Obituary Report for August 20, 2003
McMinnville resident and Jackson native James William Dempster, 86, died unexpectedly Aug. 16 at Manchester Medical Center.
A graduate of Jackson Central High School in 1936, and a graduate of Freed Hardeman College in 1938, he received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from Vanderbilt in 1941 and opened his first law office for six months in 1941-42 before accepting a position in the TVA legal department from where he would later enter the U.S. infantry during World War II.
He served three-and-a-half years with the U.S. 99th Infantry and after the end of the war in Europe before opening a law office in McMinnville in 1946 where he continued to practice until his death.
He served as General Sessions Judge for Warren County from 1948-58 and had served as McMinnville city attorney since 1974. He chartered numerous utility districts including West Warren-Viola, Centertown, Irving College, Lower Collins, and North Warren, which have merged into the Warren County Utility District. He continued serving as representative for West Warren-Viola and attorney for Big Creek Utility in Grundy County. He was also attorney for Ben Lomand Rural Telephone Cooperative since 1952. He had previously served as chairman of the Legislative and Government Affairs Committees of the National Telephone Cooperative Association and was on the Government Affairs Committee of NTCA.
He was a member and past president of the Rotary Club since 1954. He was the recipient of the McMinnville Evening Exchange Book of Golden Deeds in 1993. He was a member of the American Legion and VFW since 1946 and had served on the Families in Crisis board since 1999. He was also a member of the local, state and national Bar associations, a member of Delta Theta Phi law fraternity, and a member of Central Church of Christ where he served as a deacon and Sunday school teacher for over 40 years.
The son of John A. and Willie Jo Weeks Dempster, he was preceded in death by his wife, Anna Belle Cooke in 1995.
He is survived by his daughter, Jane Ann Dempster of Dallas, Texas; special friend, Betty Hallum of McMinnville; sister-in-law, Jane Thompson of Dallas; nephew, James B. Thompson Jr. of Irving, Texas; several cousins, longtime employees and friends including Rose Mary Lorance, Brenda Wilson and Kay Woodard, along with friends in Washington D.C. and around the country.
Services were held Tuesday at Central Church of Christ with Kirk Brothers, Paul Roberts and Frank Farrar officiating. Burial followed at Gardens of Memory. Memorials may be made to the Warren County Humane Society, Families in Crisis, American Cancer Society and Central Retirement Home.
High Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Aug. 20, 2003
Robert Allen Dees, 61
Morrison resident and Richmond, Ind., native Robert Allen Dees, 61, died Aug. 10 at his home after an extended illness.
A truck driver and a member of Morrison Church of Christ, he served his country in the U.S. Navy during the Vietnam War.
The son of the late Everett and Mary McDowell Dees, he is survived by his wife, Pamela Dees; daughter, Karen McComb of California; sons and daughter-in-law, Benjamin Dees of McMinnville, Rodney and Peggy Piatt of Liberty, Ind.; stepdaughters, Christie Love of Woodbury and Cherrie Moline of Vancouver, Wash.; stepmother, Lyla Dees of McMinnville; brother and sister-in-law, Earl and Barbara Dees of LaVergne; sister, April Rummage of McMinnville; seven grandchildren, one great-grandchild, several nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at a later date.
Love-Cantrell & Cope Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Aug. 20, 2003
Carmon Edwin Mears, 56
Warren County resident and Wayne, Mich., native Carmon Edwin Mears, 56, died Aug. 16 at River Park Hospital after an extended illness.
A member of the Baptist Church, he was the son of Carmon Ray and Lucille Dennis Mears.
He is survived by daughters, Carla Merriman of McMinnville and Sharon Putnam of Smyrna; son, Tim Mears of Woodbury; grandchild, Kellie Merriman of McMinnville; sisters, Patricia Harris, Brenda Page and Teresa Walker, all of McMinnville; and brother, Vernon Mears of McMinnville.
Services were held Tuesday at High’s Chapel with Dick Ross officiating. Burial followed at Ivy Bluff Cemetery.
High Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Aug. 20, 2003
Gary Wayne Elkins Sr., 54
Hawthorne, Fla., resident and Cannon County native Gary Wayne Elkins Sr., 54, died Aug. 17 at his home.
A retired concrete finisher and a member of the Church of Christ, he was the son of the late Raymond and Virginia Eldora Mitchell Elkins; and was preceded in death by sisters, Gail Lawley and Wanda Justice Craddock; and brother, Junior Elkins.
He is survived his wife, Ann Louise Guldin Elkins; sons, Gary Wayne Elkins Jr. and Gregory Elkins, both of Hawthorne, Fla.; grandson, Joshua Elkins; sisters, Mallie Bryson of Woodbury, Shirley Bryson of Readyville and Lyla Dees of McMinnville; brothers, Derwood, Vernon and Lane Elkins, all of McMinnville; several nieces and nephews.
Services will be held at 11 a.m. today at Melrose United Methodist Church in Melrose, Fla., with Rev. Don Dalton officiating. Burial will follow at Eliam Cemetery in Melrose. Moring Funeral Home, 310 State Road 26, in Melrose is in charge of arrangements.
