Donnie Lee Pickel, 24, of Athens, died Thursday, Jan. 1, 2009, at Erlanger Medical Center.

A native of Murfreesboro, and a resident of McMinn County for the last 12 years, he was preceded in death by his grandfather, Thomas Cunningham. He was a member of Union Hill Baptist Church.

Survivors include his mother, Sandra Pickel of Athens; two brothers and sisters-in-law, Paul and Valerie Pickel of Riceville, and Jason and Kelly Pickel of Athens; and his grandparents, Nadean Cunningham of Athens, and Paul and Shelby Robinson of Beach Grove.

Funeral services will be 8 p.m. Friday in the chapel of Laycock-Hobbs Funeral Home with the Rev. Dallas Nance officiating. Graveside Services will be 11 a.m. Saturday at Cedar Grove Cemetery.

Active pallbearers will be Phillip Morrison, Josh Cunningham, Bryan Wyrick, Tyson Leamon, Clay Moore and Steve Pickel.

The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude Children\'s Research Hospital, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105-1942.

Those unable to attend may send condolences to mailto:condolences@laycock-hobbs.com