We Remember: Obituaries For Monday, April 8

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, April 8

Mrs. Kay Haston England, affectionately known by her family and many as Pet, age 88 of Sparta, passed away Sunday, April 7, 2024 at Life Care Center of Sparta. Funeral arrangements are incomplete.

William Briton “Bill” Burn, age 85, of Crawford, passed away on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at his home. Mr. Burn was born on Monday, October 3, 1938, in South Beloit, Illinois, to the late Briton Barlow Burn and Mildred Losey Burn. Mr. Burn was a police officer working with Fort Myers Police Department and retiring from Ft. Lauderdale Police Department where he served as Captain. He continued to serve as a school Resource Officer in the Florida Keys. He was a United States Air Force Veteran. He is survived by his wife, Adelaida Quileste Burn of Crawford; 2 daughters, Kim (Paul) Guisler of Gurley, AL, Monique Burn of Davie, FL; 1 son, Rick Burn (Nancy Buckland) of Gordon, AL; 5 grandchildren, Brandon Burn, Charlie Buckland, Dani Buckland, Matthew Guisler, and Melissa (Dustan) Williams; 3 great grandchildren, Brandon Jr., Jolee, and Libby; 1 sister-in-law, Barbara Burn of Chattanooga. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by 6 siblings. In lieu of flowers, the family request memorial donations be given to the Parkinson’s Foundation. His wishes of cremation are being honored with Celebration of Life Services to be announced at a later date.

Agnes Knutson, 90 of Cookeville, passed away on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at her home. Agnes was born Sunday, November 19, 1933 in Silver Point, she was the daughter of the late Jesse Ford and the late Bertha (Clouse) Ford. Agnes is survived by her son, Chris Knutson. No services are planed at this time.

Estus Winningham, age 66 of Jamestown, passed away on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at the Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Estus is survived by his: Wife, Deborah (Burton) Winningham; Sister, Joyce Winningham; A host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends. He is preceded in death by his: Father, Barney Eugene Winningham; Mother, Lillian Lorrene (Horton) Winningham; Sisters, Kathaleen Winningham, MaryBell Hutchins; Brothers, Tommy, John, Elmus, Casey, Roy, Jim and David “Beaver” Winningham. A memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Funeral services for Mr. Jackie Wayne Simmons, affectionately known as Butch, age 54 of Cookeville, will be conducted 1:00pm Tuesday, April 9, 2024 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home with burial in Anderson Cemetery. He passed away peacefully on Thursday, April 4, 4024 at his residence surrounded by his family. Butch was born December 18, 1969 in Sparta. He was a 1988 graduate of White County High School. He enjoyed fishing, camping, bowling and listening to music. To know Butch was to love him, the smile on his face always lit up a room and you never knew what he would do next. Butch is preceded in death by his father Jackie Milburn Simmons; sister Tena Robinson; brothers Randy Simmons and David Simmons. Survivors include his daughter Brittney Simmons (Kevin) Hines of Cookeville; Grandchildren: Hadley, Hudsyn and Harlan Hines of Cookeville; Mother: Dean Simmons of Sparta; Sister: Cindy (Johnny) Sidwell of Livingston; Brother: Rick (Sissy) Simmons of Sparta; A host of beloved nieces, nephews, cousins and loved ones that will always have special place in the hearts for Butch. The family will receive friends after 11:00am Tuesday at Hunter Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Mr. Curtis McCoy Wallin age 85 of Livingston, will be held on Tuesday, April 09, 2024 at 1:00 PM from the Hall Funeral Home in Livingston with burial to follow in the New Hope Cemetery in Fentress Co. He passed from this life on Wednesday, April 3, 2024 at the Cookeville Regional Hospital. Curtis leaves behind his wife of 59 years, Vivian Wallin of Livingston; One Daughter, Rebecca Wallin of Livingston; One Son: Chris Wallin and his wife Elizabeth of White House, TN; Two Brothers in-law: William Campbell of Louisville, KY and Jerry Randall of Bronston, KY; One Sister in-law: Lillian Randall of Bronston, KY; Three Nieces: Deborah Myers of Louisville, KY, Mary Elizabeth Briden of Evergreen, CO, and Jaime Randall of Bronston, KY; One Nephew: William Alan Campbell of Georgetown, KY; and cousins which include JoAnna Sasnett, Janet O’Brien, Elizabeth Milar, Roger Hollars, Joanie Sewell, Linda McClendon, John Hollars, Ronald Hollars and Gerald Roberts. Curtis was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Barbara Campbell. Curtis was born in Tateville, Pulaski Co., Kentucky on Friday, January 20, 1939 to the late Chapel and Virginia (Hollars) Wallin. Curtis deeply loved his family and friends. He was a member of Hilham Union Church. Curtis was a trained musician with a major in voice and a minor in Piano from Western Kentucky University. He was a founding member of The Ambassadors Quartet and toured extensively with the as well as recorded four albums. He also served as a Minister of Music and Youth Minister at Oneida First Baptist Church and Monterey First Baptist Church, where he retired. He loved singing and playing music. He had a Master’s Degree in Theology, and was only three classes away from having a PhD. in Ministry from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, KY. He loved to fish, hunt, and grow huge gardens. He was happiest when digging in the dirt and watching things grow. Curtis enjoyed University of Kentucky basketball and football as well as Atlanta Braves Baseball; in later years he enjoyed wine making. He will be greatly missed by his family and friends who loved him very much. The family will welcome friends at the funeral home on Tuesday, April 9th beginning at 11:00 AM until the service begins at 1:00 PM.