Information courtesy of McMinnville Funeral Home.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Aug. 20, 2003
Nell Ruth Bryan Allison, 76
Gallatin resident Nell Ruth Bryan Allison, 76, died Aug. 17.
The daughter of the late Worth Loyd and Nell Lively Bryan, she was preceded in death by her husband, Howard Allison.
She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, William Bryan and Tracy Allison of Gallatin; daughter and son-in-law, Nancy and David Todd of Milton; grandchildren, Mallory and Bryan Allison and Bryson Dodd; sister and brother-in-law, Evelyn and Thomas Hendrickson of Charlotte, N.C.; nieces, Joy Hendrickson and Vickie Skrabak; and nephew, Tom Hendrickson Jr.
Services will be held at 10 a.m. today at Alexander Funeral Home in Gallatin with Julius Hovean officiating. Burial will follow at 1 p.m. today at Mt. View Cemetery in McMinnville.
Alexander Funeral Home, 584 Nashville Pike, Gallatin, is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Aug. 20, 2003
Susan Lavern Delong, 44
Warren County resident and Imperial Beach, Calif., native Susan Lavern Delong, 44, died unexpectedly Aug. 18 at River Park Hospital.
A homemaker, she was the daughter of Joe and Ruth Lyle of McMinnville; and is survived by her husband, Billy Wayne Delong; son, Timothy David Delong of McMinnville; brothers, Kenny and Theron (Todd) Lyle, both of McMinnville; several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins.
Services will be held at 2 p.m. today at High’s Chapel with burial following at Gardens of Memory. Visitation will be held from 9 a.m. until time of service today at High’s.
High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Aug. 20, 2003
Melvin Wayne Smartt, 63
McMinnville resident and Grundy County native Melvin Wayne Smartt, 63, died Aug. 17 at his home after an extended illness.
An employee of Lentz Nursery and a member of the Church of Christ, he was the son of R.T. and Sammy Faye Northcutt Smartt; and was preceded in death by brothers, Lyndon Ralph, Jimmy and Cecil Smartt; and sisters, Wanda Bouldin and Brenda Smartt.
He is survived by his wife, Carol Smartt; daughters, Carol Tipton and Linda Faye Smartt, both of McMinnville, Amy Moore Poke, and Diane Hernandez of Elkhart, Ind.; sons, Aaron Smartt of Bristol, Joel Smartt of Elkhart, Chris Moore of McMinnville and David Smartt of Manhattan, Kansas who is presently serving in Iraq; five stepchildren, 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; sisters, Donna Hampton and Patricia Campbell, both of Altamont; brothers, Charles A. Smartt of Elkhart, Michael and Nickie Smartt, both of McMinnville.
Services will be held at High’s Funeral Home Thursday at 2 p.m. with Don Hillvok officiating. Burial will follow at Northcutt’s Cove Cemetery. Visitation is today from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.
High Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Aug. 20, 2003
Don Grizzle, 56
Woodbury resident and Cannon County native Don Grizzle, 56, died Aug. 17 at his home after an extended illness.
A Carrier employee and a member of Midway Church of Christ, he served his country in the Vietnam War and received the Purple Heart.
He is survived by his wife, Joyce Fann Grizzle; son, Chris Grizzle of Woodbury; parents, Pauline and Howard Campbell of Woodbury, Armilda Grizzle of Woodbury and the late Clarence Grizzle; brothers, Jackie Grizzle of Manchester, Gail Grizzle of Morrison and Jimmy Grizzle of Woodbury; sisters, Inell Grizzle of Murfreesboro, Marcell Melton, Darlene Whitaker and Racine St. John, all of Woodbury. He was preceded in death by brothers, Ronnie and Gary Neal Grizzle.
Services were held Tuesday at Woodbury Funeral Home with Paul Curless and Odell Powell officiating. Burial followed at Riverside Gardens.
Woodbury Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Aug. 20, 2003
Lossie Brown Pursley, 92
Lossie Brown Pursley, 92, died Aug. 18.
Retired from Standard-Coosa-Thatcher Company after 35 years of service, she had also served as manager of Cheer Haven Home in McMinnville. She was a member of Simpson United Methodist Church where she taught Sunday school, served on various boards, was president of the Women’s Society of Christian Service and was active in mission work. She was also a former member of Newnan Springs United Methodist Church where she served as Women’s Society of Christian Services president and was active in mission work. She was past president of WCTU in Rossville.
She is survived by son and daughter-in-law, G.M. (Speedy) and Daneen Adcock of Rossville; sisters and son-in-law, Pearline and Kenneth Wright of Chattanooga, Nelma Justin of McMinnville and Mary McCulley of Jacksonville, Fla.; three grandchildren and three great-grandchildren
Graveside services were held Tuesday at Faulkners Cemetery in McMinnville. A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m., Aug. 26 at Simpson United Methodist Church in Rossville, Ga. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be sent to the Simpson United Methodist Church Mission Fund at 601 McFarland Avenue, Rossville, Ga. Online condolences may be sent to www.heritagefh.com.
Heritage Funeral Home, 3239 Battlefield Parkway, Ft. Oglethorpe, Ga., is in charge of arrangements.
Southern Standard
(McMinnville, Tenn.) Aug. 20, 2003