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July 15, 2008


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OBITUARIES

DON OWEN BERRY
1934-2008
MCKENZIE: Don Owen Berry, 73, died Saturday, July 12, at his home. Funeral services were Tuesday, July 15, at 11 a.m. at McKenzie Funeral Home with Rev. Dennis Beal and Rev. Dennis Trull officiating. Burial followed with military honors at Carroll Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Berry was born August 18, 1934 in McKenzie to the late Carlos Pratt and Jessie Causey Berry. He was a retired iron worker, member of McKenzie First Baptist Church and U.S. Army veteran.
Survivors include: his wife, Lois Walls Berry of McKenzie; one daughter, Paula Townsend of Memphis; one son, Ronnie Cooper of McKenzie; four sisters, Peggy Sydnor, June Nanney, Cherry Rittenberry, and Patty Price, all of McKenzie; three brothers, Horace Berry, Milton Berry and Toney Berry, all of McKenzie; three grandchildren, Marvin Townsend, Jr. of Memphis, Penny White of Florida, and Stacy Sullivan of Murfreesboro; and one great-grandson, Oscar Austin Townsend of Memphis.

SHIRLEY J. GRIFFIN
1938-2008
MCKENZIE: Shirley J. Griffin, 69, died Monday, July 7, at her home. Funeral services were Tuesday, July 8, at 3:00 p.m. at Williams Funeral Home in Greenfield. Burial followed in Pilgrims Rest Cemetery in McKenzie. Mrs. Griffin was born November 23, 1938 to the late C.A. Tate and Lucille (Byrum) Tate. She was a former factory worker for H.I.S. Industries. Besides her parents, Mrs. Griffin was preceded in death by her husband, Joe Griffin; and one sister, Mildred Cooper.
Survivors include: one son, Ricky Griffin of McKenzie; one daughter, Kathy (Griffin) Brennan of McKenzie; and three brothers, Alton Tate of Gleason, David Tate of Dyersburg, and Joseph Coy Tate of McKenzie.

RUBY LEE WALKER
1928-2008
TREZEVANT: Ruby Lee Walker, 79, died Monday, July 7, at Jackson Madison County General Hospital. Funeral services were Thursday, July 10, at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church in Trezevant with burial in Republican Grove Cemetery in Trezevant.
Mrs. Walker was born October 22, 1928 to the late Jodie and Gillie Johns Ervin. She was co-owner of Walker's Red & White Grocery in Trezevant and was a cook. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Billy Walker; and one sister, Dean Hargrove.
Survivors include: three daughters, Joyce Lunsford of Trezevant, Jill (Butch) Browning of Medina and Pat (Randy) Hudgins of Trezevant; one son, Jack (Cindy) Walker of Trezevant; one sister, Peggy Jo Hopper of McKenzie; one brother, Dwayne Ervin of Union City; nine grandchildren and 15 great-grandchildren.
Memorials can be made to the First Baptist Church Building Fund in Trezevant or to the American Diabetes Association.

NORMA KATHRYN COUCH
1916-2008
MCKENZIE: Norma Kathryn Couch, 91, died Tuesday, July 8, at her home. Funeral services were Friday, July 11, at 11 a.m. at Brummitt Funeral Home with burial in Blooming Grove Cemetery, McKenzie.
Mrs. Couch was born November 30, 1916 to the late Oscar and Fay Cates Cook. She was an office manager for Couch's Printing. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by one sister, Frances Spotts.
Survivors include: her husband, Morey Couch of McKenzie; two daughters, Kathy (Larry) Rosengreen of Fullerton, California and Maurilee (Tom) Walker of Star Valley, Arizona; five grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

BETTY SUE TOWNSEND
1933-2008
McKENZIE: Betty Sue Townsend, 74, died Thursday, July 10, at McKenzie Regional Hospital. Funeral services were Saturday, July 12, at 4 p.m. at McKenzie Funeral Home with Bro. Wayne Holmes and Bro. Bobby Mann officiating. Burial followed in Everetts Chapel Cemetery.
Mrs. Townsend was born November 20, 1933 in McKenzie to the late William Onzie and Bessie Grace Thomas Harris. She was a member of Concord Baptist Church and a retired clothing manufacturing employee of Wilker Brothers, Bill Sills, Public Shirt and HIS. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by four sisters, Carnice Stone, Desi Hale, Dola Berry, Ethel Clark; and one brother, Johnny (Bill) Butler Harris.
Survivors include: two sons, Ralph Townsend and Randy (Cheryl) Townsend, both of McKenzie; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

