We Remember: Obituaries For Wednesday, May 17

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, May 17

Robert “Bob” Allan Connors, 71, of Cookeville, passed away peacefully at home on Tuesday, May 16, 2023, surrounded by those he loved. Affectionately called Bob by almost everyone that knew him, He was born on January 2, 1952, in Derby, CT, to the late William Connors, and Shirley (Wilson) Connors Jordan. Bob served as a sergeant in the United States Marine Corps during the Vietnam War. He was an exceptional arborist who loved to climb a tree. He was an expert in building and flying various model planes and enjoyed being a member of the UCRCA – Upper Cumberland Radio Controlled Aircraft. He had a passion for jumping out of airplanes and absolutely loved riding his Harley. He was a member of the Upper Cumberland Harley Owners Group where he was a road captain. He logged over 120,000 miles on his Harleys. He led a 2 mile long with 600 bikes on a ride to Brushy Mountain State Penetinetry. He was happiest riding with a group. He was a proud man who loved to do life his way. Bob is survived by his beloved wife of 41 years, Loretta (Miranda) Connors, his three daughters, Melanie Vergason and her husband, Dave, Jacqueline Anderson and her husband, Ken, and Carla Connors, and her special friend, Peter; Favorite Granddaughter, Jenny Vergason. Bob chose cremation, the family followed his wishes, and a celebration of his life will be done within the family. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to your local animal shelter.

A Celebration of Life for Monika Sue Bowman, 74 of Cookeville, will be at 6 p.m. Wednesday May 17 at the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper Huddleston and Horner Funeral Home. Dwight Henry will officiate. She passed away on Sunday May 14, 2023, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Born on October 1, 1948, in Knoxville, Monika was a thoughtful and caring woman who touched the lives of many throughout her 74 years. She was the beloved wife of Henry Bowman, whom she married on July 24, 1971, in Knoxville. The couple shared 51 years of love, laughter, and adventure. Monika is survived by her brother, Gary Smith of Knoxville. She was preceded in death by her parents, Buford Smith and Katie Drehmel Smith, and her brother, Ralph Smith. A proud Tennessean, Monika graduated from Young High School in Knoxville before earning a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from the University of Tennessee. She later completed her education with a Master of Science degree in Guidance and Counseling from Tennessee Tech University. Monika dedicated 36 years of her life to helping others through her work at Cookeville Regional Medical Center, where she served as the social services coordinator. Throughout her career, she served several committees and teams which further enhanced the medical center’s service. Monika served on the Ethics Committee, and which focused on ensuring that the highest standards of ethical conduct were upheld. Monika was also instrumental in creating of the Women’s Center, which recognizing the unique healthcare needs of women and focuses on comprehensive care to meet those needs. Her passion for helping others extended beyond her professional life, as she also served on various community organizations including most recently serving on the board of the Upper Cumberland Broadcast Council. Travel was one of Monika’s greatest joys, and she was fortunate to explore 42 states and four countries throughout her lifetime. Her adventurous spirit and love for new experiences created lasting memories for her and her husband. Monika will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and all who had the pleasure of knowing her. Her legacy of love, compassion, and adventure will live on in the hearts of those she touched throughout her life. Her family will welcome friends Wednesday from 4 p.m. until time of the service. Memorial contributions may be made to the Cookeville Regional Medical Center Foundation, Monika and Henry Bowman Tennessee Tech Women’s Basketball Scholarship Endowment, or Henry and Monika Bowman Endowed Scholarship at Austin Peay University.

Funeral Services for Rhonda Faye Edmonds, age 69 of Sparta, will be held at 12:00 PM on Thursday, May 18, 2023, at Oak Lawn Funeral Home with Jason Lewis officiating. Burial will follow in Akins Cemetery in Winesap. She passed away on Sunday, May 14, 2023, at Erlanger Hospital in Chattanooga. She was born March 30, 1954 in Cookeville, and she was the daughter of the late Clyde and Ruth Linder Bryant. Rhonda was a member of DeRossett Church of Christ. She loved being outside in her garden or in her flower beds, fishing, and most of all, her grandbabies. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, James Edmonds; brothers, Ricky Bryant and Charles Bryant; and sister, Wanda Bryant. Survivors include: Sons- Ryan Edmonds (Amy) of Sparta, and Nathan Edmonds (Carrie) of Sparta; Daughters- Jennifer McBride of Sparta, and Leann Selby of Sparta; 15 Grandchildren; 3 Great-Grandchildren; Sisters- Betty Herron (Rick) of Cookeville; Cathy Chaffin (Johnny) of Mt. Juliet; Carol Elrod (Gene) of Cookeville; and Mary Biggs of Cookeville; Brother- Terry Bryant (Teresa) of Baxter. The family will welcome friends on Thursday from 10:00 AM until time of the service.

