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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 For Friday, January 5
Virginia Gillespie, age 97, of Fairfield Glade, passed away on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at Hospice of Cumberland County. Mrs. Gillespie was born on Sunday, May 30, 1926, in Nashville, to the late Henry and Manilla Pugh Clift. Mrs. Gillespie was a retired district manager at Michigan Bell Telephone Company. She enjoyed volunteering with Pioneers Volunteer Work. She was of the Methodist Faith. She was a great and loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She is survived by her sons and daughter, Gary (Nancy) Gillespie of Denver, CO, Robert Gillespie of Effingham, IL, Cathleen Cramer of Fairfield Glade; 6 grandchildren; and 7 great grandchildren. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Wayne Gillespie; and son, Donald Gillespie. Her wishes of cremation are being honored with no services planned.
Thomas Harris, 71 of Baxter, passed away on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center, surrounded by family. Born Saturday, September 20, 1952, in Pulaski, Thomas was the third of four children. Thomas is remembered for his love of Auburn football. He also was a huge fan of movies, such as the Avengers and Star Wars franchises, as well as John Wayne westerns. His favorite band was the Beatles, and he enjoyed all kinds of mid-60s classic rock. Thomas was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying hunting, fishing, and camping whenever he could. For over 40 years, he worked as a computer programmer and technical support, while also working part-time as a cashier and bagger at Kroger. Above all, Thomas loved his role as a father and grandfather. Surviving are daughters, Liz (Kyle) Loosemore of Baxter, Chrissy (Brandon) Suell of Ashland City, TN, Casey (Chris) Power of Gilbert, AZ; 4 grandchildren, Maia, Malin, Oaklyn, and Kayden; siblings, Karla (Rankin) Bennett of Cookeville, Robert (Lori) Harris of Knoxville, Bruce (Connie) Harris of Pulaski. In addition to his parents, Thomas was preceded in death by wife of 22 loving years, Fern Harris. The family is following Thomas’ wishes to be cremated, and no services are planned at this time.
Memorial graveside services for David Duane Randolph, 44 of Cookeville, will be Saturday, January 6 at 12 Noon at West Cemetery in the Burgess Falls Community. Bro. Lakelan Barham will officiate. Mr. Randolph died November 19, 2023 in Cookeville. He was born May 3, 1979 in Nashville to Michael Duane Randolph of Cookeville and the late Barbara Winnett Randolph. In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death a brother Michael John Randolph, grandparents: Clodus Randolph, Clata Lee Collier Randolph, Lou Duke Randolph and Tom and Gladys Winnett. He had worked in masonry construction and also helped his dad at the golf course (Cumberland Bend Golf Course in Gainesboro). Survivors include father and step mother Duane and Marsha Randolph of Cookeville, son Noah Randolph, half sister Tammy Gongaware, a host of aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Misty LaGod, age 49 of Rickman, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday January 6 at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Jud Cemetery. Misty passed away Saturday December 30, 2023 at her home. Her family will receive friends Saturday from 11 a.m. until service time.
Graveside Funeral Services for Pearl Wilson, age 85, of Monterey, will be conducted on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 1:00 PM at the Wilson Family Cemetery. Deacon Jimmy Bowman will officiate. Mrs. Wilson was born on Monday, November 28, 1938, in Pineville, Kentucky, to the late Oscar and Bessie Jones. Mrs. Wilson passed away on Tuesday, January 2, 2024, at her home. Mrs. Wilson was a homemaker. She had worked with Russell Stover Candies and Wilderness Hunting Lodge. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Mark Snyder of Monterey; son and daughter-in-law, David and Penny Wilson of Monterey; 4 grandchildren, Amanda Snyder, Lacey Snyder, Jacob Snyder, and Emily Stell; 5 great grandchildren; sister, Mildred Thompson of Bowling Green, KY; brother, Jim Jones of Middlesboro, KY. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harold Hayes Wilson; grandson, Josh Snyder; sisters, Daisy Thrasher and Mandy Smith; and brother, Clay Jones. The family will receive friends at Wilson Family Cemetery for Graveside Services.
