Obituaries in Tullahoma News TN

PORTER, Dorothy “Dot” C., of Tullahoma, passed this life on Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, at her residence in Tullahoma at the age of 86. She was employed for many years as order librarian at Rhodes College in Memphis and as associate director of library at Clemson University in Clemson, S.C. She was a member of First United Methodist Church of Tullahoma, Shady Grove Garden Club, Heirloom Quilters Guild, the Tullahoma Fine Arts Center, and the Tennessee Watercolor Society. Upon retirement, she pursued interests in watercolors and art quilts. Dot was proud of the needlepoint she had done with members of First United Methodist Church to interpret designs she had created for the altar kneelers at the church. Her paintings won awards in group art shows, and she had a one-artist show at the Tullahoma Fine Arts Center. Her art quilts have been included in the Huston International Quilt Festival and the American Quilters Society Nashville Quilt Show, as well as in several publications. She was preceded in death by her parents, Aileen Quinn and William Richard Chauncey; and one brother, William Richard Chauncey Jr. She is survived by one son, William Richard Porter and wife Luanne, Fort Denaud, Fla.; two daughters, Beth Johnson and husband Nicholas, Houston, Texas, and Jeanette Kiech and husband Earl, Tullahoma; one brother, George Austin Chauncey and wife Barbee, Bethesda, Md.; five grandchildren, Kevin Johnson, Bill Porter, Virginia Porter, Anthony Kiech, and Jennifer Kiech; two step-grand-grandchildren, Brett Blanch- ard and Lori Sarge; three great-grandchildren, Madison, Daniel, and Rebecca; and four step-great-grandchildren, Blair, Natalie, Connor, and Carter. Visitation will be held from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, at Kilgore Funeral Home. A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. Friday, Sept. 3, at First United Methodist Church in Tullahoma with Rev. John Bell officiating. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests that donations be made to a charity of one’s choice. Among Dot’s favorite organizations were First United Methodist Church, Hospice Compassus, and the Tullahoma Fine Arts Center. Kilgore Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. www.kilgorefuneralhometullahoma.com

GRANT, Ulysses S. “Billy,” 76, of Estill Springs, formerly of Tullahoma, departed this life on Friday, Aug. 27, 2010, after an extended battle with lung cancer. He was born on Sept. 1, 1933, in Tullahoma to the late William David “Crockett” Grant and Amie Ollie Grant. Mr. Grant was employed for many years at Ernest Tucker’s Service Station. He was last employed at Batesville Casket Company in Manchester as a welder for 27 years before retiring. He was a member of the Victory Baptist Church in Tullahoma and also a U.S. Army veteran, serving two terms. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Lucille Wein and Margie Sanders; and five brothers, William Lawrence Grant, Ray Arthur Grant, Comer Grant, Erskine Grant, and Rudolph Grant. He is survived by his wife, Alice Goodwin Grant, Estill Springs; sons, Scott Grant and Christopher Grant, both of Decherd; daughters, Diane (Rickey) Riddle, Manchester, and Sue Ann Sellers, Murfreesboro; sister, Catherine Branch, Tullahoma; grandchildren, Al-anis Grant, Chad (Vanessa) Riddle, Michigan, Dusty (Laura) Riddle, Manchester, and Jessica Dalton, Cleveland, Tenn., and several nieces and nephews. Services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31, with Bro. Jack Lambert officiating. Interment was in Mt. Garner Cemetery in Decherd with military honors. Online condolences may be sent to grantfuneralservices.net. Grant Funeral Services, Estill Springs, in charge of arrangements.

JONES, Darlene Mae Oneth, died Monday, Aug. 30, 2010, in Tullahoma. She was born in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1942 to Earl and Mae Oneth and moved to Tennessee in 1976. She was a 25-year breast cancer survivor and a strong advocate of charitable causes in support of children and women throughout her life. She was predeceased by her son, Garry Todd Jones, and her parents. She is survived by her daughters, Jody Jones, Iowa City, Iowa, and Julie Cottrell, Tullahoma; her twin sister, Arlene Gaule, Iowa City, Iowa; two older sisters, Pat Racek, Alleman, Iowa, and Joyce Samo, West Des Moines, Iowa; two grandsons, Caleb and Jack Cottrell; and her former husband, Gene Jones, Chattanooga. A memorial service will be held at 3 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, at Hixson United Methodist Church at 5301 Old Hixson Pike in Hixson. A second service will be held at noon Saturday, Sept. 4, at Hamilton’s Funeral Home at 121 NW 60th Ave. in Des Moines, Iowa with a visitation prior to the service at 11 a.m. A brief graveside service will follow at Warren-Powers Cemetery in Runnels, Iowa. In lieu of flowers, her daughters ask that donations be sent to Susan G. Komen for the Cure or St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. Kilgore Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

