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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, July 28
Alice Marie Gaul Skarzynski, 72 of Sparta, died suddenly on Thursday, July 27, 2023. She was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in the Melrose section of Sayreville, NJ. She married Melrose resident, Robert F. Skarzynski, on October 19, 1974. They raised 4 boys living in Sayreville; Buffalo, NY; Columbia, TN; Lexington, SC and then retired in Sparta. She is survived by 4 boys: Daniel (Kimberly) Skarzynski, Robert F. (Angela) Skarzynski, Jr, Jason Skarzynski and Dalton (Cheyanne) Skarzynski; 4 grandchildren, Devin, Lelan, Keira, and Danielle; great-grandchildren, Athena and Matthew; her mother, Solveig Gaul and sister, Rose (Frank) Braddock. She was predeceased by her husband, Robert Skarzynski and sister, Carol Berthelson. A memorial service will be announced at a later date. Memorial Donations can be made to a charity of your choice.
Graveside Funeral Services for JoAnna Looper, age 85, of Monterey, will be conducted on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at 10:00 AM at the Midway Cemetery. Mrs. Looper passed away on Thursday, July 27, 2023, at her home. The family will receive friends at the cemetery for the services.
Funeral services for Shane Neal Smith, 53 of Algood, will be at 12 noon on Saturday in the Chapel of Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home with Bro. Jimmy Anderson officiating. Burial will follow in New Hope Cemetery. Shane Neal Smith was born July 1, 1970 and he passed away on Saturday, July 20, 2023 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center at the age of 53. He was the son of Bob R. Smith and Sarah Margaret Sircy Smith. He was preceded in death by his mother. Survivors include his father, Bob R. Smith of Algood; brother, Michael Smith of Algood; nephew, Evan Smith of Algood along with several cousins and many friends. Visitation will be on Saturday, July 29, 2023 10 am to 12 noon at Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home.
Funeral services for Billy Bilyeu, age 76, of Cookeville, will be conducted on Saturday, July 29, 2023, at 1:00 PM from the Chapel of Goff Funeral Home. Rev. Scott Parkinson will officiate with interment to follow in the Shady Grove Cemetery with Full Military Honors provided by the Veterans Honor Guard. The family will receive friends at Goff Funeral Home on Friday, July 28, 2023, from 5:00 PM until 8:00 PM.
Funeral Services for Mr. David Ray Vaughn, age 61 of Allons, will be conducted 3 PM Saturday, July 29th from the chapel of Speck Funeral Home. Burial will be in Fellowship Cemetery. Mr. Vaughn passed from this life on Thursday, July 27, 2023, from his residence. He was born in Tompkinsville, KY, on November 15, 1961 to the late Bill and Sue Key Vaughn. David loved Tennessee football, music, and playing basketball when he was younger. He enjoyed telling stories about his grand parents and the “old times,” and he adored his grandchildren. Mr. Vaughn leaves behind his daughters Brandy Vaughn, Brooke Vaughn, Nikita Lindberg and husband Charles, and Angel Abbott; brother Danny Vaughn; grandchildren Noah, Lilly, Lukas, Owen, Finn, Dash, Jessica, Donnie, Abby, and Emma; and numerous family members and friends. In addition to his parents Bill and Sue Vaughn, Mr. Vaughn was preceded in death by his wife Melinda Vaughn and brother Charlie Vaughn. The family will welcome friends on Saturday from 12 noon until the time of services at 3 PM. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the funeral expenses by contacting Speck Funeral Home.
A memorial service for Mrs. Susan Lin Schmitt, age 71 of Cookeville, will be held Saturday, July 29th at 4:00pm at Boma First Church of God in Baxter. Rev. Tim Sharp will officiate. Mrs. Schmitt died Friday June 30, 2023 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. She was born December 21, 1951 in McKeesport, PA to the late J. Howard and Sue (Lloyd) McKee. Susan worked in supermarkets throughout her life, most recently at Kroger in Cookeville where she worked for 12 years until her retirement. She was a member of Boma First Church of God near Baxter and a member of Eastern Star Cookeville Chapter #152. She is survived by her husband of 50 years, Frank Schmitt; sons, James (Kathy) Schmitt of Gary, Indiana, Sean (Melanie) Schmitt of Bourbonnais, Illinois and Scott Schmitt, of Cookeville; grandchildren, Matthew, Brendan and Andrew Schmitt; and by brothers, Richard McKee and Jeffrey (Collette) McKee. Her family will receive friends Saturday from 1:00pm until service time at the church.
