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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 are presented by Presley Funeral Home, West Jackson Street in Cookeville.
Obituaries For Thursday, April 25
Anthony Joseph Zmijewski, 26 of Cookeville died Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at his home. The family has chosen cremation and private family services will be held at a later date. He was born February 25, 1993 in Las Vegas, Clark County, Nevada to Stanley and Deborah Ann Olivo Zmijewski of Cookeville. He was a graduate of Cookeville High School. He served as section leader in the drum line in the Cookeville High School Marching Band.
Funeral services for Ottis Lee “Junior” Ransom, Jr. age 92, of Cookeville will be held Friday, April 26th, 2019 at 12:00 pm at Jefferson Avenue Church Of Christ with Clarence Deloach officiating. Interment will follow in Crest Lawn Memorial. The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 25, 2019, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM at Presley Funeral Home, and Friday, April 26, 2019, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM at Jefferson Avenue Church Of Christ prior to the Service. Junior passed away Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at Signature Healthcare of Putnam County in Cookeville, Tennessee. He was born Sunday, June 27, 1926 in Gainesboro, Tennessee to the late Ottis Lee Ransom, Sr. and Mary Magdalene Hensley Ransom.
Funeral services for Larry Everett Draughn, age 57 of Sparta, will be conducted 1:00pm Friday, April 26, 2019 at Bondecroft Baptist Church with burial in Smith Chapel Cemetery. Larry passed away on Wednesday morning April 24, 2019 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. Larry was born August 12, 1951 in Oneida to the late Everett Urias & Eva E. Jones Draughn. He had a work career that spanned from a furniture and appliance salesman to a truck driver. Larry loved working on antique cars and farming. He never met a stranger and was a member of Bondecroft Baptist Church. In addition to his parents, he is also preceded in death by his brother Dwayne Draughn. Survivors include his wife of 40 years Shirley Spivey Draughn; Sons: Allen Draughn, Lewis (Leann) Qualls; Daughters: Angela Draughn, Louisa Qualls; Seven grandchildren; Nine great-grandchildren; Sister: Carol (Jesse) Ellis. The family will receive friends Friday at the church from 11:00am until service time at 1:00pm.
Funeral services for Kennie Chaffin, 68, of Gainesboro, TN, will be held at 2 P.M. on Friday, April 26, 2019, at Anderson – Upper Cumberland Funeral Home in Gainesboro, TN. Burial will follow in the Pharris Cemetery in the McCoinsville community. The family will receive friends on Thursday from 4 P.M. – 8 P.M., and Friday from 10 A.M. until time of services. He passed away on Wednesday, April 24, 2019, at his residence. He was born July 21, 1950, in Gainesboro, TN, to the late Zeb Chaffin and Aline Chaffin. On February 14, 1991, he was married to the late Vivian Faye Chaffin, who passed away February 10, 2015. He was a truck driver, and a member of the Gainesboro First Baptist Church. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to help with funeral expenses by contacting the funeral home.
Funeral services for Vivian Williams, age 78, of Cookeville will be held Friday, April 26th, 2019 at 3:00 pm in the chapel of Presley Funeral Home with Pastor Steve Thornton officiating. Interment will follow in Arlington of Tennessee Cemetery. Vivian passed away Tuesday, April 23, 2019 at Cookeville Regional Medical Center in Cookeville. She was born Saturday, March 22, 1941 in Lakewood, California to the late Gordon Nickell and Neva Spalding Nickell. Vivian will long be remembered as a Godly lady who loved her family, church family and friends. In addition to her parents, Vivian Lenore Williams was preceded in death by her husband, Daley Williams and a sister, Darlene Simmons. She is survived by a daughter, Diana Sabin of Livingston; son, Robert Williams of Bend, Oregon; six grandchildren, Angela Weigand, Anthony Oliva, Andrew Bilbrey, Aaron Williams, Kelly Williams, and Amy Brogans; four great-grandchildren, Addison Oliva, Anthony Oliva, Elijah Brogans, and Peyton Bilbrey; brother, Dale Nickell of Pacific Grove, California. The family will receive friends on Thursday, April 25, 2019, 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM and Friday, April 26, 2019, 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM at Presley Funeral Home.