Funeral services for Joeann Wilson, 85 of Double Springs, will be Thursday, May 18 at 1 PM at the Baxter Chapel of Hooper Huddleston Horner Funeral Home. Interment will follow in the Double Springs Cemetery. Bro. Rick Burnett will officiate. Joeann went to be with her Lord Saturday May 13, 2023, Granny Joe, as most people knew her as, passed away surrounded by her loving family. She was born February 9, 1938 in Double Springs, TN to the late Robert Alex and Annie Opal Gamble McBroom. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by 9 sisters and 4 brothers. Joeann worked at Red Kap pants factory in Cookeville. Prior to that, she was the sole care giver to her parents until they passed away. It was the love of her family that truly made her smile. Granny Joe enjoyed bird watching, Game Show Network and find-a-word books. She loved her Pepsi and chocolate. Survivors include daughter Reba Cantrell (Wayne), two grandchildren: Buffie Mann (Cameron), Jamie Brown (Karen), 6 great grandchildren: Abbey, Logan and Lauren Brown, Cody, Kaylee and Kyden Mann and several nieces and nephews. Special thank you to her caregivers that have showed her soo much compassion and love for the past three years, Debbie, Mercedes, Charlotte and Lori. The family will receive friends Wednesday from 4 to 8 PM and after 11 AM Thursday at the funeral home.

Funeral Services for Jimmy Edward Frizzell, 60, of Bloomington Springs, will be held at Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home on Thursday, May 18th at 2pm. He passed away peacefully on May 15th, 2023. Jimmy was born on February 10th, 1963 in Jackson County. He was the beloved son of the late Edward “Tom” Frizzell and Winnie B. Lynn and brother to the late Missy West and surviving brother and sister, Tommie (Scott) Newland and Daniel Frizzell. After graduating from Jackson County High School, Jimmy married his teenage sweetheart, Cara Watts Frizzell on January 8, 1983. They were blessed with three beautiful daughters Lindsey Frizzell, Lacey (Charles) Cooper, and Paige (Curtis) Jones who were his and his wife’s greatest joys, and a very special niece, Sydney West. Together, his daughters blessed them with nine beautiful grandchildren : Kade Cooper, Lola Henderson, Harper Cummings, Cash Gentry, Ollie Cooper, Harlan Cooper, Roman Jones, Salem Jones, and Chapel Jones. Jimmy was a lover of good, ole country music and spent a lot of his life entertaining on stage for family and friends. His passion started at a young age with him teaching himself to play the guitar, singing with family and later, taking his girls to nearly every show. When he wasn’t working hard to care for his family, he was playing music with his life long friends all over the Upper Cumberland for nearly 30 years. Jimmy was diagnosed with cancer in the Fall of 2021. He fought hard through rounds of chemo and radiation for almost 2 years. He never let treatment slow him down from being active with his family and his faith was never shaken. In addition to his girls and siblings, He is survived by five aunts who loved, and some would say, spoiled him greatly: Virginia Stafford, Linda (Joe) Lynn, Thelma Strong, Sue (Melvin) Jared, and Ann (Omer) Wylie and preceded in death by his aunt Katherine (survivor- Larry) Jones. He also leaves behind three sister and brother-in-laws: Pam (Eddie) Metzgar, Bo (Renee) Watts, and Joei (Lee) Birdwell, Mother-in-Law: Dowlene Watts, as well as several uncles, aunts, cousins, nieces, and nephews. Jimmy died peacefully in his home surrounded by his loving family who will miss him dearly. He leaves behind a lasting legacy that will not be forgotten. Visitation will be held Wednesday, May 17th from 3 pm-8 pm and Thursday, May 18th from 11 am-2 pm with services to follow at 2 pm.

Funeral services for Mr. R.V. “Beaver” Young, age 75 of Sparta, will be conducted 11:00am Friday, May 19, 2023 from the Chapel of Hunter Funeral Home. Burial with full military honors by the Veterans’ Honor Guard will follow in Oak Lawn Cemetery. He passed away at 5:35pm Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at his residence surrounded by his family. R.V. was born December 20, 1947 in White County to the late Albert Void and Willie Mae Lamb Young. He served his country in the U.S. Army in Vietnam. Following his military service, he had a few factory jobs before fully committing to his life long passion of training Tennessee Walking Horses. He loved working with horses so much that it was his job, hobby and source of relaxation. He traveled to horse shows from Wisconsin to Florida and all states in between. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by his sister Patricia Young. Survivors include his wife Judy Radford Young; Son: Randy T. Young; Grandchildren: Jordan Young, Ashley Young, Brittany Radford; Great-grandchildren: Zoe Randolph, Paislee Young, Chloe Radford and Dyson Radford; Brother: James Young; A host of very close cousins. The family will receive friends from 4-7:00pm Thursday at Hunter Funeral Home.