Funeral services for Eulalia Matias, age 68 of Monterey, will be from 5 – 8 p.m. Saturday July 29 at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home. Interment will be at a later date in Guatemala. She passed away Sunday July 23 at her home.
Funeral services for Mrs. Treva Faye Simmons Jackson, age 66 of Sparta, will be conducted 2:00pm Sunday, July 30, 2023 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home with burial in Smith Chapel Cemetery. She passed away at 9:33am Thursday, July 27, 2023 at St. Thomas Rutherford Hospital surrounded by her family. Treva was born October 26, 1956 in Anderson, Indiana to the late Rev. William R. “Bill” and Velma Ruth Davis Simmons. She was a homemaker. She was a devoted wife, mother and Nana that loved with her whole heart and never complained about anything especially when her health started to fail her. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by infant brother Paul Andrew Simmons; brothers Arthur Lee “Ott” Simmons and James Arliss “Jim” Simmons. Surviving family members left to cherish her memory include her husband of 43 years Wayne Jackson; Daughter: Valerie Brady and husband Stacy; Son: William Jackson; Grandchildren: Zoey Simmons and husband Kenneth, Jordyn Brady, Dustin “Bubba” Jackson, Ally Simmons, Jocelyn Simmons and Kelysie Simmons; Three great grandchildren: Rayne, Connor and Kainon; Sister: Billie Paige; Brother: John Simmons; A host of nieces and nephews that loved her dearly. The family will receive friends after 12:00pm Sunday at Hunter Funeral Home.
Funeral services for Brandy Lyne Jacobs Sapp, 31 of Cookeville, will be at 3pm on Sunday at Dodson Branch Freewill Baptist Church with Bro. Ronnie Dunn officiating. Burial will follow in Dodson Branch Cemetery. Brandy was born September 12, 1991 in Mount Holly, New Jersey to Robert DeCamp and Gloria Jean Jacobs Bozarth. Brandy passed away on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 in Cookeville Regional Medical Center at the age of 31. Survivors include her husband, Joe Linn Sapp of Cookeville; son, Levi Jacobs of Cookeville; daughters, Kyleigh Jacobs and NovaReign Sapp both of Cookeville; step children, Jordan Sapp, Tyrick Sapp and Jayden Hickman all of Florida; mother, Kandi Jacobs of Hampshire, TN; father, Robert DeCamp of NJ; grandmother, Grandmother: Linda Browne of Hampshire, TN; brothers, Collin Roberts of Hampshire, TN, Ronald Bozarth of Milton, FL and Robert Decamp, Jr. of NJ; sister, Krystle Bozarth of Mt. Pleasant, and 4 nephews along with many friends also survive. Brandy Jacobs Sapp, along with her husband and children, made her way to Cookeville from Florida in 2019. Brandy came to Tennessee in hopes to capture a new beginning. They chose the middle Tennessee area due to work with construction at Tennessee Tech which led to them settling down and starting their new life with Brandy having her 2 children already and with a new edition, NovaReign on the way. Brandy and her husband also were involved in the music business and began to reach decent success, which led to her starting her own staffing company for HVAC work in the construction field and also found decent success in this endeavor as well. In 2020 their family moved to Hampshire Tennessee to a cabin in the mountains and that is when they made National waves with their music. Their company released a number 1 hit world wide on iTunes and #2 on billboard in 2021 and again reaching number 1 in 2022. Soon after their family decided to venture back to Cookeville, deciding it was more fitting for their way of life and they had fell in love with the area. This time buying a home and enjoying life to the fullest, in turn put a smile on Brandy’s face that would light up any room. She was able to travel the country from coast to coast doing concerts and getting to enjoy the beauties of life. What she loved even more than her amazing journeys, was her children. There was nothing in this world that meant more to her than her 3 beautiful children. Anyone who had the honor of meeting Brandy, could clearly tell, the love she has for her children is unmatched. It was the simple things in life that brought her the most joy and spending time with her family. Ultimately Brandy found the peace, love, and joy in her life that she set out for and she was happy. Visitation will be on Sunday, July 30, 2023, 1 to 3 pm at Dodson Branch Freewill Baptist Church located at 285 Old Dodson Branch Rd, Cookeville. Memorial donations may be made to the Brandy Jacobs Sapp Memorial Fund by contacting the funeral home.