Funeral services for Mrs. Evelyn Denson, 86, of the Roaring River community of Jackson County, will be held at 2 P.M. on Saturday, April 27, 2019, at Anderson – Upper Cumberland Funeral Home in Gainesboro. Burial will follow in the New Hope Cemetery in the New Hope community. She passed away on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, at her residence. She was born January 25, 1933, in Jackson County, to the late Lattie C. Allen and Lucy E. Allen. On September 20, 1951, she was married to the late Freddie G. Denson, who passed away May 10, 2005. She worked as a supervisor at Georgia Boot Co., and was a member of the Dudneys Hill Church of Christ. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by her Step Father: Jack Trent; 1 Brother: Alton Allen; and 1 Sister: Nadine Chaffin. Survivors include 2 Sons: Kenneth (Mary Belle) Denson of Gainesboro, and Danny (Diane) Denson of Douglasville, GA; 3 Daughters: Kim (Lakelan) Barham of Gainesboro, Pam (Earl, Jr.) Brazle of Lebanon, and Christie Banker of Gainesboro; Caregiver: Linda Fields; Special Friend: Regina Poteet; 6 Grandchildren: Jamie (Misty) Denson, Kelly (Brandy) Denson, Demesa (Bob) McCoy, Danette Johnson, Dana (Matthew) Tucker, and Deanna Denson; and 11 Great Grandchildren: Hailey Denson, Logan Denson, Robert McCoy, Kayleigh Johnson, Rebecca Johnson, Drake Tucker, Marcus Tucker, Kyleigh Maycen; Jason Brazle, Brooklyn Brazle, and Sophia Brazle. The family will receive friends on Friday from 4 P.M. – 8 P.M., and Saturday from 10 A.M. until time of services. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the New Hope Cemetery by contacting the funeral home.
Funeral Services for Mr. Ray Michael Lawson, age 65, of Livingston will be conducted 2 p.m., Saturday, April 27, 2019 from the chapel of Livingston Funeral Home. President David Brandvold will officiate. Burial will follow in the Overton County Memorial Gardens. The family will welcome friends on Friday evening, April 26th from 5 until 7 p.m., then on Saturday from Noon until time of services at the Livingston Funeral Home. Mr. Ray passed from this life on Sunday evening, April 21, 2019 at the Cookeville Regional Hospital. He was born in Akron, Ohio on July 26, 1953 to the late Reed & Millie Crouch Lawson. Ray worked at Tutco for many years. He was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Ray enjoyed playing computer games, reading books, going to church and was a good listener. He loved his wife, children, and grandchildren very much.
Celebration of Life Services for Mr. Thurman M. Edmonds, Jr., age 60, of Overton County will be conducted 2 p.m., Sunday, April 28, 2019 from the Poplar Springs Baptist Church. Bro. Doug Hawkins will officiate. Junior passed from this life on Thursday morning, April 18, 2019 from the Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was born in Putnam County Tennessee on March 20, 1959 to the late Thurman Edmonds, Sr. and Olene Breeding Edmonds. Junior was a member of the Poplar Springs Baptist Church. Junior leaves behind his wife, Sherry Flowers Edmonds of Cookeville; daughters, Melinda Zimmerlee of Portland, TN, and Kaci Hall of Nashville; sons, Jamie Edmonds & wife Gladys of Livingston, Robbie Pennington of Chattanooga, T.J. Hall, and Jordan Conatser both of Cookeville; sisters, Gail Young of Monroe, Wanda Rich & husband Jason of Watertown, and Emma Navarro of Livingston; brother, Glen Edmonds & wife Marilyn of Livingston; grandchildren, Lukas and Chelsy Edmonds, and Colin Zimmerlee; special cousin, Fran Riley. In addition to his parents, Junior was preceded in death by his infant brother, Larry Edmonds, and sister, Brenda Sue Porter. The family will welcome friends at the time of services.
