Obituary Report for February 13, 2004
Rock Island resident and Bledsoe County native Otis Odell (Odie) Dykes, 90, died Feb. 10 at River Park Hospital after a seven-day illness.
A retired employee of Burroughs-Ross-Colville and a member of Campaign Church of Christ, he was the son of James A. and Mary Elizabeth Martin Dykes.
He is survived by his wife of 71 years, Josie Jones Dykes; daughter and son-in-law, Dorothy and Leonard Mayfield of Rock Island; son and daughter-in-law, Harold and Hassie Dykes of McMinnville; grandchildren, Barbara and Henry Wagoner of McMinnville, Lisa and Doyle Boyd of Rock Island, Gary and Karen Dykes of Harrison; great-grandchildren, Steve and Denise Mayfield, Roger Wagoner, Michael and Kellie Boyd, all of Rock Island, Phillip and Carrie Boyd of Bone Cave; great-great-grandchildren, Brittany Mayfield of Rock Island and Caleb Boyd of Bone Cave; and special friends, Cendy Miller and Barbara Pearsall.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Campaign Church of Christ with James A. Rice officiating. Burial will follow at Crain Hill Cemetery in Van Buren County. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. today at High’s.
High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Feb. 13, 2004
O.C. Panter, 80
McMinnville resident and Warren County native O.C. Panter, 80, died Feb. 11 at Veteran’s Hospital in Nashville after a brief illness.
A barber with Spring Street Barbershop, a retired sole layer with Genesco and a member of Mt. Leo Church of Christ, he served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II.
The son of Marion and Myrtle Christian Panter, he was preceded in death by son, Steve Panter; brothers, Aud, Dub and Jack Panter; and sister, Jadie Clendenon.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Evelyn Panter; sons and daughters-in-law, Jason and Angie Panter of Olive Branch, Ms., Chris Panter of Woodbury and Roger Panter of Bone Cave; four grandchildren and one great-grandchild; sisters, Wilma Powers and Wavie Stacey, both of McMinnville and Pearl Boyd of Dayton, Ohio; several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. today at Mt. Leo Church of Christ with Lane Dix, Stan Stevenson and Larry Stanley officiating. Burial will follow at Smyrna Cemetery with military graveside rites administered by VFW Post 5064 and American Legion Post 173. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. today at High’s.
High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Feb. 13, 2004
Fannie Neal Simmons, 85
McMinnville resident and Coffee County native Fannie Neal Simmons, 85, died Feb. 11 at Middle Tennessee Medical Center in Murfreesboro after a lingering illness.
A homemaker and a member of the Baptist Church, she was the daughter of Joe and Euna Pratt Reed; and was preceded in death by her husband, James Robert Simmons in 2003; sons, Virgil Simmons in 2003, Burell and Earl Simmons.
She is survived by daughter, Geneva Rollings of McMinnville; four grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one great-grandchild; brothers, Huston Reed and Everett Reed, both of Hillsboro; one sister in California; several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 3 p.m. Saturday at High’s Chapel with Bobby Muncey officiating. Burial will follow at Smyrna Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1:30 to 9 p.m. today and 8 a.m. until time of service Saturday at High’s.
High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Feb. 13, 2004
Emma Frances Comer Thaxton, 89
McMinnville resident and Warren County native Emma Frances Comer Thaxton, 89, died Feb. 11 at Life Care Center in Sparta.
A homemaker and a member of First United Methodist Church in McMinnville, she was former co-superintendant of the Elizabeth J. Magness Home for the Aged, a former Cub Scout den leader, former president of the city-wide PTA organization, former president of the United Methodist Women, a former Sunday School teacher, and a member of the Ladies Bible Class of First United Methodist Church.
She was the daughter of the late Harris L. and Viola Summers Comer; and was preceded in death by her husband, Thomas B. Thaxton Sr.; sisters, Ruth Comer Horton and Elise Comer; and brothers, Reeves Comer, E.L. Comer and Ray Comer.
