Van Buren County Obituaries

Sparta resident and Van Buren County native Carl Ray Davis, 74, died May 22. A retired pattern maker at Spartans, a contractor and builder, and a member of the Methodist Church, he was the son of Carroll and __ola Haston Davis. He is survived by his wife, Faye Shockley Davis; two daughters and sons-in-law, Evelyn and Glen Jared of Murfreesboro, and Shirley and Vaughn Seegraves of Lewisburg; three brothers, W.C. and Robert Davis, both of Spencer, and Ernet Davis of Nashville; one sister, Willene Haston of Spencer; and four grandchildren, Monica and Meagan Jared, Justin and Ben Seegraves. Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Hunter Funeral Home with Dewey Howard officiating. Burial will follow at Highland Cemetery. Hunter Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

24-Year Old Killed In Car Crash Saturday
Melton Eugene Davis, 24-year-old Van Buren county native, died instantly early Saturday morning when the automobile which he was driving crashed into a concrete bridge on Highway 55, 2 miles south of Morrison. The accident occurred about 2 a.m. Young Davis, an employee of an Indianapolis, Ind., parts manufacturing concern for the past three years, was returning to the home of his mother, Mrs. Elva Yates Davis, at Bone Cave, from Manchester at the time of the accident. He had been at home from Indiana for a few days on vacation. Besides his parents, he is survived by a brother, Cpl. Donald Davis, Ft. Hood, Texas, and one sister, Mrs. Thruston Cunningham, Indianapolis, Ind. Funeral services were held Monday afternoon at 2 o’clock at McElroy Church of Christ. J.R. Redden officiated and burial was in McElroy cemetery.

Rock Island resident and Van Buren County native H.G. Deaton, 72, died Jan. 25 at his home after an extended illness. A retired ranger with Rock Island State Park, a charter member of the Rock Island Lions Club, a U.S. Army veteran of World War II and a member of the Church of God, he was the son of Claude E. and Nora McBride Deaton. He is survived by his wife, Janiette Yates Deaton; daughter, Doris Rae Dryden of Murfreesboro; grandsons, Jason Michael and John Matthew Dryden, both of Murfreesboro; granddaughter, Tammy Dryden of Murfreesboro; great-granddaughter, Dixie Jane Dryden of Murfreesboro; brothers, Clarence and Elmer Deaton, both of Rock Island and Doug Deaton of McMinnville; and sisters, Velma Elrod of Rome, Ga., Viva Moore and John Ann Grissom, both of Rock Island, Amolene Dobbins of Aliquippa, Pa., Maxine Roberts of Ware Sholes, S.C., and Sue Palombo of McMinnville. Services were held Friday at High's Chapel with Steve Breedlove and Rev. Winfred Phillips officiating. Burial followed at McElroy Cemetery in Van Buren County with military graveside rites administered by VFW Post 5064 and American Legion Post 173. High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Funeral Monday For Pfc. Delon, Killed In Korea
The remains of Pfc. Howard E. Delon, Van Buren county soldier killed while fighting with the Third Infantry Division in Korea, is scheduled to arrive at Tullahoma tomorrow (Saturday) at 12:55 o'clock. High Funeral Home will meet the body and bring it here for reburial with funeral services scheduled for Monday morning. The rites will be conducted at Mt. Elam Baptist church at 10 o'clock Monday morning with Rev. Creed McCoy, pastor of Euclid Avenue Baptist Church, Knoxville, officiating. Burial will be in Long cemetery. Pfc. Delon, son of Mr. and Mrs. Elbert Delon of the Ceder Grove community, Van Buren county, was killed in action November 23. He had been a member of the Third Infantry's fighting force since his assignment to Korea in July. Born in Van Buren county, March 31, 1929, the soldier entered the service January 15, 1951, Pfc. Delon received basic training at Camp Breckenridge, Ky., with the famed 101st Airborne Division. He sailed for overseas duty July 5 and was given a combat assignment immediately upon his arrival in the Far East. Besides his parents, the soldier is survived by one brother, Cpl. Carl W. Delon, now stationed at Lake Charles, La., Air Force Base, and a sister, Mrs. Tom Argo of Spencer. Also his paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Lucian Delon, Spencer.