MABLE SUE ANDERSON WHITSON
1926-2008
HENRY: Mable Sue Anderson Whitson, 81, died Thursday, July 10, at McKenzie Healthcare. Graveside services were Friday, July 11, at 4:30 p.m. at Chapel Hill Methodist Cemetery in Huntingdon with Roger Graham officiating.
Mrs. Whitson was born December 19, 1926 in McKenzie to the late Gus Shrader and Jewel Traywick Hamilton. She was a member of Henry Church of Christ. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husbands, Russell Anderson and Sherman Whitson; stepfather, Charley Hamilton; and three brothers, Jerry, Harvey and Fred Hamilton.
Survivors include: two daughters, Russelene Anderson and Retha Sue Anderson, both of Henry; one sister, Helen Marie (Joe Lee) Hamilton of Indiana; two brothers, Paul Hamilton and Loyd (Patricia) Hamilton, both of McKenzie; one stepsister, Maggie Knott; and two grandchildren.

J.C. LOWRY
1948-2008
GLEASON: J.C. Lowry, 60, died Thursday, July 10, at McKenzie Regional Hospital. Funeral services were Sunday, July 13, at 2 p.m. at Gallimore Funeral Home with Terry Griffin and Tony Michael Simmons officiating. Burial followed in West Union Cemetery.
Mr. Lowry was born February 4, 1948 in Martin to the late James Eaf and Brooksie Watson Lowry. He was a lab tech at Unimin Clay Company and member of VFW and American Legion.
Survivors include: his wife, Patricia Owen Lowry; one son, Clint (Kim) Lowry of Gleason; three daughters, Chris Lowry, Misty (Jamie) Thomson and Trisha (Britt) McClain, all of Gleason; one brother, R.T. Lowry of Big Sandy; and seven grandchildren.

WALTER REECE "WALT" MONTGOMERY
1924-2008
HUNTINGDON: Walter Reece "Walt" Montgomery, 83, died Thursday July 10, at his home. Graveside services were Saturday, July 12, at 11 a.m. at Oak Hill Cemetery. A celebration of life will be held August 2 at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church.
Mr. Montgomery was born August 3, 1924, in McKenzie to the late William Reece and Ruby Berryhill Montgomery. He was a self-employed recruiter for ManPower, a Mason and a member of the First Presbyterian Church. He and Mary Belle operated an agriculture consulting business known as Walt Montgomery and Associates. He served in World War II and in the 99th Bomber Group of the 15th Air Force.
Montgomery grew up a sharecropper's son and vowed to leave the farm when he grew up. He joined the Air Force and later served in the European Theater during WWII, where he piloted the B-17 Flying Fortress. He flew missions over Europe including one considerably long mission to bomb Berlin. The mission included the bombing of factories, fuel depots, railroads and bridges. The mission was so long, the squadron had to land in Kiev Russia. On one mission from Italy, Montgomery and his crew of nine abandoned a severely crippled aircraft over Yugoslovia when he knew he could not overfly the Alps. They were sneaked into Belgrade in horse-drawn carts, however, he and his navigator were captured. The two were able to escape during enemy crossfire. They were rescued by an American aircraft during a night rescue mission.
His first experience with an aircraft was a bi-wing plane at Holland's Farm in McKenzie. As a five-year-old, his job was to keep the cows shooed away from the bi-wing aircraft parked at Holland's Farm. His reward for his work was a ride in the plane. The die was cast and Montgomery fell in love with flying.
Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by three sisters, Grace Robbins, Nell Chambers, and Larue Kennon; and one brother, Grailey Montgomery.
Survivors include: his wife, Mary Belle Key Montgomery; two daughters, Debbie Zellner of Forysth, Georgia and Cindy Stea of Nashville; three sons, Billy Bolin of California, Roger Montgomery of Vincennes, Indiana, and Ben Montgomery of York, South Carolina; 11 grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Dilday Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

