Obituary Report for February 15, 2004
Centertown resident and DeKalb County native Norman Adron Cantrell, 80, died Feb. 14.
A full-time farmer with considerable knowledge and fondness for horses, a profound love for the land, and a deep respect for the old ways, he was an accomplished whip maker and plaited whips used for farm work for 50 years. During the last decade, he was a highly regarded watermelon farmer.
He also worked over 20 years with Carrier in Morrison as a forklift operator and worked 10 years with the Warren County Sanitation Department, working at Centertown until a few weeks before his death. He served on the USS LST-681 during the invasions of Okinawa Gunto and Lingayan Gulf and participated in the occupation of Japan on the minesweeper USS Ruddy. He was a member of Unity Church of Christ.
The son of Zollie and Shirlie Love Cantrell, he is survived by his wife of 52 years, Hattie Jo Page Cantrell; sons, Brent of Knoxville, Randall and his wife Brenda of Smithville, Jeffery and longtime friend, Shelley of Rock Island; daughter and son-in-law, Carolyn J. and Mark Henry of Centertown; grandchildren and their spouses, Valerie and Tony Smith, Brandy and Grayson Cantrell, Alexander, Natalie and Wesley Hennessee; great-grandchildren, Aaron, Christopher, and Brittany Smith; brothers and sisters-in-law, Reed, Gordon and Jane Ann, Royce and Bennie; sisters and brothers-in-law, Josie Love, Elizabeth Lafever, Gladys and Claude Buck, Rubye Cantrell, Joyce Crosslin, Linda and Baxter Hillis; several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. Monday at McMinnville Funeral Home with Chris Mears officiating. Burial will follow at Unity Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. today and 11 a.m. until time of service Monday at McMinnville Funeral Home.
McMinnville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Feb. 15, 2004
James Aubrey Cooley, 73
McMinnville resident and Warren County native James Aubrey Cooley, 73, died Feb. 13 at River Park Hospital after a brief illness.
A truck driver with Mason-Dixon and a member of the Church of Christ, he was the son of James Martin and Betty Lorne Farless Cooley.
He is survived by his wife, Oma Jean Cooley; daughter and son-in-law, Jane and Wayne Medley of McMinnville; son, Michael Cooley; granddaughter and spouse, Melissa and T.J. Malinoski of Stevenson, Ala.; great-grandson, Morgen Malinoski of Stevenson; and sister, Billie Roller of McMinnville.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. Monday at High’s Chapel with Gary Newby officiating. Burial will follow at Smyrna Cemetery. Visitation will be held from noon to 9 p.m. today and 9 a.m. until time of service Monday at High’s.
High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Feb. 15, 2004
Lillie Mae Merrell, 100
McMinnville resident and Columbia, N.C., native Lillie Mae Merrell, 100, died Feb. 13 at River Park Hospital.
A homemaker and a member of the Church of God, she was the daughter of the late William Gilbert and Virginia Dare Liverman Owens; and was preceded in death by her husband, Chester Lee Merrell; sisters, Cadie Virginia Dunbar, Mary Annie Cahoon, Margie Sarah Squyars and Nancy Alice Blanch Copper; brother, Gilbert Lee Owens; daughter, Mavin Edna Davis; and son, William Sherman Roughton.
She is survived by daughters and sons-in-law, Ida and Clay Franklin Hale, Lota and Rodney Aho, all of McMinnville; six grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and 13 great-great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at McMinnville Funeral Home with Shilia and Danny Hale officiating. Burial will follow at Old Bybee’s Chapel Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until time of service today at McMinnville Funeral Home.
McMinnville Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Feb. 15, 2004
Odie William Brock, 85
McMinnville resident and Sparta native Odie William Brock, 85, died Feb. 14 at Raintree Manor after an extended illness.
A Genesco employee and a member of the Church of Christ, he served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II.
