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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 Wednesday, November 29
Rhonda Hahn, age 65, of Monterey, passed away on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at the Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Mrs. Hahn was born on Thursday, May 29, 1958, in Cookeville, Tennessee, to the late Roosevelt and Martha Ramsey LaFever. Mrs. Hahn was a rural mail carrier in Crossville and had worked with home health. She and her husband were owners/operators of Hahn’s Hollow Greenhouse. She attended Brindleys Chapel Church of God. She is survived by her husband of 30 years, John P. Hahn of Monterey; 2 sons, Kenny Nathan LaFever of Cookeville; Joseph Kaleb McMorrow of Monterey; 1 granddaughter, Destiny LaFever; 2 brothers and sisters-in-law, Donnie Joe and Sherrie LaFever of Cookeville; Rick and Linda LaFever of Cookeville; nieces and nephew, Jennifer Vinson, Tonya Key, Amanda Aldridge, and Daniel LaFever. And a host of other family members. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her son, Joseph McMorrow. Her wishes of cremation are being honored with Celebration of Life Services to be announced at a later date.
Jewell Melton, age 86, of Monterey, passed away on Tuesday, November 28, 2023, at Standing Stone Care and Rehabilitation Center. Ms. Melton was born on Wednesday, December 9, 1936, in Overton County, to the late Erbin and Sarah Roenia Hassler Phillips. Ms. Melton was a garment factory worker and a member of Union B Freewill Baptist Church. She is survived by, daughter and son-in-law, Lisa and Darryl Miller of Monterey; son and daughter-in-law, Darrell and Janet Melton of Monterey; 3 grandchildren, Jessica (Brandon) Franklin, Jason Miller, and Rickey Melton; 4 great grandchildren, Adam Miller, Jacob Franklin, Levi Miller, and Dakoda Miller; 3 special grandchildren, Jessica Melton, Gage Melton, and Caleb Wilson; sister and brother-in-law, Lillie and Odell McCowan of Monterey. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brothers, Elvie D. Phillips and Everett Phillips; and infant brother, Willie Phillips. Her wishes of cremation are being honored with Celebration of Life Services to be announced at a later date.
Graveside service and interment for Geraldine Stewart, 89 of Cookeville will be Thursday, November 30 at 10 AM at West Cemetery in the Burgess Falls Community of Putnam County. Bro. Matthew Finchum will officiate. Mrs. Stewart died Monday, November 27, 2023 at NHC HealthCare of Cookeville. She was born September 14, 1934 in Putnam County to the late Arnold Roosevelt and Alice Lelloween McCaleb Stewart. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a brother, Lonnie Verble Stewart. Geraldine was a retired caregiver and of the Methodist faith. There are no immediate survivors. There will no visitation at the funeral home, everyone will gather at the cemetery for the service.
Graveside services for Mr. Robert Lee Kirby, affectionately known as Bob, age 76 of Sparta, will be conducted 1:00pm Thursday, November 30, 2023 at Old New Hope Cemetery. He passed away at 11:20pm Monday, November 27, 2023 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Bob was born September 2, 1947 in Sparta to the late Bobby and Frances Ogell Carter Kirby. He was a retired production engineer for Tutco. He loved wood working, Volkswagen Beetles and coin collecting with his granddaughters. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by two brothers Johnny Thomas Kirby and Henry Kirby. Surviving family members include his wife of 57 years Sarah Bennett Kirby; Son: Scott Kirby and wife Tammie; Two granddaughters: Hannah Kirby, Alex Merriman and husband Logan; Great-grandson: Leo Merriman; Two brothers: Donal Kirby and wife Hai, Larry Kirby; Several nieces, nephews and extended family members also survive. There will be no public visitation prior to the service.
Funeral services for Michael “Colonel” Sanders, 49 of Baxter, will be held on Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 1 P.M. at Anderson Upper Cumberland Funeral Home with Danny Clark officiating. Burial will follow in the Stewart Cemetery in Cookeville. He was born July 6, 1974, in Chattanooga, and he passed away Tuesday, November 21, 2023, at Cookeville Regional Medical Center at the age of 49. He was the son of Gaynell Sanders and the late Arnold Griffin Sanders. On February 15, 1991, he was married to Reba Kaye Sanders, who survives. He was a mechanic, and a member of the Long Branch Community Church. He was a resident of Baxter. In addition to his Father, he was preceded in death by his brother: Kenneth Sanders. Survivors include his Wife: Reba Kaye Sanders of Baxter; Sons: Casey Wayne Sanders, Alan Michael Sanders, Austin Kyle (Brianna Adams) Sanders, and Cannon Ray Sanders; Brother: Jeff Sanders of Baxter; Sister: Julie Williams of Gordonsville; and Mother: Gaynell Sanders of Alabama. Visitation will be Thursday from 11 A.M. until time of services. Memorial donations may be made to assist with funeral expenses by contacting the funeral home.
Funeral Service for Eula Mae (Riddle) Fox, 91 of Cookeville, will be held Thursday, November 30, 2023, at 2:00 pm from the chapel of Crest Lawn Funeral Home with Bros. Mike and Johnny Fox officiating. Interment will follow in the Crest Lawn Memorial Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held Thursday, November 30, 2023, from 10:00 am until the time of service at 2:00 pm at Crest Lawn Funeral Home.
