News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
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, July 16
Kenneth Edward Gray, age 78 of Monterey, passed from this life Wednesday, July 14 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Kenneth was a loving Husband, Brother, Uncle, and friend to all who knew him. He devoted his life to serving others. After graduating from West Virginia University College of Law in 1967, he joined the United States Army Judge Advocate General’s (JAG) Corps. He subsequently transferred to the United States Coast Guard Office of the Judge Advocate General where he practiced Admiralty Law. He was promoted to the rank of Commander in 1986. As a part of President George H. W. Bush’s counterdrug efforts, he served on the Joint Task Force Command which provided military assistance to counter the flow of illegal drugs into the United States. After retiring from military service, Ken worked several years for a coastal tug and barge corporation in the Port of Miami. He volunteered to serve on the Board of Directors of several Homeowners’ Associations (HOA); first as Board President in a Miami Shores, Florida HOA and later as Chair of the Contracts Committee which he founded after moving to a Monterey, Tennessee HOA. In his spare time, Ken enjoyed woodworking. Kenneth is survived by his wife, Susan. The family has chosen cremation and a memorial service will be held at a later date.
Funeral services for Mr. Francisco Juan Gaspar Tomas, 22 of Cookeville, will be held Saturday, July 17th from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. at Iglesias Evangelica Cristo LaVida Eterna (1784 E Spring St., Cookeville, TN 38501). Interment will take place in San Sebastian, Guatemala at a later date. Mr. Tomas died suddenly Monday July 5, 2021 in an accidental downing. He was born July 6, 1998 in Guatemala to Baltazar Gaspar Nicolas and Catarina Tomas Nicolas.
Funeral services for Mrs. Geneva Eudean Moore mostly known as Dean, age 95 of Cookeville, will be held on Saturday, July 17, 2021 at 11 AM from the chapel of the Hall Funeral Home of Livingston with burial to follow in the Dodson Chapel Cemetery. She passed from this life on Wednesday morning, July 14, 2021 at the Bethesda Health Care in Putnam Co., TN. Mrs. Geneva Eudean Moore was born in Cookeville, Overton Co., TN on Thursday, May 13, 1926 to the late Shirley and Oma (Breeding) Harris. Geneva Eudean Moore, mostly known as Dean or Granny grew up with six siblings in the Dodson Chapel Community of Overton Co., she married Paul Moore at a young age and raised three boys and 1 daughter in Rickman. She worked in apparel and the food industry. She enjoyed working in her vegetable and flower garden; she was a talented seamstress who could make a dress from a newspaper pattern. Dean worked outside the home however, her house was always neatly kept and welcoming. Her greatest joy was hosting family and friends for Sunday lunch after church. No one ever entered her house without provisions of food and lots of it. All the grand kids received the honor of being squeezed, shaken and lots of kisses, but they all survived her loving affection. Officiating with the service will be Bro. Chris Reagan. Family will receive friends at the funeral home on Friday evening; July 16th starting at 5 PM to 8 PM.
A memorial service for Howard Lee Jessie, age 74 of Mt. Pleasant, SC, formerly of Cookeville, will be held July 17 at 11:00 AM at Cunningham Memorial Park Mausoleum in St. Albans, West Virginia. Mr. Jessie passed away on June 8, 2021. Howard was a former resident of Belle and Charleston, WV. He also lived in Boynton Beach, FL, Irmo, SC, and Cookeville, TN. Howard proudly served in the United States Air Force from November 1963 until November 1967. He also served in the West Virginia Air National Guard. He retired from DuPont Belle Plant in 2001. He was a long-time member of Boulevard Church of Christ in Charleston, WV and Stevens Street Baptist Church in Cookeville, TN. He will be sadly missed by his family and by his many friends from West Virginia, Tennessee, Florida, and South Carolina but has been joyfully welcomed into Heaven. Howard is survived by his wife, Virginia A. Jessie, Mt. Pleasant, SC, his daughter and her husband, Brett and Missy Wilson of Mt. Pleasant, SC, his son and his wife, Michael and Holley Townsend, of Lakeland, FL, his sons, Victor and Brian Honaker of Charleston, WV. In lieu of flowers donations to the Stevens Street Baptist Church, 327 W. Stevens Street, Cookeville, TN 38501 are suggested. Per his wishes, Howard has been cremated and his ashes will be returned to West Virginia.
Celebration of Life Services for Mrs. Chrissy M. Roberts Howell, age 49 of Livingston will be conducted 1 p.m., Saturday, July 17 from the Livingston First Church, located at 890 Overton Plaza in Livingston. Mrs. Howell passed away on Thursday morning, July 15 from her home in Livingston. A member of the First Church of Livingston, Chrissy held an associate degree. Chrissy heart was truly her home and family, where she loved her husband dearly, and cherished her children very much. She loved teaching and home schooling her children. Chrissy leaves behind her husband, Wayne Howell of Livingston; mother, Marilyn Roberts of Lake Alfred, FL; daughter, Candence Rose Howell of Livingston; and sons, Coy Wayne Howell and Donavan (Rachell) Cline Howell all of Livingston. The family will welcome friends from 11 a.m. until time of services at the Livingston First Church.
A Celebration of Life Service for Ms. Frances Michelle Qualls Lusk, age 50 of Sparta, will be held Saturday, July 17 at 2:00 pm at the Doyle Nazarene Church. Ms. Lusk passed away Monday, July 12 at her residence. Frances was born December 7, 1970 in Sparta, Tennessee to the late David Ray & Joyce Ann Knowles Qualls. She was a homemaker and a florist. Survivors include her two sons, Joshua Lusk of Murfreesboro, and Austin Lusk of Sparta.
Memorial graveside service for Sarah Ruth Palmer, 80 of Baxter will be Saturday, July 17 at 3 PM at Palmer Cemetery in Silver Point. Mrs. Palmer died March 9, 2020 from cancer. She was born in Morrison, TN on October 17, 1939 to the late George and Vander Mae Maxwell Palmer. Survivors include her son Michael Palmer.
A Celebration of Life for Sean Michael Sawyer, 25 of Cookeville, will be held Monday, July 19 at 6:30 pm at The Edge Building At Life Church located at 2223 North Washington Ave Cookeville, with Pastor Bobby Davis officiating. Mr. Sawyer passed away on Monday, July 12. Sean was a loving son, brother, uncle, and friend. He was a light to everyone around him and was constantly making others laugh. Sean would often help the homeless and would take the shirt off of his back to help others. He loved his family, his friends, and his life. Sean was too good for this world, he was loved by all that knew him, and he will be greatly missed. Sean is survived by his Father and Mother, Jim and Sharon Sawyer. The family will receive friends from 5:30 pm to 6:30 pm on Monday, July 19 at The Edge Building At Life Church, 2223 North Washington Ave, Cookeville, Tennessee.
Memorial services for James (Jim) Francis Deffley, Jr., 69, of Cookeville, will be held on Saturday, July 24 at 1 P.M. at Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home. The family has chosen cremation. Mr. Deffley passed away on Tuesday, July 6 at his residence. He was born January 15, 1952, in Woonsocket, RI, to the late James Francis Deffley, Sr. and Mary Catherine Dolan Deffley. On August 26, 1979, he was married to Carol J. Deffley, who survives. He worked as a purchasing manager. Survivor include his wife, Carol J. Deffley of Cookeville; and daughters, Christina (Edward) A. Laquerre, and Jami (Edward) Barnsley. Memorial donations may be made to the American Red Cross by contacting the funeral home. The family will receive friends on Saturday, July 24 from 11 A.M. until time of services.
