons Chris Young, Johnny Young and John “PeeWee” (Makayla) Young all of Sparta; Seven grandchildren: Alicia Jarrett, Heather (Shawn) Dillon, Jessica Marcum, Cole Young (Mindy), Sarah Young (Aaron), Clayton Young, Victoria Young; Five great-grandchildren: Danny Young, Noah Wilson, Arabella Perry, Brandon Marcum and Ava Smith; Sister: Wanda (Don) Youngblood; In-laws: Ricky Young, Sandy Cunningham, Kerry (Ivie) Young, Ray “Buster” (Patty) Young, Roger (Fran) Young, Bethene Cunningham, Timmy (Gail) Young, Peggy Robbins; Several nieces, nephews and cousins also survive. The family will receive friends from 4-8:00pm Wednesday at Hunter Funeral Home.

Celebration of Life Gathering for Christopher Maxwell, age 57, of Monterey, will be held on Sunday, August 13, 2023, from 4:00 PM until 6:00 PM from The Chapel of Goff Funeral Home. Honors will be provided at 6:00 PM by the Tennessee Nurses Honor Guard and Full Military Honors by the Veterans Honor Guard. Mr. Maxwell was born on Saturday, September 11, 1965, in Muncie, Indiana, to Marie Roberts Whittaker of Monterey. Mr. Maxwell passed away on Friday, August 4, 2023, at the Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Mr. Maxwell was a LPN Nurse previously working with Erlanger Hospital, Standing Stone Care and Rehabilitation Center, and was a private duty nurse. He was a coach for Monterey T-Ball, youth league football and baseball. He was Baptist in faith. He was a member of The Tennessee National Guard. In addition to his mother, he is survived by, 2 sons and daughters-in-law, Zack and Nicki Maxwell of Monterey, Tyler and Sierra Maxwell of Monterey; 2 daughters and a son-in-law, Meshae and Jason Phillips of Monterey, Megan Maxwell of Monterey; 8 grandchildren, Emma Maxwell, Knox Maxwell, Easton Maxwell, Aliyah Maxwell, Grayson Phillips, Xavier Phillips, Carson Coggsdale, and Chloe Coggsdale; sister and brother-in-law, Rachel and Jeff Dixon; brother and sister-in-law, Jackie and Lisa Lee. The family will receive friends at Goff Funeral Home on Sunday, August 13, 2023, beginning at 4:00 PM.

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.