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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 are presented by Presley Funeral Home, West Jackson Street in Cookeville.
Obituaries For Monday, December 30
Virginia Frances Turner, age 90, of Baxter passed away Sunday, December 29, 2019 at NHC HealthCare in Cookeville, Tennessee. She was born Saturday, July 27, 1929 in Chestnut Mound, Tennessee to the late George Losco Cowan and Pearl Young Cowan. Virginia was a member of Northeast Church of Christ. She retired as a cook at Capshaw School and Cookeville High School. She volunteered at the Poplar Grove Voting Precinct. Private graveside services will be held.
Graveside services for Ardelia Essigmann, age 85 of Sparta, will be held on Tuesday, December 31, 2019 at 11 am at Oak Lawn Memorial Cemetery. She passed away Friday, December 27, 2019 at her home. Ardelia was born on October 07, 1934 in Punta Gorda, Florida to the late Leroy and Jo Anne Coxwell. She was a working mom, but she always made her children anything they wanted for breakfast and made sure dinner was on the table with fresh bread of some kind. Ardelia worked hard all her life. She was a very vibrant, energetic and driven woman. As an adult, she completed her GED to further her education. She took pride in her appearance and made sure she was always presentable and physically fit. She was a punctual person, being on time was very important to her. Ardelia was always there to listen and give a hug. She was a loving and caring mother; She’d always give you a boost of strength just when you needed it. She regularly attended Blessed Hope Baptist Church.
Funeral services for James S. Dunn, age 88, of Cookeville will be held Tuesday, December 31st, 2019 at 12:00 noon at Presley Funeral Home with John Pippin officiating. Interment will follow in Boiling Springs Cemetery. He passed away Thursday, December 26, 2019 at NHC HealthCare in Cookeville. He was born Monday, September 14, 1931 in Cookeville, to the late George Roscoe Dunn and Amanda Sliger Dunn. James retired from Chrysler in Detroit, Michigan after 30 years. He attended Baxter Church of Christ until he was unable to attend due to his health. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Robbie Sue Wolfe Dunn; 2 brothers, Odre Dunn and Jessie Dunn; 2 sisters, Ina Randolph and Elise Peek. He is survived by 2 sisters, Vivian Bowman and Lillian Smith, both of Cookeville; several nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends on Tuesday, December 31, 2019, 10:00 AM – 12:00 noon at Presley Funeral Home.
Celebration of Life services for Mr. Luther Ray Buford, age 92 of Livingston, will be conducted 12 noon, Saturday, January 4, 2020, from the West End Church of Christ. Mr. Buford passed from this life on Friday, December 27, 2019, from the Overton County Health and Rehab Center. He was born in the Willow Grove Community of Clay County on May 13, 1927, to the late Luther Moore and Hettie Clark Buford. Ray was a 1943 graduate of Rickman High School, then went to Tennessee Tech for three years before serving his country in the Army during WWII. He loved playing cards at the senior center, going to church, and spending time with other people. Luther loved his family dearly, was always happy where he was, and never met a stranger. Mr. Buford leaves behind his wife Dean Webb Buford of Livingston; son Michael Ray Buford and wife Peggy Jean of Rickman; grandson John Michael Buford and wife Chelsea of Rickman; granddaughter Alison Michele Hensley and husband Brian of Mt. Juliet; great granddaughter Sara Jane Buford of Rickman; sisters Betty Jean Burroughs of Sunny Shade, Kentucky and Billie Reece and husband Felix of Tullahoma; and brother James Buford of Murfreesboro. Mr. Buford was preceded in death by his parents.
A Memorial Service for Janet Jolene McPeak Rodgers, 68 of Walling, will be held at 4pm on Friday, January 10, 2020 at Oak Lawn Funeral Home with Bro. James Rittenberry officiating. She passed away on Thursday, December 26, 2019, at NHC Healthcare of Sparta. She was born Saturday, October 6, 1951 in Sparta, to the late John Wallace and Clara Belle Sanders McPeak. She liked to shop, spend time with her sisters, and she always was cutting up and carrying on. Above all, she loved spending time with her grandbabies and family. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her sisters, Rita McPeak and Jeanie McPeak Smith. Survivors include: Sons- Phillip Adcock (Brooke) and J.D. Humphrey (Cathleen); Sister- Gwanna Mason (Ricky); Brother- Dewayne Mac McPeak (Lorena); Grandchildren- Zander Adcock, Jaxon Humphrey, and Cainnan Humphrey; Half-Sister- Sabrina McPeak; A host of nieces and nephews also survive. The family will welcome friends on Thursday from 2pm until time of the service at the funeral home.
A memorial service for Lieutenant Colonel Robert Martin Fowler, USA, Retired, age 91 will be held Saturday, January 11, 2020 at 12:00 p.m. at Cookeville First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. Rev. Christian Smith and Dr. Charles McCaskey will officiate. Interment with military honors will follow at Crest Lawn Cemetery. His family will receive friends Saturday 10:00 a.m. until service time at the church. LTC Fowler died Friday December 27, 2019 at Bailey Manor, Cookeville. He was born October 14, 1928 in Corbin, KY to Carl Fowler and Elizabeth Welch Fowler. He received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska, Omaha. LTC Fowler enlisted in the United States Army in 1953 and was a Veteran of the Korean and Vietnam Wars as a fixed-wing pilot, helicopter pilot and aircraft maintenance supervisor. During his distinguished military career, he was awarded many honors, including the Army Commendation Medal for Meritorious Service. He was an excellent, loving father who raised six daughters from two marriages. He never used swear words or raised his voice. He instilled a strong work ethic in his girls and grandkids. His motto was-“work hard and get ahead.”He also taught his children and grandchildren practical skills such as changing a tire, using a screwdriver and fixing minor things around the house. He was a longtime member of Cookeville First Cumberland Presbyterian Church where he was an Ordained Elder. He also taught Sunday School and served on the Building and Grounds Committee. He is survived by his adoring family, daughters, Kathy Fowler of Cookeville, Mym Fowler of Virginia Beach, VA, Rebecca Michael of San Francisco, CA, Nancy Townsend Byers and husband Gary, Tina Townsend Thurman and husband Ron, all of Cookeville; niece Linda Disney McBurney and husband Bob of Corbin, KY; grandchildren, Jason B. Courtney of Knoxville; Justin Lytal and wife Rachel of Knoxville; Loren Lytal Korch and husband Jonathan of Charlotte, NC; Blake Thurman and Parker Thurman of Cookeville; Richard, Nicholas, and Alex Michael all of California; and by great grandchildren, Palmer and Sutton Lytal and Emery and Nora Korch. Memorial contributions may be made to Alzheimers, TN, Cumberlands Office, 1459 Interstate Dr., Ste 211, Cookeville, TN 38501.
