We Remember: Obituaries For Wednesday, April 3

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 Wednesday, April 3

A graveside service for Mary “Nell” Lyon, age 76, of Sparta, will be held at 1:00 PM on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at Oak Lawn Memorial Cemetery. She passed away on Saturday, March 30, 2024. Nell was born on March 18, 1948, in Russellville, Kentucky to the late Laddie Epley and Late Louise Crafton Epley. Nell was hard working and loved to go to antique shops and travel in her spare time. Her favorite was shopping for vintage baskets. The people who loved Nell would describe her as a little firecracker or a bolt of lightning. In addition to her parents Nell is preceded in death by her niece Sharron Epley, one brother and one sister. Surviving family include: Husband – Robert Lyon of 58 years; Brother – George (Patricia) Epley; Nephew – Kevin (April) Epley; And two great-nephews. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in her honor to St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.

Funeral Services for Mrs. Frances Edwina Coffman, age 90, of Hilham will be conducted 2 p.m., Thursday, April 4, 2024, from the chapel of Speck Funeral Home. Bro. Tim Sharp and Rev. Ralph Shipley will officiate. Burial to follow in the Maxwell Chapel Cemetery. Mrs. Edwina passed from this life on Monday, April 1, 2024, from the comfort of her home surrounded by her loved ones. She was born at home in the Turkey Town Community on June 7, 1933, to the late Oscar and Trula Bennett Brown. She was a 1951 graduate of Livingston Academy and a 70-year member of the Maxwell Chapel Community Church. Edwina enjoyed crossword puzzles and making flower arrangements for her house and cemetery decorations. She loved her family dearly, and all of her children that she cooked for at the Hilham Elementary School over the years. Edwina leaves behind her son, David Coffman and wife Connie of Hilham; grandsons, Jason Coffman and wife Danielle of Hilham, and Josh Coffman and wife Ala of Monroe; granddaughter, Alisha Coffman and husband Codi Harrison of Nashville; great-grandchildren, Hunter, Carly, Gavin, Gage, and Gabriel Coffman, and Little Codi Harrison. In addition to her parents, Edwina was preceded in death by her husband of 62 years, Sil Coffman, son, Anthony Coffman, granddaughter, Misty Gentry, and sister, Rebecca Brown. The family will welcome friends on Thursday from 10 a.m. until time of services at 2 p.m.

Funeral services for Diane Michelle (Slogar) Easterday, age 53 of Jamestown, will be held on Thursday, April 4, 2024 at 3:00 pm at the Jennings Funeral Homes Chapel in Jamestown. Burial will follow in the Fentress Memorial Gardens. She passed away on Wednesday, March 20, 2024 at the Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. Diane is survived by her: Husband, Robert Easterday; Children, Danielle Easterday, Robert Easterday, Jr.; Father, William Slogar; Mother, Ann (Weybrecht) Slogar and husband Edward; Brother, Michael Slogar and wife Angel; Sisters, Deborah Slogar, Rebecca Slogar; A host of nieces, nephews, other family and friends. She is preceded in death by her: Grandparents, Richard and Patricia Weybrecht, William and Jean Slogar. The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 4, 2024 from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm at Jennings Funeral Homes Chapel in Jamestown.

Funeral services for Mrs. Juanita Fay Rollins Jones, age 87 of Sparta, will be conducted 3:00pm Thursday, April 4, 2024 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home with burial in New Bon Air Cemetery. She passed away Monday, April 1, 2024 at her residence. Mrs. Jones was born June 20, 1936 in the Bon Air Community of White County to the late James and Lula Fuqua Rollins. She was a longtime payroll clerk for Tractor Supply corporate office in Nashville. She loved gardening with her flowers and cheering on the Atlanta Braves but her love in life was being a loving Mema to her entire family. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her husband Donald Lloyd Jones who died February 13, 1988; grandson Josh Adams; brother Jim Rollins and sister Janie Barnes. Surviving family members left to cherish her memory include her daughter Rhonda Adams of Sparta; Son: Donald Lloyd “Donny” Jones, Jr. of Nashville; Grandchildren: Miranda Smith and husband Chris of Sparta, Donny Jones, III of Nashville; Three great grandchildren: McKenna Daisy Ward and husband Jared of White House, TN, Jackson Gill of Cookeville and Joshua Mcullough of Sparta; Two sisters: Kathy Hudson and husband Jerry, Mary Cantrell all of Cookeville. The family will receive friends after 1:00pm Thursday at Hunter Funeral Home.