Funeral service for Arabella Jolene Tate, 3 months of Warren County, will be held on Friday December 1, 2023 at 1:00 PM in the Chapel of Thurman Funeral Home. She passed away on November 17, 2023 in McMinnville. Arabella was born on July 14, 2023 in Hamilton Co., Tennessee. She is preceded in death by her grandparents, Gary Wayne Tate Sr, Tammy Self Tate; great grandparents, Josephine Butcher, Jim Butcher, Mary Messick, Carmack Messick. She is survived by her loving parents, Gary Wayne Tate Jr., Shelby Tate; sisters, Isabella Tate, Kenzleigh Ungaro, Mariah-Jayde Ungaro, Kalynn Ghrist; brothers, Kayne Tuner, Malachi Tate, Mason Ghrist; special aunt and uncles, Brooke and Joseph Childress, Misty Tate, Amy Tate and Adam Cope, Brian and Stevie Tate, Michael and Tia Russell; grandmother, Kimberly Hartless, Marlena Lawson; great aunts, Holly Messick, Vicky Shelton;; special pa and ma, Hershel and Angie Tate; cousins, Bralynn, Jace, Zoey, Zayna Childress; Also Loved by numerous cousins and friends and family. A memorial will be held in the Chapel of Thurman Funeral Home on Friday December 1, 2023 from 11:00 AM until the time of service at 1:00 PM.Graveside services and interment for Robbin C. Loftis, 46 of Bloomington Springs, will be held on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at 2 P.M. at the Byers Cemetery in the Center Grove community. Bro. Jimmy Anderson will officiate. Robbin C. Loftis was born September 16, 1977, in Cookeville, and he passed away on Thursday, November 9, 2023, at TriStar Centennial Medical Center in Nashville. The family has chosen cremation. He was the son of Kenneth Edward Loftis and the late Martha Ann Loftis. He was a brick layer. Survivors include his Father: Kenneth Edward Loftis of Bloomington Springs; Sister: Amanda Elliott-Edwards of Silver Point; and Nephews and Niece: William Elliott III, Annabelle Elliott, and Kenneth Edwards.
Funeral services for Leffel Waller Dyer, Jr., 69 of Chestnut Mound, formerly of Baxter, will be Friday, December 1 at 5 PM at the Dyer Chapel of Hooper Huddleston Horner Funeral Home. Pastor Eric Vickers will officiate. Mr. Dyer died Sunday, November 26, 2023 at St. Thomas Midtown Hospital in Nashville. He was born March 30, 1954 in Carthage to the late Leffel Waller Dyer, Sr. and Minnie Ann Bush Dyer. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by sisters Mary Exum and Dean Leftwich. Junior was a graduate of Upperman High School in Baxter. He was a retired truck driver and also worked at the Bloomington Springs Sanitation Site. Survivors include daughter Misty Dawn Hughes of Cookeville, son Darren Joseph Dyer of Harriman, mother of his children Sandra Crawford Dyer of Cookeville, sisters Nora Exum of Chelsea, MI and Carol Harper of Westland, MI, brother Billy Joe Dyer of Michigan City, IN, grandchildren: Lita Winsett, Collin McDaniel, Carter Hughes and Aurora Dyer. His wishes of cremation will be honored after the services. The family will receive friends Friday from 3 PM until service time at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, please make donations toward the funeral expenses.
Funeral services for Auerila “Tootise” McCaleb, 78 of Cookeville, will be at 1 p.m. Saturday December 2 at Colonial View Baptist Church. Bro. Chuck Overton and Bro. Ken Haney will officiate. Interment will follow at the West Cemetery. Her family will receive friends Saturday from 10 a.m. until service time. Tootsie passed away Saturday, November 25, 2023 at her home.
Funeral services for Mrs. Minnie Rose Boatman, age 94 of Cookeville, will be held Sunday, December 3rd at 1:00 pm at the Cookeville chapel of Hooper-Huddleston & Horner Funeral Home. Interment will follow at Cookeville City Cemetery. Her family will receive friends Sunday from 12:00 pm until service time at the funeral home.
A memorial service for the late Linda Gail (Estes) Strasburg of Sparta, will be held on Sunday, December 3, 2023, at 2:00pm at the Robinson Chapel Church in White County. Bro. Larry Wilmoth will officiate at the service. Linda passed away from a stroke complicated by Covid-19. Mrs. Strasburg passed away on Friday, November 17, 2023, at Signature Healthcare of Putnam County. Linda was born on July 22, 1940, in Smithville to the late Albert and Kate (Sullivan)Estes. She was a teacher for the White County school system. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her First Husband James McKee, Second Husband Pete Strasburg, Daughter Beth McKee Waggner, Two Brothers: Don and Bass Estes, and one Sister Sylvia Estes Redmon. Her surviving family includes her daughter: Vicki (McKee) McClanahan and Husband Steve; Three Grandsons: Kris Waggoner, Dain and Alec McClanahan. And one Sister: Dora Estes.
A memorial service for Phyllis Nell (Brannum) Copeland, age 69 of Byrdstown, will be held Saturday, December 9, 2023 at 1:00 P.M. from Smyrna Church with Bro. Randy Tompkins and Bro. Ricky Cross officiating. The family has chosen cremation. Burial of the cremains will be in Smyrna Cemetery. She passed away Friday, November 3, 2023 at her residence. She was born January 25, 1954 in Byrdstown to Delmer Brannum and Gladys (Flowers) Brannum. She was a garment factory employee and a homemaker. Phyllis was survived by (2) daughters: Lisa Ledbetter and husband: Mark, Kari Beaty and husband: Jonathan; (1) son: Francis Copeland and wife: Beth; (15) grandchildren; (1) great-grandchild; (3) sisters: Georgia Walker, Sharon Bolin and Cynthia Brannum; (3) brothers: Malcolm Brannum, Delmer ‘Bubby’ Brannum and Jimmy Brannum. Also survived by nieces, nephews, other family members and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents: Delmer and Gladys “Doodie” Brannum; Her Husband: Olen Copeland: (4) sisters: Carol Winningham, Martha ‘Toots’ Thomas, Darlene Davis and Laura Juarez; (2) brothers: David Brannum and Chris Brannum.
