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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 Tuesday, December 12
Funeral services for Mr. George Earl Hall, age 73 of Cookeville, will be held Wednesday, December 13, 2023 at 1:00 pm in the Dyer chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Interment with military honors will follow in the Elmore-Richardson Cemetery in Baxter. Mr. Hall died Sunday afternoon, December 10, 2023 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. His family will receive friends Wednesday from 11:00 am until service time at the funeral home.
Funeral Service for David M. Lafever, 64, of Cookeville, will be held Wednesday, December 13, 2023, at 2:00 pm from the chapel of Crest Lawn Funeral Home with Pastor Brad Windlan officiating. He will be buried at Crest Lawn Memorial Cemetery. He passed from this life on Sunday, December 10, 2023, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center after a 5-year battle with intestinal cancer. He was born into a military family in Wurzburg, Germany on April 11, 1959, David lived his youth in various locations throughout the world. He attended schools in New Jersey, Philadelphia, Fort Knox, Bangkok, Tampa, Tehran, and Sierra Vista before graduating from Cookeville High School in 1977. David attended Tennessee Tech University from 1977-1981 earning a degree in mechanical engineering. After college, he joined the Tennessee Valley Authority in engineering design in Knoxville, later working in Chattanooga. In the forty-two years at TVA, he was involved in projects at Bellefonte, Sequoyah, and Watts Bar nuclear plants. David was well-liked by all his coworkers and was an all-around good guy. He was preceded in death by his father, Col. Morris Lafever, and brother, Barry Steven Lafever. He is survived by his mother, Katie Lafever, and brother, Daniel Lafever, Uncle, Art and Diane Clemons, aunt, Ruby Clemons, and cousin, Linda Kinard, and her children, Brian, and Holly. Visitation with the family will be held Wednesday, December 13, 2023, from 12:00 pm until the time of service at 2:00 pm at Crest Lawn Funeral Home.
Graveside Services for Rebecca Jane England, age 81 of Sparta, will be held at 11:00 AM on Thursday, December 14, 2023, at Taylor’s Providence Cemetery with Ricky Scruggs officiating. She passed away on Sunday, December 10, 2023, at NHC Healthcare of Sparta. She was born September 8, 1942 in Sparta, and she was the daughter of the late William Green and the late Pauline Woodlee Green. Rebecca was a loyal wife and a loving mother and grandmother. She was also an artist and an animal lover. She loved to read and travel. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Hilton England. Survivors include: Son- David England (Susan) of Smithville; Grandchildren- MeLeah McKay (Christopher), Trey Hall (Christy), Dustin Mason, Cody Mason, and Christopher England; 11 Great-Grandchildren.
A Funeral service for Ann Marie Conley, 53 of Cookeville, will be held at 3:00 PM on Thursday, December 14, 2023 at First United Pentecostal Church of Cookeville. Interment will follow at Mt Pleasant Cemetery. She went to be with the Lord on Friday, December 8, 2023. She is now in her new body, walking beside Jesus. Born Sunday, August 30, 1970 in Cookeville, she was the daughter of the late George Conley and Louise Nelson Conley. Ann was a good, loving and caring daughter and sister, always concerned and looking out for others. She loved being around her family. She loved God with all her heart. Ann enjoyed listening to gospel music and watching online church services. She loved life to the fullest and never complained. Ann enjoyed watching the Heartland Series. Surviving are mother Louise Nelson Conley; sisters, Linda Staggs of Cookeville, Brenda Webb of Cookeville, Melinda (Anthony) Hopper of Nashville, Karen (Tim) Scarbrough of Crossville, Sharon (Kenny) Meredith of Cookeville; nieces and nephews Anthony Webb, Brittany Weedman, Grayson Staggs, Ashley Kirby, Rebecca Jasinski, Sarah Casselman, Cholena Degnegaard, and Hannah Scarbrough; cousins Aaliyah Woody, Nevaeh Stoglin, Rylee Meredith, Kenton Meredith, Isaac Jasinski, and Ensley Casselman. Ann was preceded in death by her father, George Conley, brother Dewayne Conley, grandparents Clinton and Della Conley and Tom and Nancy Nelson, brother-in-law Edward Webb, nephews Stephen Lane and Scottie Webb. The family will receive friends from 1:00 PM until time of service at 3:00 PM.