www.kilgorefuneralhometullahoma.com

SOMOYA, William, 65, of Estill Springs, departed this life on Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010, at his residence. Mr. Somoya was born in Canada to Hungarian parents, Joe and Elizabeth Siptock Somoya, who moved to Canada before William was born. They later relocated to Las Vegas, Nev. Because of his parents’ ability to speak several different languages Mr. Somoya also was very fluent in many different languages. He served two terms in the Army and was in Special Forces in Vietnam. After leaving the service he was recruited by the CIA due to his ability to speak many languages. He later was self-employed in the field of masonry for almost 40 years. He was disabled for the last few years of his life due to coming in contact with Agent Orange while serving his country in Vietnam. He is survived by his wife, Sally Somoya, Estill Springs; brother, John Somoya, Alberta, Canada; two nephews and one niece. It was Mr. Somoya’s request that he be cremated. No services are scheduled at this time. Online condolences may be sent to grantfuneralservices.net. Grant Funeral Services, Estill Springs, in charge of arrangements.

MEDLEY, Doris Jarrell, 84, of Manchester, died Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010, at Sunnington Senior Care in Murfreesboro. A native of the Shady Grove community, she was a homemaker and wife of the late L.W. “Bill” Medley. Services will be held at 10 a.m. today, Sept. 1, at Coffee County Funeral Chapel with burial in Shady Grove Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorial contributions be made to the Alzheimer’s Association, 201 W. Lincoln St., Tullahoma, Tenn. 37388. Coffee County Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements.

STEIL, George Harwood, II, 70, passed away on Aug. 28, 2010. A native of Detroit, Mich., he had lived in Middle Tennessee, including the Times Ford Lake area, for 25 years. He was retired from John Deere and Wright Industries. He was a member of the Catholic Church and a 3rd Degree Knight. George enjoyed living at the lake and golfing in his retirement years. He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Marie Steil, parents; George Harwood and Rita Steil, brother, Gordon Steil, and sister, Pamela Marie Steil. He is survived by his son, George Harwood Steil III, Madison, Ala.; daughters, Catherine Marie Stark, Jackson, Ga., and Christine Ann Burns, Murfreesboro; brother, Michael Steil, Detroit, and six 6 grandchildren. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network pancan.org. Visitation with the family will be from 4 tol 8 p.m today, Sept. 1, at Jennings & Ayers Funeral Home, Murfreesboro. A church service will be 11 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 2, at St. Rose of Lima with Father Mark Sappenfield officiating. Jennings & Ayers, 820 S. Church St., Murfreesboro, in charge of arrangements.

MASON, John Boyd Sr., 86, of Tullahoma, passed away Thursday, Aug. 26, 2010, at Harton Regional Medical Center after an extended illness. He was a retired instrument technician at AEDC and a veteran of World War II and the Korean War. He was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross after flying 32 missions over Germany as a tail gunner. He was also awarded the European Theatre Medal, Air Medal, National Defense Medal, and the American Campaign Medal. Mr. Mason was also inducted into the Greeneville High School Sports Hall of Fame and he was a member of the First United Methodist Church in Tullahoma. He was born in Greeneville to the late David P. and Bonnie Gosnold Mason. He is survived by his wife, Irene Cox Mason; one son, John B. (Karen) Mason Jr., Tullahoma; one daughter, Dyanne (Bill) Moore, Mooresville, Ala.; one sister, June Gass, Kingsport; three grandchildren, Laurel Moore (Martin) Bennett, Nashville; Brook Mason (Alise) Moore, Spring Hill, and Melissa Moore (Danny) Verdin, Alabaster, Ala.; and four great-grandchildren, Amelia Verdin, Livia Bennett, Morgan Bennett, and Sophie Verdin. Funeral services were conducted at 10 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 28, at the First United Methodist Church with Rev. John Bell and Rev. Mark Ashley officiating. Burial was in Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. For those who wish to make memorial donations, the family suggests the American Cancer Society. Online condolences may be left for the family at www.tullahomafuneralhome.com. Tullahoma Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