Funeral services for Brenda Kaye Brown, age 68 of Jamestown, will be held on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 at 12:00 noon at the Jennings Funeral Homes Chapel in Jamestown. Burial will follow in the Allardt Cemetery. She passed away on Saturday, April 6, 2024 at her Home. Brenda is survived by her: Brothers, Joe Brown and wife Judy, David Brown and wife Patsy; Sister, Ann Cooper and husband Homer; Special Nieces and Nephews, Amanda Reynolds, Shana Castro, Cynthia Smith and husband Roger, Bobby Brown, Freddy Wright, Junior Wright, Tyler Threet, Loretta Prilliman, Tammy Clayborn, Ricky Brown, Randy Brown, Ronnie Brown; Sisters-in-law, Barbara L. Threet and husband Ricky, Reta June Wright; Special Family Friend, Wayne Winningham; A Host of other Family and Friends. She is preceded in death by her: Husband, Jeffery D. “Bim” Brown; Father, Floyd Brown; Mother, Pearl Mae (Goldsberry) Brown; Brothers, Gene Wright, Junior Lee Brown and wife Beverly. The family will receive friends on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 from 10:00 am to 12:00 noon at the Jennings Funeral Homes Chapel in Jamestown.

Funeral services for Jackie Daryl Henry age 57, of Cookeville, will be held Wednesday, April 10th, 2024 at 1:00pm from the Chapel of Whitson Funeral Home, with Bro. Bobby Floyd officiating. Interment will follow in Sand Springs Memorial Gardens in Monterey. Jackie wen home to be with the Lord on Thursday, April 4th, 2024. Jackie was born on Saturday, April 1st, 1967, in Cookeville to the late Herman and Vennie (Walker) Henry. He was the youngest of four children. Jackie was a logger, masonry, and a youth director at Salem Church when he was younger. Jackie loved all things outdoors, being with family, and was a jack of all trades. He was currently employed at Henry Brothers Roofing as a General Manager, working side by side with his nephews, Gary and Chris Henry. Jackie was a faithful member of Full Gospel Assembly Church and loved talking about God. Jackie was married to his best friend Tracy (Likens) Henry for 23 years and was the father of Jacob Henry and stepdad to Jesse Pucket. Jackie was a humble man with a heart of Gold. Always smiling and willing to help anyone at any time. Jackie Henry was loved by all who met him and will be missed by everyone. In addition to his parents, Jackie was preceded in death by his brother: Larry Henry, Sister: Joyce Pippin, and Stepdaughter: Tiffany Likens. Jackie is survived by his wife: Tracy Henry; Son Jacob Henry; Stepson Jesse (Jamie) Puckett; Sister Darlene (Jackie) Phillips; and Brother In Law James Pippin. And a host of cousins, nieces, nephews, and family. The family will receive friends on Tuesday April 9th, 2024, from 5:00-9:00pm, and Wednesday from 11:00am till time of service at 1:00pm.