Funeral services for Mr. Bennie J. Sells age 74 of Livingston, will be held on Sunday, July 30, 2023 at 3 PM from the Chapel of the Hall Funeral Home of Livingston with burial to follow in the Hatcher Cemetery. Mr. Sells passed away on Wednesday morning, July 26, 2023 at his residence. Mr. Sells was born in Livingston on Thursday, February 24, 1949 to the late Carl Sells and Sally Vaughn Sells. Bennie was a Pastor of the Shiloh Baptist Church for 42 years. Bennie was also a member of the Masonic Lodge of Livingston, and served in the Army. He will be greatly missed by all his family, his church, and his friends. Survivors: Wife of 54: Carol Sells; Son: Steven and wife Trisha Sells; Daughter: Stephanie and husband David West; 4 Grandchildren: Karlie Riley and husband Austin, Katie Whited and husband Dallas, Brailynn Sells, and Ella Claire Sells; Brother; Doyle Sells; Sisters: Vivian Sells, Sandy Hull and husband Danny; Special Cousin: Kathy Sells; Bennie is also survived by a host nieces, nephews, other family, along with his church family and a host of friends. Preceded in death: Mother: Sallie Vaughn Sells; Father: Carl Sells; 2 Granddaughters: Stevie Ann Sells and Callie Jaye Sells; Brother and Sister-In-Law: Carlos and Polly Sells; Sister and Brother-In-Law: Helen and James Smith; Brother-In-Law: James Sells; Nephew: Jimmy Sells. Family will start receiving friends on Friday evening at 6 PM thru Saturday until service time on Sunday at 3. Masonic Rites will be on Saturday, July 29, 2023.
Funeral services for Johnny Wayne Goss, 75 of Cookeville, will be held Tuesday August 1, 2023 at 1 pm at the Dyer Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home with Bro. Kent Goss officiating. Interment will follow in Green Hill Cemetery in the Alpine Community of Overton County. The family will receive friends Tuesday from 11 am until service time at the funeral home.
Memorial services for Mrs. Janice Kay Pittman Plemons, age 74 of Sparta, will be conducted 2:00pm Sunday, August 6, 2023 at Christpoint Church in Sparta. She passed away unexpectedly at 11:58am on Tuesday, July 25, 2023 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Janice was born October 17, 1948 in Sparta to the late Zollie Martin Pittman and Hattie Slatten Pittman Adcock. She was a longtime beautician and beautician instructor. She was a well known Yogo instructor at the YMCA and the Senior Citizens Center. In addition to Yoga, she was a Tai Chi’ and aerobics instructor. Janice as an active member of Christpoint Church and was a founding member of the Christpoint Smithville campus. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by a sister Myrna Brown and brother Jimmy Pittman. Survivors include her high school sweetheart and husband of 14 years Larry Plemons; Two sisters: Billie Ruth Harris and Vickie Pittman; Step-children: Les (Ariann) Plemons, Jamie (Michael) Millians, Whitney (Jerry) Smith, Angela (Robbie) Hamby; Special granddaughter: Shaylah; Special nephew: Cole (Amber) Vinson; Two nephews: Danny (Shelly) Harris and James (Lisa) Harris. The family will receive friends after 11:00am Sunday at the church.