Spencer resident and Van Buren County native William Burton Delong, 68, died May 21 at Centennial Medical Center after a three-day illness. A bus driver for Van Buren schools for 29 years and affiliated with Burton Wrecker Service, he served his country in the Korean War. He was a member of the Baptist Church. A son of the late George Leyton and Dema Esta McCoy Delong, he is survived by his wife, Royce Jean Delong; three sons, William Delong and Royce Edward Delong, both of Dunlap, and Teddy Eugene Delong of Cookeville; one sister, Thelma Martin of Spencer; one brother-in-law, Rayburn Martin of Spencer; four grandchildren and three step-grand- children. Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Love-Cantrell & Cope Funeral Home Spencer Chapel with Lofton Graves officiating. Burial will follow at Long Cemetery. Love-Cantrell & Cope Funeral Home Spencer Chapel is in charge of arrangements.

Spencer resident and Van Buren County native William Thorson Drake, 76, died Jan. 10 at Tennessee Veterans Home in Murfreesboro after an extended illness. A retired supervisor with the Tennessee Forestry Division and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, he was the son of William Brian and Mary Jane Hillis Drake; and was preceded in death by his first wife, Grace Hitchcock Drake in 1987. He is survived by his wife, Antha Drake; daughters, Peggy Bayless and Sherry Crain, both of Spencer; sons, William Morris Drake of Franklin and Wayne Drake of Spencer; brother, James Edward Drake of Detroit, Mich.; step-sons, Danny and Eddie Hodge, both of Spencer; step-daughters, Donna Boles of Sparta, Reba Childers of Spencer, and Rachel Owensby of Dunlap; 10 grandchildren and seven step-grandchildren. Services were held Thursday at High's Chapel with Gene Brock officiating. Burial followed at Long Cemetery in Van Buren County with military graveside rites administered by VFW Post 5064 and American Legion Post 173. Donations may be made to the Tennessee Veterans Home in Murfreesboro. High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Robert Lonzo Dunn, 73, of Sparta passed away Thursday, March 1, 2001. Dunn was born March 19, 1927, in Putnam County, the son of Evans Monroe and Edith Steele Dunn. He was retired from Red Cap. Services were Saturday, March 3, 2001, in Doyle Church of Christ with burial in Doyle Cemetery. Bobby Wilhite officiated. Dunn was preceded in death by a sister, Rosell Brock, and two sons, Dennis Earl and Robert Evans. Survivors include his wife, Geraldine Dunn of Sparta; a daughter, Patricia Cunningham of Sparta; two granddaughters, Tracey Pineda of Cookeville; Tabitha Williamson of Sparta; three brothers, Willie L. Dunn of Sparta; Loyd Dunn of Sparta; Kenny Dunn of Quebeck; two great-grandchildren, Alexandra and Jacob; and step-mother, Sallie Dunn of Sparta. Hunter Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Spencer resident and Clinton, Ark., native Pearl M. Etter, 97, died Feb. 6 at Generations Center in Spencer. A homemaker, a member of the Assembly of God, and a foster parent, she and her husband served as foster parents in both Ohio and Arkansas where they raised 43 handicapped children during their lifetimes. The daughter of William and Dovie Manus, she was preceded in death by her husband, Leslie Etter in 1972; and daughter, Eva Butler in 1998. She is survived by daughter and son-in-law, Dorothy and Roland Creekmore of Spencer; son and daughter-in-law, MGen Robert and Kay Etter of Naples, Fla.; grandchildren, Ioane Williams, Myrtle Campbell and Junior Butler, all of Cincinnati, Ohio, Pam Mason of Fresno, Calif., Donna Davis of Amarillo, Texas, Mark Creekmore of Gallatin, Staci Hatmaker of Philadelphia, and Leslie Pack of Spencer; 14 great-grandchildren, 21 great-great- grand- children and one great-great-great-grandchild. Services were held Tuesday at Love-Cantrell & Cope Funeral Home Spencer Chapel with Jeff Worrix officiating. Arkansas services will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Roller-McNutt Funeral Home in Clinton, Ark., with Randy Cunningham officiating. Burial will follow at Hunter Hill Cemetery in Clinton. Love-Cantrell & Cope Funeral Home Spencer Chapel was in charge of local arrangements.