Funeral services for Delbert Ray Smith, 69 of Silver Point, will be Friday, May 19 at 12 Noon at the Baxter Chapel of Hooper Huddleston Horner Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Smellage Memory Gardens in the Boma Community. Bishop Dan Huddleston will officiate. Mr. Smith died Tuesday, May 16, 2023 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was born September 15, 1953 in Carthage, to the late Ray Fletcher Smith and Emma Jean Whitehead Smith Anderson. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Sandra Kay Neal Smith; and a brother, Ricky Allen Smith; step-father, Jim Anderson. Delbert was a retired truck driver with First Fleet with over 30 years of service, his handle on the CB was “Ramblin’ Man”. He enjoyed watching the ole westerns on TV: Gunsmoke, Rawhide, Real McCoys, Wagon Train and Leave It To Beaver. He loved spending time with family and friends, especially the grandkids. He was a “simple man”. Survivors include children, Jason and Candice Smith of Murfreesboro, Nick and Ashley Smith, Bekah and J.C. Hunt all of Church Hill, TN; sister and brother-in-law, Barbara and Bob Stewart of Cookeville; grandchildren: Ainsley Smith, Wyatt Smith and Addie Smith, Colby, Gracie and Waylon Hunt. The family will receive friends Friday from 11 AM until service time at the funeral home.

Funeral services Scottie Douglas Hinson, 41 of Gainesboro, will be held on Friday, May, 19, 2023, at 1 P.M. at Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home in Gainesboro with Ryan Hopkins and Bro. Phillip Morgan officiating. Burial will follow in the New Hope Cemetery in the New Hope community of Jackson County. He was born November 6, 1981, in Cookeville, and he passed away on Sunday, May 14, 2023, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was the son of Margie Hinson and the late Douglas Calvin Hinson. On April 28, 2022, he was married to Jennifer McCormick Hinson, who survives. He was a zinc mine worker, and a member of the New Hope Community Church. In addition to his father, he was preceded in death by his Sister: Tammy Crockett; Paternal Grandparents: Calvin and Mae Hinson; and Maternal Grandparents: UL and Ruby Morgan.vSurvivors include his Wife: Jennifer McCormick Hinson of Gainesboro; Daughters: Morgan Neveah Hinson, Willow Talia Hinson, and Delaney Faith Brown, all of Gainesboro; Mother: Margie Hinson of Hilham; Brother: Marty (Tammy) Hinson of Hilham; Brother-in-Law: Jamie Crockett of Gainesboro; and Nieces: Leslie Brooke Bilbrey Maurer, Kayla Nicole Hinson Wade, Lauren Michelle Crockett, and Emma Grace Crockett. Visitation will be Thursday from 3 P.M. – 8 P.M., and Friday from 10 A.M. until time of services.vMemorial donations may be made to the Willow and Morgan College Fund by contacting the funeral home.

Funeral services for Mr. Ray “Dewayne” Spurlock, age 60 of Cookeville will be held Friday May 19 at 1 pm. in the Cookeville Chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Interment will follow in Smith Chapel Cemetery. Dewayne’s family will receive friends Friday from 11 am. until service time at the funeral home.

Graveside Memorial Services for Jimmy Hotsinpiller, age 65, of Cookeville, will be conducted on Friday, May 19, 2023, at 3:00 PM at the Mayland Cemetery. Mr. Hotsinpiller was born on Friday, July 12, 1957, in Detroit, Michigan, to the late Joseph Jr. and Reba Christine Phillips Hotsinpiller. Mr. Hotsinpiller passed away on Thursday, April 27, 2023, at the Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Mr. Hotsinpiller was a truck driver. He is survived by daughter, Robin Hotsinpiller of Cookeville; son, Daniel Hotsinpiller of Cookeville; grandchildren, Charlie and Nevaeh Baker; sisters, Kathy Garland of Pinckney, MI, Janet (Ray) Simpson of Cookeville; brother, Joseph N. Hotsinpiller of Sparta. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his sister, Vivian Jackson; brothers, Richard Hotsinpiller, James Hotsinpiller, and infant brother, John Hotsinpiller. The family will receive friends at Mayland Cemetery for Graveside Memorial Services.

