Obituaries

Zelma Lee Knox
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....

Frances Marie Smith
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...
Gregory Houston Mason
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.
...
JoAnn Jackson
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...
Mary Elizabeth Swafford
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...
Elizabeth "Betty" Ann Gabbard
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...
Bobbye Jean King
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...

Henry Lee Lankford
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...

Wayne PeeWee Shell
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...

Esther Lamb Hill
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...

Linda Faye Burns
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...

Lisa Renea Lyles
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...
Jeanette Mildred Calahan
Jul 21, 2018
Jeanette Mildred Calahan, age 78, of Niota passed away Saturday July 21, 2018 at her residence. A native of McMinn County and a resident of Niota for the past 20 years, she was the daughter of the late John James and Edith Derrick Cass. She was member of East Athens Baptist Church, Woodman of the World and Athens Senior Travel...

Otis Ray Bivens
Jul 13, 2018
OTIS RAY BIVENS, age 77 of Sweetwater, Tenn. passed away Friday, July 13, 2018, at his residence. He was a native of McMinn County, Tenn., resident of Monroe County, Tenn. since 1974, and a son of the late John and Macy Winters Bivens. He was a member of the Sweetwater Masonic Lodge. His first job was in 1955 at the Kreme...

John David "J.D." Nelson
Jul 6, 2018
JOHN DAVID "J. D." NELSON, age 93 of Athens, Tenn. passed away Sunday, July 8, 2018, in Starr Regional Heath and Rehab in Etowah, Tenn.
He was a native of Meigs County, Tn., resident of McMinn County, Tenn. since 1952, a son of the late Tarry and Callie Brandon Nelson. He retired from TVA Watts Bar. He was a member of...

Carolyn Gaylon Collins
Jul 6, 2018
Carolyn "Tooter" Galyon Collins, age 75, of Athens passed away Friday, July 6, 2018 at U.T. Medical Center. She was a native and lifelong resident of Athens and was the daughter of the late Odes and Juanita Ditmore Galyon. She was a member of McMahan Calvary Baptist Church where she loved to lead the singing. A loving and devoted mother, grandmother, and...

Wayne Gilbert Pierce
Jul 6, 2018
WAYNE GILBERT (JOE BUCK) PIERCE, age 90 of Athens, Tenn. passed away Friday, July 6, 2018, in Athens. He was a native and lifelong resident of McMinn County, Tenn., a son of the late Ray Gilbert and Nelle Cate Pierce. He was retired from Bowaters Paper Co. and was of the Baptist faith. He was a veteran of the U....