RICHARD M. LAMAR
1957-2008
MANSFIELD: Richard M. Lamar, 61, died Friday, July 11, at St. Thomas Hospital in Nashville. Funeral services are Wednesday, July 16, at 11 a.m. at Ridgeway Funeral Home with Rex Buford officiating. Burial will follow in New Bethel Cemetery in Henry.
Mr. Lamar was born April 28, 1957 in Ft. Bragg, North Carolina. He last worked for Phifer's Construction in Big Sandy, was formerly employed by City of Paris in the sanitation department, member of Fairview Baptist Church and Mansfield Fire Department. He was preceded in death by his mother, Margaret Bell Lamar.
Survivors include: his father, Walter Carson Lamar of Holland, Texas; two sisters, Debbie (Scott) Glaser of Old Fort, North Carolina and Helga (Mark) Singleton of Henry; and four brothers, Robert Linton Lamar of Tiptonville, Raymond Clinton Lamar and Ralph William Lamar, both of Henry, and Randy Lamar of Savanna, Illinois.

JERRY WAYNE PRUETT
1953-2008
HUNTINGDON: Jerry Wayne Pruett, 55, died Sunday, July 13, at Jackson Madison County General Hospital. Funeral services were Tuesday, July 15, at 3 p.m. at Chase Funeral Home with Bro. Jerry Morris officiating. Burial followed in New Crossroads Cemetery.
Mr. Pruett was born March 18, 1953 in Huntingdon to the late Frank and Cluster Marie (Thomas) Pruett. He was a retired technician with Procter and Gamble Company. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister, Marion Stinnett; and one brother, Bobby Pruett.
Survivors include: his wife of 32 years, Susan Pruett; two daughters, Michelle (Joe) Britt and Jeanne (Matt) Mann, both of Huntingdon; and three grandchildren.

MARGARET L. HILLIARD
1918-2008
WESTPORT: Margaret L. Hilliard, 89, died Saturday, July 12, at Huntingdon Health and Rehabilitation Center. Funeral services were Tuesday, July 15, at 11 a.m. at Chase Funeral Home with Bro. Johnny Boyd. Burial followed in Jamison Cemetery.
Mrs. Hilliard was born September 19, 1918 in Westport to the late Dr. C.T. Cox and Mabel (Bryant) Cox. She was a retired factory worker for the Henry I. Siegel Company and a member of the Westport Baptist Church.
Survivors include: her husband of 66 years, Joe P. Hilliard; one daughter, Amy Hilliard (friend Ray), and one son, Buddy (Peggy) Hilliard, both of Huntingdon; one brother, James Cox of Tiptonville; five grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and four great-great-grandchildren.

RUTH GUNN ROBERTSON
1926-2008
MCKENZIE: Ruth Gunn Robertson, 81, died Sunday, July 13, at her home. Funeral services are Thursday, July 17, at 2 p.m. at Brummitt Funeral Home in McKenzie with Bro. Dennis Trull officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Olivet Cemetery in McKenzie.
Mrs. Robertson was born November 15, 1926 in Porterdale, Georgia to the late Labon Festus Gunn and Annie Lee Ada Preston Gunn. She was a retired LPN at McKenzie Regional Hospital, member of First Baptist Church of McKenzie, and lifelong member of VFW Ladies Auxiliary.
Survivors include: her husband, William "Bill" Robertson of McKenzie; one son, John Douglas (Cheryl) Tison of White House; one daughter, Sonja (Kenneth) Sides of Gaylord, Michigan; one sister, Irene Driver of Conyers, Georgia; and four grandchildren, Kenneth D. Sides II, Kevin James Sides, Zach Tison and Jennifer Tison.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 4 p.m. until 8 p.m. and Thursday from 11 a.m. until time of service.

ANNIE MAY LEE
1903-2008
MCKENZIE: Annie May Lee, 104, died Saturday, July 12, at NHC in Milan. Funeral services were Monday, July 14, at 11 a.m. at Bodkin Funeral Home in Milan with Rev. Aaron Holmes officiating. Burial followed in Pisgah Cemetery in Atwood.
Mrs. Lee was born December 17, 1903 to the late Dave Crossett and Nancy Browning Crossett. She was a homemaker and member of First Baptist Church in Atwood. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Garrett Lee; one son, Guy Lee; and one daughter, Mildred Lee.
Survivors include: one daughter, Rachel Ford of McKenzie; four grandchildren, eight great-grandchildren, and numerous great-great-grandchildren.