She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Juliette Thaxton and James H. McBride of Tullahoma; Emma Lena Thaxton and Larry W. Ferguson of St. Augustine, Fla.; sons and daughters-in-law, Thomas B. and Dianna Thaxton Jr. of McMinnville, George Harris and Ginny Thaxton of Charleston, S.C.; grandchildren, Brian Thaxton of Charlotte, N.C., Mikell Thaxton of Charleston, S.C., Beth Swafford of Cookeville, Shawn McBride, Shannon Smith, and Suzanne Stephens, all of Tullahoma; and seven great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at McMinnville First United Methodist Church with Rev. Robert H. Case officiating. Burial will follow at Bascom Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 1 p.m. until time of service today at First United Methodist Church. Memorial contributions may be made to First United Methodist Church, 200 West Main Street, McMinnville.
McMinnville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Feb. 13, 2004
Ruth Walker Tate, 63
Altamont resident Ruth Walker Tate, 63, died Feb. 11 at her home.
A member of the Church of Christ, she was the daughter of the late Charles and Lillian Smartt Walker; and was preceded in death by sisters, Mayna Fults, Shirley Campbell, Jean Hobbs and Glenda Walker; and brother, Glen Walker.
She is survived by her husband, Thurman Tate; daughters, Michelle Brady, Darlene Hubbard and Donna Hale; sons, Chris, Darrell and Kenny Tate; sisters, Judy Webster and Cindy Tate; brothers, Dwight, Billy, Jimmy, Clarence and Charles A. Walker; 13 grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. today at Altamont Church of Christ with Joe Gray and Ray Winton officiating. Burial will follow at Altamont City Cemetery.
Layne Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Feb. 13, 2004
James Wiley Basham, 82
McMinnville resident and Warren County native James Wiley Basham, 82, died unexpectedly Feb. 7 at Clear Lake Medical Center in Webster, Texas.
A retired employee of the Budd Company and a U.S. Navy veteran of World War II, he was the son of Marshall and Clara Duke Basham.
He is survived by his wife, Lula Martin Basham of Willoughby, Ohio; sons, James Basham of Waldoboro, Maine, and Barney Basham of Perksaie, Pa.; five grandchildren, Kim Scott, Kelly, Tina, Jamie and Phillip Basham; and great-grandchild, Hannah Wade of Maine; sisters, Melvina Tood and Irene Black, both of McMinnville; brothers, Billy Basham of McMinnville and Allen Basham of Michigan; several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 9:30 a.m. today at High’s Chapel with burial following at Gunter-Grizzell Cemetery in Cannon County. Military graveside rites will be administered by VFW Post 5064 and American Legion Post 173.
High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Feb. 13, 2004
Norman R. LaForce, 75
Oak Hill, Fla., resident and Appalachia, Va., native Norman R. LaForce, 75, died Feb. 10 at New Smyrna Beach, Fla.
The co-owner of Peggy’s Country Kitchen, he was the son of the late Piney B. and Martha LaForce.
He is survived by his wife, Peggy J. LaForce; sons, Robert LaForce of Baltimore, Md., Richard LaForce of Perry, Ohio, Jim LaForce of Kalamath Falls, Ore., Kenneth LaForce and Mike Titchenell, both of Painesville, Ohio; daughters, Gayle Frank of Klamath Falls, Ore., and Carol Corral of SanLeandro, Calif.; sisters, Dell Hassett of Paradise, Calif., Jean Adams of Pensacola, Fla., Lucille Schwentker of Oak Hill, Fla., and Barbara Plauck of Carpenterville, Ill.; 14 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday at Love-Cantrell & Cope Funeral Home Spencer Chapel with Rev. Carl Gallion officiating. Burial will follow at Town Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 5 to 8 p.m. today at the Spencer Chapel.
Love-Cantrell & Cope Funeral Home Spencer Chapel is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Feb. 13, 2004