Obituaries

Oct 10, 2018

Oct 6, 2018

Gary F. Wills, age 60 has gone to be with the Lord Saturday October 6, 2018.  Gary worked as a surveyor with his dad for several years after high school. In May 1984, he began his career as a firefighter, working as a volunteer for Athens Fire Department. He discovered his life passion and became a full-time firefighter in November...

Oct 2, 2018

LEWIS CLIFTON (SONNY) CARROLL, age 88 of Athens, Tenn. passed away Monday, Oct. 1, 2018, at his residence. He was a native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, Tenn. , a son of the late Walter Lewis and Beatrice Wattenbarger Carroll.  He was retired from Niota Textile, a former employee of Athens Hosiery Mill.  He was a member of Freedom Baptist...

Oct 1, 2018

DORIS ANN MULLINS ESTEP of Ten Mile passed away, Monday, October 1, 2018 at Starr Regional Medical Center-Athens. She was a native of West Virginia and the daughter of the late Noah and Vallie Hill Mullins. She was a member of Pleasant Hill Baptist Church and was employed by Taylor Sportswear as well as several hosiery mills. She loved to read...

Sep 24, 2018

Donna Marie Dockins Wilson, age 51 of Decatur passed away  Monday, September 24, 2018 at Memorial Health Care Systems in Chattanooga. A native and lifelong resident of Athens, she was the daughter of the late Franklin and Joann Gaddis Dockins. She enjoyed Meigs County sports, the U.T. Vols and the beach. She loved spending time with her family as well...

Sep 18, 2018

Sep 7, 2018

ZELMA LEE PARDUE KNOX, age 88 of Athens, Tenn. passed away Friday, Sept. 7, 2018, in Dominion Senior Living of Athens, Tenn.  She was a native of Monroe County, Tenn., resident most of her life of McMinn County, Tenn. a daughter of the late Robert Lilliston and Emma Vernice Barnett Pardue.  She was a member of North Athens Baptist Church....

Sep 3, 2018

Sep 3, 2018

Frances Marie Smith, age 72 of Englewood, passed away, Wednesday, September 5, 2018 at Erlanger Hospital.

A native and life-long resident of McMinn County, she was a daughter of the late Douglas Austin and Ruth Irene Dawson Gallihar, and was preceded in death by her husband, Horace "Buck" Smith.

She was a member of Victory Baptist Church, and was a...

Sep 2, 2018

GREGORY HOUSTON MASON, age 44 went home to be with The Lord, Sunday, Sept. 2, 2018, at his residence. He was born in  Bradley County, Tenn., a lifelong resident of McMinn County, Tenn.  He was a Veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps and The National Guard. He attended Mt. Verd Baptist Church and was a member of the V F W Honor Guard.

...

Aug 20, 2018

JoAnn Jackson, age 78, of Athens, passed away on Monday, August 20, 2018 at Life Care Center of Athens.

A native of Meigs County, former resident of North Texas and current resident of Athens, she was a daughter of the late John Joseph and Sallie Ann Shoemaker Jackson. 

She was a former employee of the Salvation Army where she began...

Aug 19, 2018

MARY ELIZABETH GRAVITT  SWAFFORD,  age 92 of Athens, Tenn. passed away Sunday, August 19, 2018, at her residence. She was a native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, Tenn., a daughter of the late Ollie and Mamie Kimbrough Gravitt. She was a former employee of Bowater Paper Co. working in the cafeteria.  She was a former member of Oak Grove...

Aug 17, 2018

Elizabeth Ann "Betty" Gabbard born December 16, 1940 passed away on Friday August 17, 2018 at Erlanger Medical Center after a short illness. She was preceded in death by her husband, Truman Scott Gabbard and her parents Frank and Catherine DeFrank Barberio of Cleveland, Ohio.

Betty worked at AT&T in Colorado, New Jersey and finally Nashville, Tennessee where she retired...

Aug 17, 2018

BOBBYE JEAN TOOMEY KING,  age 80 of Foley, Alabama went to be with Jesus Friday, August 17, 2018, at South Baldwin Medical Center in Foley, Ala. She was a native of McMinn County,  residing in Foley, Alabama.  She was a daughter of the late Clarence Leon and Viola Moses Toomey.  Bobbye accepted Jesus Christ as her Savior and became a member...

Aug 13, 2018

Aug 13, 2018

HENRY LEE LANKFORD, age 70 of Riceville, Tenn. passed away Monday, August 13, 2018.

A native of Englewood and current resident of Riceville, he was a son of the late Marshall and Polly Ann Russell Lankford, and was preceded in death by 4 brothers; Bob Lankford, Buddy Lankford, Billy Lankford, Larry Lankford, and   1 sister, Bernice Conine.  He was a...

Aug 11, 2018

WAYNE "PeeWee" SHELL,  age 83 of Athens, Tenn. passed away Saturday, August 11, 2018, in Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville, Tenn. He was a native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, Tenn.,  a son  of the late N. C. and Meda Rogers Shell, and preceded in death by Son: David Lynn Shell and Brother: Harold R. Shell.  He was President...

Aug 10, 2018

ESTHER LAMB "ESSIE" HILL,  infant daughter of James Jonathan and Elizabeth Berg Hill passed away Friday, August 10, 2018, in Starr Regional Medical Center of Athens, Tenn.  Survivors: Maternal Grandparents: Lonette and Stephen Berg of Hoover, Ala. Paternal Grandparents: Bobby and Phoebe Harrison  of Red Bay, Ala. Great Grandfather: Lonzo Lamb of Athens, Tenn. Those wishing to send codolences may...

Aug 2, 2018

Linda Faye Kennedy Burns age 67 of Athens passed away Thursday, August 2, 2018 at Life Care of Athens. A native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, she was the daughter of the late Lester and Nellie Hampton Kennedy.

Survivors include:

One sister: Neda Kennedy Clark One niece:  Judy Freeman One nephew:  Marty Clark Four great-nieces Jennifer Crowder, Kimberly Woody, Sabrina Ellison...

Jul 28, 2018

LISA RENAE FOX LYLES, age 53 of Athens, Tenn. passed away Saturday, July 28, 2018, in Starr Regional Medical Center of Athens. She was a native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, Tenn.  She was a manager of Subway and a member of Westview Baptist Church.

Preceded in death by: 

Brother, James Edward (Eddie) Fox  Step-Father, Jerry Ross Wilson.  Survivors include:

Husband, David Scott Lyles...