The son of Alex Lee and Ova Jane Cope Brock, he was preceded in death by his wife, Bessie Lou Brock in 2000; brothers, Roy L., Ray, and Dewey (Dink) Brock; and sisters, Lillie Mae Carter and Bonita Pointer.
He is survived by sister, Oleda Webb of Donelson; and sisters-in-law, Agnes Brock and Ina Lee Embry, both of McMinnville.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. today at Riverside Cemetery with Jeff Johnson officiating.
High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Feb. 15, 2004
Jack I. Kassees, 63
Statesboro, Ga., resident and Ramallah native Jack I. Kassees, 63, died Feb. 13 after a brief illness.
A plant manager with Robbins Meat Processing, he was a member of St. Matthews Catholic Church in Statesboro and the Knights of Columbus for over 35 years.
The son of the late Isjander and Mariam Kassees, he is survived by his wife of 37 years, Shirley Jean McBride Kassees; sons and daughter-in-law, Michael and Angela Kassees of Murfreesboro, and Matthew Kassees of Statesboro; grandchildren, Robert and Kaitlyn Kassees of Murfreesboro; brother, Antone Kassees of Ramallah; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Jessie Lee and Mary McBride of McMinnville.
Services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday at High’s Chapel with Father Jim Bretl officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. Zion Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 9 p.m. today, 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday and 8 a.m. until time of service Tuesday at High’s.
High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Feb. 15, 2004
James Albert Rollins, 72
Murfreesboro resident and White County native James Albert Rollins, 72, died Feb. 13 at Middle Tennessee Medical Center.
A retired employee of Lewis Brothers Bakery and IGA Foods and a member of Southeast Baptist Church, he served his country in the U.S. Army during the Korean War.
The son of the late James Franklin and Lula Fuqua Rollins, he is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen Felton Rollins; son, Tony L. Rollins of Murfreesboro; daughter, Theresa Rollins Bowling of Murfreesboro; sisters, Mary Cantrell, Janie Barnes and Kathy Hudson, all of McMinnville, and Juanita Jones of Nashville; five grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. Monday at Jennings & Ayers Funeral Home in Murfreesboro with Rev. Jim Powers officiating. Burial will follow at Evergreen Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 4 to 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Jennings & Ayers Funeral Home of Murfreesboro is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Feb. 15, 2004
Grover Raymond Verplank, 81
McMinnville resident and Hobart, Ind., native Grover Raymond Verplank, 81, died Feb. 13 at VA Medical Center in Nashville after an extended illness.
A retired lab technician with Dixie Dairy of Gary, Ind., and a member of Warren Lodge F&AM and the Methodist Church, he served his country in the U.S. Army during World War II.
The son of John and Victoria Allyne Verplank Sr., he was preceded in death by his wife, Margaret Dorothy Danyi in 1993.
He is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, Tom and Peggy Verplank of McMinnville, David and Linda Verplank of Lebanon and Scott Verplank of Florida; and eight grandchildren.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at High’s Chapel with burial following at Gardens of Memory. Masonic services were held Saturday evening. Visitation will be held from 10 a.m. until time of service today at High’s. 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. 15, 2004
Eugenia Hardcastle Beasley, 86
Murfreesboro resident and Warren County native Eugenia Hardcastle Beasley, 86, died Feb. 12 at Middle Tennessee Medical Center.
A graduate of East High School in Nashville and a member of Kingwood Heights Church of Christ, she was the daughter of Samuel and Pauline Denby Hardcastle; and was preceded in death by her husband, John Lee Beasley in 1982.
She is survived by sons and daughters-in-law, John and Valery Beasley of Check, Va., Mark W. and Rebecca Beasley of Murfreesboro; daughter and son-in-law, Paula and Kenneth Hughes of Murfreesboro; sisters, Frances Hardcastle of Nashville and Josephine Gleaves of Huntsville, Ala.; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were held Saturday at Evergreen Cemetery with Charles Mullins and Tony Holt officiating.
Woodfin Funeral Home of Murfreesboro was in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Feb. 15, 2004