Funeral Services for Anna Lois Key, age 69, of Cookeville, will be conducted on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at 2:00 PM from The Chapel of Goff Funeral Home. Pastor Stanley Jackson will officiate with interment to follow in the Mineral Springs Cemetery. Ms. Key was born on Wednesday, December 15, 1954, in Cookeville, to the late Carl Thurman and Willene Hammock Jackson. Ms. Key passed away on Wednesday, January 3, 2024, at the Livingston Regional Hospital. Ms. Key was a seamstress previously working with Acme Boot and Eagle Furniture. She was Baptist in Faith. She is survived by her fiancé, James A. Holman of Cookeville; sons and daughters, Ray Meadows (Jennifer Haggard) of Baxter, Tommy Meadows of Gainesboro, Danny (Diane) Meadows of Baxter, Benjamin Key (Kitchera Hicks) of Rockwood, Will Key of Rockwood, Dorinda (Stacy) Burton of Cookeville, Kaitelyne Key of Crossville, Tiffany Key of Clarksville, Ashley Key of Cookeville, Elizabeth Key (Jay Jones) of Eastland, TX; 17 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; brothers, Pastor Stanley (Kim) Jackson of Gainesville, GA, Carl Michael (Naomi) Jackson of the Double Springs Community; and brother-in-law, Tommy Bryant of Rickman. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Ray Lee Key; and sister, Pamela Bryant. The family will receive friends at Goff Funeral Home on Friday, January 5, 2024, from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM.
Celebration of Life Services Honoring the Life of Mr. Dallas Lynn Porter, age 72, of the Spring Creek Community of Overton County will be conducted 2 p.m., Saturday, January 6, 2024, from the chapel of Speck Funeral Home. Bro. Houston Jarred will officiate. Burial will take place in the Leavenworth National Cemetery in Leavenworth Kansas. Dallas Lynn Porter was born February 28, 1951, in Kansas City, Kansas and passed on January 2, 2024, from his home in the Spring Creek Community, of Overton County. Dallas’ early years were spent in Kansas City, Kansas until his mother Donna La Rae McDaniel remarried in 1964, at which time he lived in Gladstone, Missouri until he entered the Army in 1968, where he learned his mechanics skills. He served in Ft. Hood, TX, Vietnam, and Germany. Dallas had a very long career as a mechanic working on everything from cars, trucks, tractors to trains. He also held many other jobs over his lifetime. Over the years he lived in California and Colorado, before moving back to the state of Kansas. He has lived in the Spring Creek Community for the past 15 years. Dallas leaves behind his loving wife of 26 years, Mrs. Donna Randgaard Porter of the Spring Creek Community; sons, Jeffery, Jeremy and wife Jamie, Steven and his wife Stephanie, and Jason Porter; 9 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren; sisters, Arletta Rae Decker Hardison; and Dee Ann Decker Echols and husband William “Bill”; numerous nephews and nieces and great nephews and nieces. Preceding him home was his father Eli Alan Porter and his mother Donna La Rae McDaniel Burd; brother, Douglas Eli Porter; his maternal grandparents, William Oscar and Nina Arlette Booth McDaniel and his paternal grandparents, Reuben Henry Porter, and Rachel Powell Farber. The family will welcome friends on Saturday from 12 noon until time of services at Speck Funeral Home. At the request of Dallas, he wanted everyone to wear jeans and t-shirts at his Celebration of Life Services.
A Memorial Service for Terrell Jeamar Harris, 44 of Cookeville, will be held at 3:00 PM on Saturday, January 6, 2024, at Crest Lawn Funeral Home. He passed away on Thursday, December 21, 2023, as a result of a motor vehicle accident. Born Friday, December 21, 1979 in San Diego, California, he was the son of the late Jerome Harris and Kathleen Perkins Harris. Terrell was a good son and father of 5 children. He was kind-hearted and a joy to be around, He was a hard worker and took care of his family. In tough times Terrell had 2-3 jobs in order to make ends meet and provide for his family. He was employed by Loftis Underground as a drill foreman for several years. He is survived by 5 children Trenton, Tristen, Tiegan, Primrose (Rosie) and Morgan; mother Kathy Harris of Anaheim, CA; ex-wife Erica Troupe-Harris; girlfriend Heather Hutson; And a host of aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, cousins and friends. He was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents, and father, Jerome Harris. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until time of service at 3:00 PM. In lieu of flowers and plants, please consider making a donation to the family.