Celebration of Life Memorial Gathering for Dr. Jose Luis Rivero, Jr., M.D., 57 of Cookeville, will be held Friday, May 19, 2023, from 3:00 pm until 7:00 pm at Crest Lawn Funeral Home. He passed from this life on Saturday, May 13, 2023, at his home. Dr. Rivero was born Wednesday, May 11, 1966, in Newark, New Jersey, and he was the son of the late Jose Luis Rivero, Sr. and Mercy (Boy) Rivero. He graduated from the University of South Florida in 1986, Meharry Medical College in 1993, and the University of Miami School of Medicine in 1997. He was a wonderful and well-loved OBGYN for many years. Dr. Rivero was a loving husband, father, son, brother, and friend. He enjoyed hiking, golfing, music, and being outdoors. Dr. Rivero is survived by, Wife, Emily Rivero; 5 Children, Erica Rivero, Emily Rivero, Abigail Rivero, Grant Walker, and John Wesley Rivero; 2 Brothers, Carlos Rivero and his wife, DeAnn, and David Rivero; Mother, Mercy Rivero; Nieces, Vanessa, and Sophia Rivero; A host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and special friends. In addition to his father, Dr. Rivero was preceded in death by, Maternal and Paternal Grandparents. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Sarcoma Foundation of America, www.curesarcoma.org

Graveside services for Bonnie Jean Rivera, age 76 of Cookeville, will be held Saturday, May 27, 2023 beginning at 10:00 am at Crest Lawn Memorial Cemetery in Cookeville. Inurnment will follow at the cemetery. She passed from this life Saturday, April 29, 2023, Born Sunday, May 26, 1946 in Compton, California , she was the daughter of the late Robert Lazalier and the late Jean Bartlett Sisler. Bonnie is survived by: 3 children: Renee Claborn Bennett and husband, Chip, Darrin Rich and wife, Jennifer; 2 step children, Trent and Rebekah) Jesse Rich and wife, Pam; 2 grandchildren, Ellen Rich and Taylor Claborn; 1 sister: Caroline Humphrey; 1 sister in law, Melody Lazalier; And several nieces and nephews.

Memorial services for Bobby “BOB” Joe Harlow, 86 of Cookeville, will be Friday, June 2 at 1 PM at the Dyer Chapel of Hooper Huddleston Horner Funeral Home with military honors by the Veterans Honor Guard. Pastor Tom Strong will officiate. He was born October 21, 1936 in Mount Pleasant, TN to the late Joe Norman and Gladys Marie Curtis Harlow. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by wife, Kathleen “Kay” Francis Wood Long Harlow on November 4, 2014; a daughter, Julie Lynn Harlow; son, Michael Ray Harlow; siblings, Charles R. Harlow, Norman Carl Harlow, William E. Harlow, Barry Dale Harlow, Betty Jean Nance, Dorothy Porter and Linda Gale Harlow. Bob was a US Navy veteran serving from 1955 to 1959. He retired from the City of San Miguel, California as a fireman. He was a member of Gideons International. Bob had been a member of Bear Cove Baptist Church and later at Hamptons Crossroads Baptist Church. Survivors include a brother Larry Harlow of Crestview, Florida. The family will receive friends Friday after 11 AM until service time at the funeral home.

A memorial service and tribute for Hamilton Anthony “Tony” Horsman, age 74 of Cookeville, will be held Saturday, June 3, 2023, beginning at 1:00 pm from the chapel of Crest Lawn Funeral Home. He passed away May 13th 2023 at 10:26 am, at his home in Cookeville. Born Friday, November 19, 1948 in New York City, New York, he was the son of the late Homer and Ella (Perrusi) Horsman. Tony eventually made his home at Horseman Farm in Cookeville. A decorated Vietnam veteran who served the US Army from 1966-69, he was an entrepreneur, sailor, equestrian, and farmer. Friend, mentor, and elder statesman; he spent his later years focused on supporting the recovery of others. He is survived by his loving wife Hannah, his children Hunter and Halia, his sisters Catherine and Patricia. In lieu of flowers, Tony wished for donations to be made to Priority House.

A memorial service for Kaleen Emlee Fahrner, 72 of Cookeville, will be at 12:00 PM on Friday, June 23, 2023 at Presley Funeral Home with the Eddy Turner officiating. She died on Wednesday, May 3, 2023, at home surrounded by loved ones. Born Monday, June 5, 1950 in Bay City, Michigan, she was the daughter of the late William Ervin LeMere and the late Catherine Bowden LeMere. She was the wife of Ronald Fahrner. The family will receive friends from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM on Friday, June 23, 2023, at Presley Funeral Home.