A Funeral service for Ida Elizabeth Wheeler, 83 of Cookeville, will be at 1:00 PM on Friday, April 5, 2024 at Crest Lawn Funeral Home with the Bro. Randy Bybee officiating. Interment will be in Crest Lawn Memorial Cemetery, Cookeville. She passed on Tuesday, March 26, 2024. Born Sunday, April 21, 1940 in Gainesboro, She was the daughter of the late Johnny Haney and the late Lizzie Chaffin Haney. She was the loving wife of 64 years to Colonel D Wheeler. Ida is also survived by son: Richard (Denna) Wheeler; Grandchildren: Shanna (Adrian) Tiemens, Holly Holliman, Jared (Kelsi) Wheeler; Great Grandchildren: Ellerie, Garett , Kirra, Levi, Kaylee and Bozeman. The family will receive friends from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM on Thursday, April 4, 2024, at Crest Lawn Funeral Home.

Memorial services for Carlen J. Wiggins Jr., 59 of Jackson County, will be on Friday, April 5, 2024 at 2 pm in the Chapel of Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home. The family has chosen cremation. He was born November 14, 1964. He passed away on March 25, 2024. He passed away at Alive Hospice in Murfreesboro. He was the son of the late Ina and Carlen Wiggins Sr. of the Wartrace Community in Jackson County. He was preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Brittany Nicole Wiggins, and brothers: Robert and George Spurlock. Survivors include long time companion of 20 years, Melinda Bishop, and their children: daughter, Victoria Wiggins, and son, Carlen J. Wiggins III. Stepdaughter: Miranda Rush of Cookeville; brother: Michael (Tracey) Wiggins of Lebanon, TN; sisters: Sandy K. Jones of Chicago, IL, and Shirley (Joe) Hawkins of Gainesboro; nephews: Wayne Gerald Jones, Jr. of Memphis, T.J. Wiggins, and Ransom Wiggins of Cookeville; granddaughters: Daneisha Highland of Gainesboro, and Ayla Wiggins. Many other friends and relatives survive. Visitation with the family will be on Friday, April 5, 2024 from 1 pm to 2 pm.

Funeral services for Mrs. Marie Qualls, age 90 of Algood, will be held Friday, April 5, 2024 at 3:00 pm in the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Algood City Cemetery. Mrs. Qualls died Monday April 1, 2024 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Her family will receive friends Thursday from 4:00 pm until 8:00 pm and again Friday from 12:00 pm until service time at the funeral home.

Celebration of Life for Bevie “Rose” Rozelle (Pinkston) Yeager, 86, of Cookeville, will be held Saturday, April 6, 2024, at 1:00 pm from the chapel of Crest Lawn Funeral Home. She passed from this life on Tuesday, March 19, 2024, at Charter Senior Living of Cookeville. Rose was born Sunday, July 4, 1937, in Cookeville, she was the daughter of the late Luther Pinkston and the late Sena “Opal” (Clouse) Pinkston Smith. Rose was a loving daughter, sister, mother, Granny, aunt, and friend. She loved working in her garden with flowers and was very proud of the years she worked and was able to provide for her family. Her greatest blessings were her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. She loved sharing fond memories of her grandfather’s farm and spending time there. Rose was loved by those who knew her and will be greatly missed. Rose is survived by, 5 Children, Marcia Huddleston and her husband, Mike, Clint Steward (Wanda Elrod), Sandy Lamberson and her husband, Larry, Monesa Evans and her husband, Randy, and Jeff Steward and his wife, Lisa; 12 Grandchildren, Jonathan Jones (Tracy), Tyler Jones (Jackie), Tracey Manor (Mike), Christina Root (Geoff), Jason Steward, Dustin Steward, Patrick Mathis, Krystal Usrey, Taylor Bowman (Tori), Blake Evans, Jennifer Ward, and Alex Steward; 16 Great-Grandchildren; Sister, Janie Starr; Special Companion, her dog, Angie; A host of nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends. In addition to her parents, Rose was preceded in death by, 6 Siblings, Aline Ogletree, Peggy Ogle, Nell Ballard, Jonnie Pearl Weber, Rola Pinkston, and Aaron Pinkston. The family will receive friends from 11:00 am to 1:00 pm on Saturday, April 6, 2024, at Crest Lawn Funeral Home.