Funeral Service for James “Jim” Drake, 89 of White County, will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, April 11, 2024 at Oak Lawn Funeral Home with Charles Curtis officiating. Burial will follow at Jericho Cemetery, with military honors. He died at Vanderbilt on April 6, 2024. He was the son of Jay and Ruby Lumsden Drake. He was a beloved husband, father, grandfather, and uncle. He is survived by wife of 65 years Judy Williams Drake, preceded in death by daughter Kimberly Drake Peigh. He is also survived by a daughter Kelly Drake of Chattanooga and son John Drake (Kristine) of Murfreesboro. Grandchildren: Chad Peigh, Lyle Drake (Charlotte) of Newnan, Georgia, and Evelyn Drake of Los Angeles, California, and step-grandson Will Rakin, as well as several nieces and nephews. Mr. Drake died at Vanderbilt University Medical Center from injuries sustained from a fall. He was a 1954 graduate of Isaac Litton High School and received his Bachelor of Arts from Middle Tennessee State University in 1959. He was a retired Army Lt. Col. and served two, one-year tours in Vietnam including command of A Company 1 st Battalion 5 th Cavalry Regiment, 1 st Cavalry Division. Among his awards were the Combat Infantryman’s Badge, the Bronze Star with two oak leaf clusters, and the Vietnamese Gallantry Cross. He completed a 20-year career retiring in 1979. He also served as Postmaster at Walling. He enjoyed farm work and raising cattle in his retirement years and was a past president of White Van Buren Cattlemen’s Association. The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 11, 2024 from 11:00 AM until the time of the service at the funeral home.

Funeral services for Mr. Robert Eugene Hall, age 76 of Sparta, will be conducted 1:00pm Thursday, April 11, 2024 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home. He passed away at 1:45pm on Thursday, April 4, 2024 at his residence surrounded by his family. Robert served as a Lieutenant and Training Officer for the Sparta Police Department for 43 years. With a self-taught knowledge of computers, he founded RH Computer Systems in the early 1990s. Robert was a past member of the Masonic Lodge and Eastern Star, as well as a member of Ole Bethel Baptist Church for 32 years. In addition, he was a motorcycle enthusiast and active member of the Christian Motorcycle Association. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by his wife and the mother of his children, Sarah Evelene Cagle Hall who died April 26, 2008 and half-sister Carol Emeigh. Survivors include his wife Shirley Hall; Son: Steven Hall and wife Kelly; Daughter: Jennifer Wheeler and husband Michael; Grandchildren: Ryan Wheeler, Cameron Wheeler, Candice Woody, Dillon Wilbanks and Anna Wilbanks; A host of extended family and church family also survive. The family will receive friends after 10:00am Thursday at Hunter Funeral Home.

A Celebration of Life service for Deborah “Debi” Lynn (Howe) Christiansen, 70, of Baxter, will be held on Saturday, April 13, 2024, at 11:00 AM at Cookeville Church of Christ. Interment will be held at a later date. She passed away Sunday, March 3, 2024, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center-Knoxville, due to complications following liver cancer surgery. She was surrounded by family. Born May 16, 1953, in Wyandotte, Michigan, she was the daughter of the late Ramon “Ray” D. Howe and Shirley A. (Fite) Howe. The second oldest of five children; her parents and siblings adored her. Debi graduated from Hohenwald High School, Hohenwald, TN in 1971. She attended Freed Hardeman University and worked as a secretary at the University of Michigan for many years. She later received a Medical Billing degree. More recently, she was employed as a bookkeeper for Collegeside Church of Christ in Cookeville, prior to her retirement. She met the love of her life, her husband Gary C. Christiansen, and they married on February 27, 2015. Debi is best remembered for her dedicated love for her family. She was generous and compassionate, always thinking of others before herself. Debi and Gary were both devoted caregivers to her parents, who resided in their home from 2017-2022. She loved baking; her delicious homemade cheesecakes were a family favorite. Her favorite season was fall because of the fall colors. She loved nature: the beauty of a flower, a golden sunset, or just the chance of spotting deer near the side of the road. She especially loved her cat “Mae” who was her constant companion for 13 years. She was an entrepreneur, having owned and operated several retail businesses both before and after her retirement. Most recently, she used her artistry, painting, and crafting skills to create and sell home décor items for others to enjoy. She always managed a positive outlook, despite the many years of cancer treatments, ill-health, and major events. Because of that she was a great inspiration and encouragement to all her family and friends. Her husband Gary was a great help and support to her in all her sickness. Debi found joy in being a child of God. Her strength came from her faith, trust and obedience to her Lord and Savior. Preceded in death by: Father – Ramon “Ray” D. Howe; Paternal Grandparents – Aurbrie and Eula Howe; Maternal Grandparents – Charles and Lillian Fite. Surviving loved ones include: Husband – Gary C. Christiansen, of Baxter; Mother – Shirley Howe, of Gainesboro; Siblings: Jerri Gilmer, of Eustis, FL, Karen Neilson, of Cookeville, Larry Howe, of Saline, MI, Robin Crawford, of Baxter; Many nieces, nephews, aunts, uncles, cousins, friends, church members, and neighbors. The family will receive friends before the service from 9:30 AM until the time of service at 11:00 AM, at the same location. In lieu of flowers, a donation in Debi’s memory may be made to the Neuroendocrine Tumor Research Foundation (NETRF) and can be mailed to NET Research Foundation, 31 St. James Avenue, Suite 365, Boston, MA 02116