A graveside service for Minnie “Geneva” Burchett, 76 of Cookeville, will be at 1:00 PM on Friday, December 15, 2023, at Cookeville City Cemetery with the Bro.Ted Kocher officiating. The Nurse Honor Guard will be giving a tribute in Geneva’s memory. She passed on Monday, December 11, 2023, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center, surrounded by family. Born Monday, January 13, 1947 in Nashville, she was the daughter of the late Alfonzo Okain and the late Dimple “Evangeline” Huff Okain. Geneva is remembered for her strong will and dedication to others. She was the kind of person that would drop everything to care for those she loved. Geneva loved to help others, and she was an LPN at CRMC for over 20 years, working mostly in the delivery room but transferred to different floors as needed. She was crafty, enjoying her hobbies of crocheting, jewelry making, and ceramics; she co-owned Geneva’s Ceramics with her daughter. At home, she cultivated many flowers so that she could enjoy watching the butterflies. Additionally, Geneva loved to go to the beach when she visited family in FL. Above all, she loved being a member of LifeChurch and her status as a mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. Surviving are children, Penney Renee Burchett, Kenny (Elizabeth) Burchett, Mark (Karen) Burchett; grandchildren, Rachel (Jacob) Bouton; Dylan and Chase Burchett; Breanna (Josh) Dietz; Brittany, Brandon, Bradley, and Logan; great-grandchildren, Cyianna, Ava, Westley, and Jacob; And a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends. In addition to her parents, Geneva was preceded in death by husband of 47 loving years, Minneth “Doc” Burchett; and son, Brad Burchett.
Funeral services Joe Stanley Judd, 83 of Doyle, will be held Saturday, December 16, 2023 at 11am at Greenwood Baptist Church with burial in Greenwood Cemetery with full military honors provided by The Veterans’ Honor Guard. He passed away in Sterling, Illinois at the age of 83 on December 2, 2023. He was born on March 27, 1940 to John Harvey and Lota Elaine Jones Judd. Joe was born and raised in Doyle, and moved to Illinois in 1959. He prided himself on being a hard worker his entire life. As a young boy, Joe started working in the family lumber industry. He then worked for Northwestern Steel and Wire (The Mill) for 33 years. After retiring from “The Mill” Joe worked for Transport America for eight years, driving semi all over North America. Joe served in the United States Army from 1964 until 1966 and was an aircraft mechanic and helicopter door gunner, while serving in Vietnam. He was very proud of his service to his country. Joe loved Johnny Cash and would often sing his tunes, some even said he sounded just like him. He was a caring and compassionate man, who was known to make friends with anyone he met. He could also do anything, from auto body work on cars, mechanical work, woodworking, plumbing, electrical and construction work. Joe was not a man to take life sitting down. One of his greatest joys was being an avid runner and he lived by the motto, “When I Run I Fly, When I Fly My Soul Is Free, To Be Free I Run.” He was proud of his 43,000 logged running miles. Joe was proud of his Southern heritage and loved to be known to his family as, “Pa Judd.” Joe was a Christian man of great faith and he was dedicated to his church. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother John William Judd Sr., his sisters Dorothy Ruth Judd McDonald and Betty Jean Judd and his former wife Lynda Lee (Judd) Carlson. He is survived by his children: Teresa (Brian) Kikuts, Jo Lynne (Dennis) Hartz, Troy (Kristin) Judd, Jennifer (Ben) Gutshall and Jessica (Amber Briddick) Judd; grandchildren Aaron Judd, Tyler Gibson, Hailey Gibson, Jacob Cady, Alex Cady, Josie Cady, Lynzie Cady, Brady Hartz, Harper Judd, Connor Judd, Greyson Judd, Finleigh Judd, Deacon Gutshall and Kipton Gutshall; great-grandchild Addilyn Riley; step-children Robbie Watkins, Kerry Leuzinger and Kim Jensen; and sister-in-law Jeanne Judd. The family will receive friends on December 16, 2023 from 10am to 11am at Greenwood Baptist Church in Doyle. In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to Greenwood Baptist Church and a veteran’s organization of the family’s choice.