Memorial services for Julia Diane (Mayberry) Hall, age 67 of Byrdstown, will be held Saturday, April 6, 2024 at 2:00 PM from Bloomington Christian Church with Bro. Steve McClure officiating. The family has chosen cremation. She passed away Saturday, March 30, 2024 at Alive Hospice in Nashville. She was born March 8, 1957 in Nashville to Donald Seth Mayberry and Hessie Elizabeth (Doss) Mayberry. She was a member of Bloomington Christian Church and a school cafeteria employee. Diane is survived by (2) daughters: Melissa Moses, Sherra Bordelon; (5) grandchildren and (3) great-grandchildren; (2) sisters: Debra Trotter, Kathy Wilkerson; (1) brother: Charles Mayberry. Also survived by other family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents: Donald and Hessie Mayberry; husband: Martin Hall; (1) sister: Donna Parchman.

Funeral services for Mrs. Charlene Faye Herron Hamlin, age 80 of Sparta, will be conducted 2:00pm Sunday, April 7, 2024 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home. Burial will be 10:00am EST Monday morning at the East Tennessee State Veterans Cemetery. She passed away Saturday evening, March 30, 2024 at her residence. Faye was born April 28, 1943 in the High Splint community of Harlan County, Kentucky. She was the last surviving child of the nine children born to the late Russell and Donna Scott Herron. Faye alongside her husband moved to Bon Air in 1997 after his retirement from General Motors. She was an avid gardener and loved working with her flowers. Faye would often reward her work in the garden with a tasty chocolate treat from Dairy Queen. She was a faithful member of the Bon Air Church of God. In addition to her parents and her eight siblings, she is also preceded in death by her husband of nearley 62 years Albert Rex Hamlin, Sr. who died on January 15, 2024. Surviving family members include her four sons: Albert Rex Hamlin, Jr. and wife Betty of Michigan, Gregory Hamlin of Sparta, Jeffrey Hamlin of Michigan and Brian Russell Hamlin of Michigan; Eight grandchildren; Twelve great-grandchildren; A host of nieces and nephews. The family will receive friends after 12:00pm Sunday at Hunter Funeral Home.

Celebration of Life for Ricky Dale Tinch, 69 of Cookeville, will be held Sunday, April 7, 2024 at 3:00 pm from the chapel of Crest Lawn Funeral Home with Bro. Andrew Scott officiating. He passed from this life on Tuesday, April 2, 2024, at his home surrounded by his family. Ricky was born Thursday, June 17, 1954 in Cookeville, he was the son of the late Robert Casto Tinch and the late Gladys Rosalee (Shoemake) Tinch. Ricky was a loving son, husband, father, Papa, uncle, and friend. He worked at Upperman Middle School for 20 plus years. He worked in construction for several mobile home dealers and Cookeville Construction. He loved anything antique especially tractors and loved to tinker with them. He was a member of Middle Tennessee Antique Engine and Tractor Association and the Warren County Tractor Association. Ricky was loved by those that knew him and he will be greatly missed. Ricky is survived by, Wife of 48 years, Sandra Tinch; 2 Sons, Brian Tinch and his wife, Faye, and Travis Tinch and fiancee, Kayla Somerville; 2 Grandchildren, Taylor Leigh Tinch, and Ricky Patton Tinch; A host of brother in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces, nephews, cousins, and special friends. Ricky was preceded in death by his parents. The family will receive friends from 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Sunday, April 7, 2024, at Crest Lawn Funeral Home. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Research at Vanderbilt University Medical Center.

Funeral services for Mrs. Rosa Lee Howard Collingwood, affectionately known to many as Rose, age 86 of Walling, will be conducted 1:00pm Monday, April 8, 2024 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home with burial in Plainview Cemetery in the Cassville Community. She passed away at 3:57pm on Tuesday, April 2, 2024 at NHC of Sparta. Rose was born July 8, 1937 in Sparta, to the late Ransom and Lillie Mae Williams Howard. She resided in Chicago for 50 years where she met her husband, raised her family and worked as a bookkeeper. When she returned to White County she owned “The Thrift Store” on highway 70. She loved to collect and never passed up a yard sale full of bargains. In addition to her parents, she is also preceded in death by her husband Charles Bruce “Chuck” Collingwood, who died September 21, 1994; siblings Mary Matthews, Henry Howard, Cleo Eller, Kay Weber, Ann Hall, Lillian Evans, Bill Howard and Horace Howard. Survivors include her son Bryan Collingwood and wife Christine; Granddaughters: Patricia Fitzgerald and Charlotte Collingwood; Sisters-in-law: Sandy Howard and Versa Branconnier; A host of nieces and nephews also survive. The family will receive friends after 11:00am Monday 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.