Services Celebrating the Life of Mr. James Todd Matthews, age 53, of Livingston will be conducted 2 p.m., Sunday, January 7, 2024, from the chapel of Speck Funeral Home. Todd passed unexpectedly on Wednesday morning, January 3, 2024, from his home in Livingston,. He was born in Livingston Tennessee on May 3, 1970, to James William “Billy” and Brenda Sue Vaughn Matthews. Todd was a 1988 graduate of Livingston Academy. Todd leaves behind his loving wife of 36 years, Mrs. Lori Ann Riddle Matthews, of Livingston; sons, Dillan Matthews and wife Hayley of Livingston, and Devin Matthews of Cookeville; grandsons, Connor and River Matthews; parents, James “Billy” and Brenda Matthews of Livingston; brother, Mark Matthews of Livingston; mother-in-law, Julia Riddle of Frankfort, KY; special cousins, Tina Hall and husband Brian, and Jason Young; several sister and brother-in-laws, Shirley Wright, and husband Brent, Lena Browning, Candy Williamson, Jennifer Helton and husband Kyle, Bonnie Kidd, Wilby Riddle, Adam Riddle, and several other loving in-laws. Todd was preceded in death by his grandparents, Eva Dean Franklin, Tom and Mae Vaughn, and Headith Gore Vaughn; brother, Greg Matthews; sister, Sue Ann Matthews; father-in-law, Wilbur Riddle, and special aunt, Shelia Walker. The family will welcome friends on Saturday evening from 5 until 9 p.m. at Speck Funeral Home.
Funeral services for Bessie Lee “Ma” Robinson, 79 of the Union Hill community of Jackson County, will be conducted on Sunday, January 7, 2024 at 2 pm in the Chapel of Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home with Bro. Jimmy Anderson and Bro. Steven Bowman officiating. Burial will follow in Union Hill Flatt Cemetery. She was born April 15, 1944 in Jackson County, and she passed away on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at her son’s residence at the age of 79. She was the daughter of James Odes and Velma Pippin Birdwell. She was a member of the Union Hill Church of Christ and worked for Acme Boot Company and Nielsen and Bainbridge where she retired. She was a resident of the Union Hill Community of Jackson County. Mrs. Bessie was preceded in death by her parents, husband, David Robinson; son, Randy Alan Robinson; granddaughter, Heather Robinson; brothers, James, Birdwell, Fred Birdwell and Richard Birdwell and sister-in-law, Arlene Birdwell. Survivors include her sons, Dwayne (Misty) Robinson, Phillip (Dana) Robinson; grandchildren, Daniel (Chelsea), Tiffany, Brittany, Macayla, Hope, Hannah, Sierra and Austin; several great grandchildren; brothers, Jasper Birdwell, Donal (Marion) Birdwell, Litton (Jo Helen) Birdwell; sister, Anna (Bill) Loftis, sister-in-laws, Kathy Birdwell and Pauline Birdwell. Other relatives and friends also survive. Visitation will be on Saturday, January 6, 2024, 4 to 8 pm and Sunday 12 pm to 2 pm. Memorial donations may be made to the Union Hill Flatt Cemetery by contacting the funeral home.
A graveside service and interment for Mr. Lem McSpadden, age 75 of Cookeville, will be held Monday, January 8th, 2024 at 2pm (EST) at Roane Memorial Gardens in Rockwood. He died Tuesday, January 2nd. His family will receive friends Sunday evening, January 7th from 4pm until 6pm (CST)at the Cookeville chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home.