A memorial service for Dr. Elijah Morgan Dudney of Gainesboro, age 94 of Gainesboro, will be held in the chapel of Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral at 11:00 am on Saturday, April 13. Mark Dudney will officiate the service. Dr. Dudney chose cremation and the family will hold a private interment later at the Dudney family cemetery. He passed away on March 30, 2024. He was a retired physician and a member of the Gainesboro Church of Christ. Dr. Dudney was born at home in the Free State community of Jackson County on November 12, 1929, the only child of Mark and Sally Dudney. He graduated from Jackson County Central High School as Valedictorian at age sixteen in 1946. He attended Tennessee Polytechnic Institute from 1946-1949, then entered medical school at the University of Tennessee at Memphis. He obtained his M.D. in 1952 and entered the civilian internship program in the U.S. Air Force, interning at Nashville General Hospital. Dr. Dudney attended the School of Aviation Medicine at Randolph Air Force Base in San Antonio, Texas and qualified as a flight surgeon. Assigned to Washington National Airport, his duties included taking care of VIP personnel entering and leaving the United States, including the Presidential flight crews. While on active duty in Washington, Dr. Dudney served as a White House Aide to President Dwight D. Eisenhower, acting as an escort for social and state functions at the White House. After completing active duty, he began a surgical residency at Baroness Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga, serving as chief surgical resident in his final year. In 1959, Dr. Dudney returned to Gainesboro and began his private practice of medicine and surgery, continuing his military service as a reservist and retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 1973. He served as Jackson County’s Medical Examiner for many years. Dr. Dudney was preceded in death by his loving wife of 57 years, Janey Dudney; and his parents, Mark and Sally Dudney. Survivors include daughters Dr. Tina Dudney (husband Mike) and Jane Morgan Dudney Roberts (husband Jeff); and son Mark Dudney (wife Laurajane). Dr. Dudney had four grandchildren: Hannah Claire McCormack, Sarah Jane Dudney, John Morgan Dudney and Rachel Katharine Dudney. The family will receive visitors from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm on Friday, April 12, 2024. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to either the beautification fund at the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce or the Share to Care Foundation, which benefits Jackson County youth and teachers. Donations may be made by contacting the business office Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home.

Graveside service and interment of cremated remains for Georgie Ray Buck, 52 of Hilham, will be on Sunday, April 14, 2024 at 3 pm at Old Antioch Cemetery with Bro. Danny Hembree officiating. He was born February 4, 1972 in Jackson County, and he passed away on Saturday, March 30, 2024 in Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Ray was the son of Georgie Clay Buck and Sue Jean Spivey Buck. He was a carpenter and a resident of Hilham. On January 28, 2020 he married Lisa Lee Richardson for a total of 4 years of marriage. Ray was preceded in death by his parents, uncles and aunts. Survivors include his wife, Lisa Buck of Hilham; daughter, Amy (Phil) Hunt of Ashland City, TN; step daughters, Tiffany (Josh) Savage of Cookeville and McKenzie Savage of Hilham; grandchild, Aiden Hunt of Ashland City, TN; other relatives and friends also survive. Memorial donations may be made to assist with final expenses by contacting the funeral home.