SWEETEN, Paul 67, of Tullahoma, died Sunday, Aug. 29, 2010, at Harton Regional Medical Center. He was a self-employed contractor and was the husband of Linda Sweeten. Funeral services were conducted at 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31, at Moore-Cortner Chapel with interment in Mt. Garner Cemetery. Moore-Cortner Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

JERNIGAN, May Helen Gunter, 79, of Wartrace, died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, at her residence. A native of Cannon County, she was retired after 21 years at the Burrough’s Corporation. She also was a homemaker and convenience market employee and was the wife of the late Robert Leon “Bob” Jernigan. Services will be held at 1 p.m. today, Sept. 1, at Coffee County Funeral Chapel. Memorial contributions may be made to The Dream Foundation, 1528 Chapala St., Ste. 304, Santa Barbara, Calif. 93101. Coffee County Funeral Chapel in charge of arrangements.

FINNEY, Wanda Lee Hill, 79, of Decherd, died Sunday, Aug. 29, at her home. A native of Hillsboro, she was an artist, a horticulturist, a schoolteacher and a beautician and was the wife of Elroy Finney. Funeral services will be at 1 p.m. today, Sept. 1, at Moore-Cortner Chapel with interment in Gum Creek Cemetery. Moore-Cortner Funeral Home in charge of arranfements.

BENSON, Addie Mae Florence Smith, 80, of Huntland, died Friday, Aug. 27, 2010, at her home. A native of Huntland, she had been employed by Amana Corporation for many years and was the wife of the late Leonard Clyde Benson. Funeral services were held at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 30, at Moore-Cortner Chapel with interment in Moore Memorial Cemetery, Huntlland. Moore-Cortner Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

MILLER, Donald Parker, 72, of Estill Springs, died Saturday, Aug. 28, 2010, at his residence. He was a retired chief master sergeant in the U.S. Air Force and was he husband of Wendy Miller. Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 31, at Moore-Cortner Chapel with interment at Franklin Memorial Gardens. Moore-Cortner Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

ADAMS, Mary Pearl, 61, of Tullahoma, died Monday, Aug. 30, 2010, at her home. She was born April 13, 1949, in Winchester, the daughter of the late Floyd and Bernice Taylor Mears. Surviving are a son, Clyde Lee (Mary) Melson, Tullahoma; two daughters, Robbie (Robert) Reed and Bobbie Ballenger, both of Winchester; brother, Leonard Mears, Tullahoma; sisters, Dora Jacks and Dorothy Melson, both of Decherd; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren; and special friend, Danny Taylor. Funeral services will be held at 3:30 p.m. today, Sept. 1, at Moore-Cortner Chapel with interment in Mt. Garner Cemetery, Decherd. Moore-Cortner Funeral Home in charge of arrangements. www.moorecortner.com

YATES, James “Jimmy” Virgil, 56, of Tullahoma, died Friday, Aug. 27 in Manchester. He worked for A.T.A. as a crane and small equipment operator and was a member of Victory Baptist Church. He also was a member of the Masonic Lodge and Operating Engineers Local 917. He is preceded in death by his daughter, Chastity Yates, and one sister, Clara Jane Yates. He is survived by his parents, James and Mary Yates of Tullahoma; his wife, Sherry Yates of Tullahoma; one son, Derek Yates and fiancée, Stacy Christenson of Tullahoma; one daughter, Lindsay Bogle and her husband J.T. of Tullahoma; two grandchildren, Kylie Leann Bogle and Cloye Yates; his in-laws, Edward and Nellena Gold of Tullahoma; and his best friends, Tim and Misty Brown of Decherd. Funeral services will be today, Aug. 29 at 2pm in the Kilgore Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. John Kennedy and Harold Partin, Jr. officiating. Burial will be at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements. www.kilgorefuneralhometullahoma.com.