Funeral services for Melba Jean Maxwell, age 88, of Cookeville, will be held on Saturday, December 16 at 1:00 p.m. at the Cookeville chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Crest Lawn Cemetery. Dr. Charles McCaskey will officiate. She passed away on December 10, 2023 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Born on October 16, 1935 in Knoxville, she was the daughter of the late Viness Walter Lacey II and Idell Edith Wagers Lacey. A loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother, former Army wife, and graduate of Tennessee Technological University, she was a retired educator, spending most of her career at Park View Elementary School in Cookeville and teaching for several years at Estill Springs, Tennessee and Atlanta, Georgia. Since a young girl, Melba enjoyed many lively activities including dancing, horseback riding, travel and “walkabouts”, and music. She played piano and Irish tin whistle at home, was an alto in church choirs over the years, and was later a member of the bell choir at her home church in Cookeville. In recent years, her passion for needlework blossomed among dear friends in a local knitting group. Melba attended Cookeville First Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She was full of life, strength, love and faith. Beloved by many, she will be sorely missed. May she rest in peace and rise in glory. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, K. D. (Kay D.) Maxwell; grandson, Joshua Adam Maxwell; son, Kenneth Daniel Maxwell; brothers, Viness Walter (V. W.) Lacey III, Barry Leigh Lacey and Leon Edward Lacey; sister, Patricia Ann Lacey and step-brother, Benjamin Franklin Preacher, Jr. She is survived by her sons, Dennis Lee (Connie) Maxwell of Baxter, and David Robert (Margaret) Maxwell of Cookeville; daughter, Diana Kay Maxwell (L. Peyton) Adams of Madisonville, Kentucky; grandchildren, Jessica, Jackson, Jesse, Bradley, Boston, Brandon and Brent Maxwell; great-grandson, Daniel Hunter Maxwell; expected great-granddaughter (Boston and wife Mary) due in April 2024; great-great grandson Averick Hunter Maxwell; sisters, Janice K. (Cleo) Butler, Jennifer Lynn (Bill) Stevenson and Nora Jean Justice; step-sister, Glenda Carole Preacher and brothers, Christopher Boone (Pam) Lacey and Theodore Melton Lacey. Her family will receive friends Saturday from 11:00 am until service time at the funeral home.
Celebration of Life Services for Gill Medley, age 58, of Monterey, will be conducted on Saturday, December 16, 2023, at 1:00 PM from The Chapel of Goff Funeral Home. Mr. Medley was born on Saturday, July 17, 1965, in Monterey, to the late Larry Gill Medley Sr. and Barbara Scroggins Medley. Mr. Medley passed away on Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at his home. Mr. Medley was an electrician working formerly with ATC Automation Tool in Cookeville. He was a Monterey High School Graduate Class of 1983 and studied at Roane State Community College and IU Indianapolis. He was Baptist in faith. He is survived by, 1 son, Jeremy Medley of Anderson, IN; and 2 brothers and a sister-in-law, Michael Anthony Medley of Monterey, Jonathan and Tara Medley of Monterey. The family will receive friends at Goff Funeral Home on Saturday, December 16, 2023, from 11:00 AM until time of services at 1:00 PM.
A celebration of life for Marine Bumbalough, age 83, of Cookeville, will be held on Saturday, January 20, 2024 at 3pm in the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home in Sparta. She passed away on November 4, 2023, in Apopka, Florida. She was born on February 14, 1940. Marine was a brilliant homemaker, devoted wife of 59 years to Terry Bumbalough, loving mother of two children, grandmother (Emma) to five grandchildren and blessed by many great friendships. Marine was an artist, known for her talent in painting. She started her artistic journey when her husband went to Vietnam, and she began creating beautiful paintings. Over time, her passion evolved into craft books, and collectible dolls that were cherished by collectors across America. She created art pieces under the label ‘Sweet Expressions’, referencing lyrics from the hymn ‘Sweet, Sweet Spirit’ by Doris Mae Akers, and for the doll’s unique hand painted faces that highlight the individual qualities of all God’s people. Marine is survived by her loving husband, Terry Bumbalough, her sister Hellan (Teen) Shown, her son Randy Bumbalough, and five grandsons: Whitten, Alex and Rhye Bumbalough, and Parker and Chase Robinson. She was preceded in death by her daughter, Marci Robinson, her parents, Orley and Dorothy Maynard, and her sisters, Barbara Thomas, and Mable Willoughby. A visitation will be held from 1pm to 3pm on Saturday, January 20, 2024 in the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home in Sparta. In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made to the Alzheimer’s Association in memory of Marine Bumbalough.
