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 Monday, May 24
Funeral Service for Jimmy Winstead Pittman, age 81 of Cookeville, will be held Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at 10:00 am from the chapel of Crest Lawn Funeral Home with Bro. Donnie Davidson officiating. Interment will follow the service at the Crest Lawn Memorial Cemetery. He passed from this life on Friday, May 21, 2021, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Jimmy was born Wednesday, November 1, 1939, in Sparta, Tennessee, and he was the son of the late Zolly Martin Pittman and the late Hattie Augusta (Slatten) Pittman. Jimmy was a loving son, husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, and friend. Jimmy is survived by, Wife Ruth (Randolph) Pittman; 3 Children, Mark and Linda Pittman, Tim and Susan Pittman, and David Pittman. The family will receive friends Monday, May 24, 2021, from 4:00 pm until 8:00 PM and again, Tuesday, May 25, 2021, from 9:00 am until the time of service at Crest Lawn Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations are asked to be made to the Mustard Seed Ranch.
Funeral services for Ernest David Mazelin, age 77, of the Muddy Pond Community of Monterey, Tennessee, will be conducted on Tuesday, May 25, 2021, at 10:30 AM at the Church Of God In Christ Mennonite, 2704 Muddy Pond Road, Monterey, TN 38574. Interment will follow in the Weeks Cemetery. Our dear husband, father, and grandfather, Ernest David Mazelin, was born in Berne, Indiana, on Thursday, December 2, 1943, to the late Franklin C. and Esther Schrock Mazelin. In the early morning hours of Friday, May 21, 2021, he peacefully fell asleep at his home. As he began his new day with Jesus, he was surrounded by family, who had lovingly cared for him. Dad was the fourth in a family of 7 children. In his early childhood years they, with a number of other families, moved to Lawrenceburg, Tennessee, then to Snyder County, Pennsylvania, where the group became what is known as the Hoover church. Dad moved with his parents and several other families to Monterey, Tennessee, in February of 1965, to form a new church in the Muddy Pond community. He found his lifelong companion in Rosemary Habegger. He returned to Pennsylvania to marry her on March 31, 1968, enjoying life together for over 53 years. They moved to a farm along Muddy Pond road shortly after they were married, and lived there until the present time. Their home was blessed with four sons and four daughters. The family will receive friends at the Church Of God In Christ Mennonite, on Monday, May 24, 2021, from 2:00 PM until 4:00 PM and from 6:00 PM until 8:00 PM.
A funeral mass for Pat Swearengin, 65 of Sparta, will be held Wednesday, May 26, at 10:00 am, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church (421 N. Washington Ave., Cookeville, TN) followed by a Christian burial at Dodson Branch Cemetery. Mr. Swearengin passed away peacefully, with his family by his side, at UT Medical Center, on May 12 after a brief battle with cancer. Pat was born and raised in Jackson County where he graduated from Jackson County High School. He graduated from Tennessee Tech with a Bachelor’s degree in Agriculture. He put his degree to work teaching Agriculture at Cookeville High School for several years. He changed careers and worked as a quality control supervisor in the manufacturing industry before he transitioned into his most rewarding and meaningful role – stay-at-home dad. His blood ran orange for the University of Tennessee where he attended and watched numerous sporting events. He especially loved cheering on the Lady Vols basketball and softball teams. His proudest moment was the day that his daughter, Mary Catherine, graduated from UT. He was looking forward to someday retiring to Knoxville where he could be close to his daughter and son-in-law and his beloved UT. He is survived by his wife of almost 30 years, Sandy Swearengin; and his daughter, Mary Catherine Wright and husband, Corey, of Knoxville. In lieu of flowers, our family asks that donations be made to the American Cancer Society (cancer.org), the Pat Summitt Foundation (patsummitt.org), or the Tennessee Fund (checks payable and mailed to the Tennessee Fund, 1551 Lake Loudoun Blvd., Knoxville, TN 37996; memo line: UT Softball team in honor of Pat Swearengin). Visitation will be held at Crest Lawn Funeral Home Tuesday, May 25, from 4:00-7:30 pm followed by a vigil at 7:30.
Funeral services for Dwayne Earl Prater, age 60 of Sparta, will be conducted 1:00pm Wednesday, May 26 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home. Burial with military honors by the Veterans’ Honor Guard will follow in Rose Chapel Cemetery. Mr. Prater passed away Saturday, May 22 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was a former steel worker. Dwayne served on a cannon crew in the United States Army. His passion was being a cowboy and working with horses, but his greatest job and accomplishment was being a loving father and grandfather. Survivors include his daughter, LaTisha Angelene (Dale) Tower of Cookeville. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 5-8:00pm at Hunter Funeral Home.
A Celebration of Life for John (JB) William Dyer, age 63 of Cookeville, will be held Wednesday May 26th from 5-8 p.m. at his home located on 955 E. Hudgens Street, Cookeville. Mr. Dyer passed away Tuesday May 18 at his home. While in high school, he played baseball and golf. He graduated from Putnam County Senior High School in 1975 and attended Martin Methodist University on athletic scholarship. John worked as the Director of the Putnam County Parks and Recreation, where he retired after 32 years of service. He is survived by a daughter, Courtney (Brian) Brauss of Mount Juliet; and a son, Josh (Brittany) Dyer of Murfreesboro. The event will be come and go, as parking will be limited.
A Celebration of Life for Bruce Roberts, 59 of Sparta, will be held, Wednesday, May 26 from 5 PM – 7 PM at Sparta First Freewill Baptist on Baker Street. Mr. Roberts passed away on Saturday, May 22 at Cookeville Regional after a battle with many health issues. He went peacefully while his loving wife and children held his hands. Bruce married his high school sweetheart, Melody Maynard “Dottie” on July 18, 1981. They had two wonderful children, Ashley (Brandon) Sirmans and Nicholas (Ieshia) Roberts. He also had two precious grandbabies, Elias and Paisley Sirmans. He was a truck driver all of his life and never met a stranger. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends, camping, and riding around back roads. Everyone enjoyed his company and he was well known for his sense of humor.
Celebration of Life Services for Mr. Shirlie Alfred Reeder, age 73 of Madison, and formerly of Overton County, will be conducted 11:30 AM Friday, May 28th, from Pasquo Church of Christ in Nashville. Burial will follow in the Veteran’s Cemetery in Nashville. Mr. Reeder passed from this life on Tuesday morning, May 18 from the Alvin C. York VA Medical Center in Murfreesboro. He was born in Overton County on November 23, 1947, to the late Clarvess Franklin and Nellie (Kyle) Reeder. He served his nation as a member of the United States military during the Vietnam War and was a fan of the University of Tennessee athletic programs. Mr. Reeder leaves behind his children, Jongee Arnold, Ashley Reeder, Brent Reeder.