Rosa Lee Dodson Austin Evans, 85, of Sanford, FL, passed away Tuesday, June 12, 2001. Evans was born August 26, 1915, the daughter of Marvin and Alice Donaldson Dodson. She was a homemaker and attended the Church of God. Services were Saturday, June 16, 2001, in Thurman Funeral Home with burial in Old Union Cemetery. Brother Howard Thomason officiated. Survivors include two sisters, Edith Whitmeyer of FL; Jeannie Brock of Sparta; Several nieces and nephews. Thurman Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

McMinnville resident and Van Buren County native Barbara Ann Ferrell, 56, died unexpectedly March 23 at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville. A homemaker and a member of the Church of God, she was the daughter of the late Ray and Mona Johnson Steakley. She is survived by her husband, Harold Ferrell Sr.; son, Harold Ferrell Jr. of McMinnville; brothers, Ernest Steakley of Viola, Murell Steakley of Campaign, Gary Steakley of Rock Island and Ronald Steakley of Spencer; several uncles, aunts, nieces, nephews and cousins. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at McMinnville Funeral Home Chapel with Jackie Matheny officiating. Burial will follow at Friendship Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 8 a.m. until time of service Saturday at McMinnville Funeral Home. Memorial donations may be made to the DARE program. McMinnville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Campaign resident and Van Buren County native Louella Moore Freeman, 83, died Jan. 28 at NHC Healthcare after a one-week illness. A homemaker and a member of the Church of God, she was the daughter of James and Lillie Mae Underwood Moore. She was preceded in death by her first husband, Tommie Goodson; her second husband, Austin Freeman; daughters, Mae Wright and Pearlene Campbell and 10 brothers and sisters. She is survived by daughter, Mildred Rogers of McMinnville; son, Thomas Goodson of Grandview; sister, Vergie Miller of Campaign; 15 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren. Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at High's Chapel with Vernon Caruthers officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery. Visitation begins at 11 a.m. today and 8 a.m. Monday at High's. High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Della Chandler Fielder, 42, died at 1:00 am Tuesday at Faulkner Springs Hospital following a long illness. Funeral services will be held at 11:00 am Thursday at McElroy Church of Christ in Van Buren County. The Rev. H. Curtis Erwin will officiate. Burial will be in the church cemetery. A native of Van Buren County, Mrs. Fielder was the daughter of the late Dow and Mattie Davis Chandler. Survivors include one son, Jackie Lee Fielder, McMinnville, three sisters, Mrs. O.H. Wiggington of Walling; Mrs. Jim Breedlove, Painesville, Ohio, Mrs. L.D. Sparkman, Doyle; six brothers, Bascom Chandler, Cleveland, Ohio; Walter Chandler, Pure Point, Ohio; Andrew Chandler, Painesville, Ohio; Arnold, Quinton, and Conard Chandler of Doyle.

Chattanooga Times, Chattanooga, TN Nov 5, 1958
[Contributor: Jennifer Gilliam, 2004]

FUQUA, Ruby Gladys (1917-2001)

Ruby Gladys Fuqua, 83, of Rock Island passed away Tuesday, March 6, 2001. Fuqua was born October 19, 1917, in White County, the daughter of Sylvester Southard and Ollie Bryant. She was a member of the Church of God and a homemaker. Services were Thursday, March 8, 2001, in High Funeral Home Chapel with burial in Shellsford Cemetery. Steve Breedlove officiated. Fuqua was preceded in death by Billy Southard, Agnes Davis, Martha Threet and a grandson, Jason Buckner. Survivors include two daughters, Shirley McCormick of Rock Island; Anna Sue Cutts of Nashville; four grandchildren, Tim Buckner, Kevin McCormick, Lynn McCormick, Amanda McCormick, a sister, Hattie Bates of McMinnville; two great-grandchildren, Kristan Buckner and Dakota McCormick. High Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements.

Mountain View, Spencer, TN. Friday, 9 Mar 2001, p. 2.
[Contributor: L.J. Hunter, 2001]

Van Buren County, Tennessee

OBITUARIES

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In Alphabetical Order by Surname

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