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July 1, 2008


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OBITUARIES

LAVADA MAY PRATHER
1929-2008
MCKENZIE: Lavada May Prather, 79, died Monday, June 23, at Henry County Medical Center in Paris. Funeral services were Thursday, June 26, at 2 p.m. at McKenzie Funeral Home with Bro. Dennis Beal officiating. Burial followed in Caledonia Cemetery near McKenzie.
Mrs. Prather was born January 13, 1929 in Atwood to the late Felix and Ervie Gibson Smith. She was a retired Milan Arsenal Ammunition Plant employee. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Robert Laurence Prather; and one daughter, Jana Elizabeth Hodge.
Survivors include: four sons, Robert S. Prather of Dresden, Stephen E. Prather, Terry D. Prather and Jerry Prather, all of McKenzie; her daughter's three daughters, Amanda, April and Nina, all of McKenzie; two sisters, Addie Gallimore and Martha Merrill, both of Dresden; seven grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

EVORA S. HOUSE
CEDAR GROVE: Evora S House, 92, died Monday, June 23, at her home. Funeral services were Wednesday, June 25, at 2 p.m. at Brummitt Funeral Home, Trezevant with burial in Carroll Memorial Gardens, McKenzie.
Mrs. House was born March 17, 1916 to the late Claude and Mittie Pesnell Scruggs. She was a retired cafeteria worker and a member of Carter Chapel Methodist Church. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Hooper House; one daughter, Barbara House; two sons, Kenny House and Gary House; three sisters, Velma Hendrick, Florence House and Clara Williams; and eight brothers, Paul Scruggs, Vernon Scruggs, Ernest Scruggs, Grady Scruggs, Carl Scruggs, Palmer Scruggs, Jammie Scruggs and Herbert Scruggs.
Survivors include: one daughter, Beverly (Mark) Gowan of Huntingdon; one son, Dennis House of Cedar Grove; three grandchildren, Chris House, Ian Gowan and Jon Marc Gowan; and one great-granddaughter.

BILLIE VIVIAN JONES
1912-2008
TREZEVANT: Billie Vivian Jones, 85, died Tuesday, June 24, at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Funeral services were Friday, June 27, at 2 p.m. at Brummitt Funeral Home, Trezevant with burial in Trezevant Cemetery, Trezevant.
Mrs. Jones was born December 5, 1922 to the late Miles Thomas and Myra Octavia Smoot Chastain. She was a retired clerk for the U.S. Postal Service, a WW II Navy veteran and a member of First Baptist Church. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Henry Webb Jones; three sisters, Myra Elizabeth Chastain, Elsie Murial Chastain and Zora Trail Chastain Waldrop; three brothers, John Thomas Chastain, Ray Smoot Chastain and Travis Davis Chastain; and three infants that died at birth.
Survivors include: three daughters, Myra Jane Jones Charleston and her husband, Allen Louis Charleston of Trezevant, Laura Fay Jones McDaniel and her husband, Jerry T. McDaniel of Clarksburg, and Olivia Sue Jones Jordan and her husband, Ronald William Jordan of Huntingdon; two sons, Richard (Dickie) Webb Jones of Trezevant, and Lewis Ray Jones and his wife, Lisa Lifsey Jones of Cedar Grove; one brother, Edwin Ezekial Chastain of McMinnville; four grandchildren, James Bradley Kinney and his wife, Kimberly Jo Hoguund Kinney, Sue Ann McDaniel Wagner and her husband, Matt Wagner, Myra Lynnette Jordan Hildrich and her husband, Joshua Hildrich, Ronald William Jordan, Jr. and his wife, Tara Nelson Jordan; one step-grandson, Jeremy McDaniel; and two great-grandchildren, Robert Trail Hildrich and Elizabeth Ann Jordan.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Gordon Browning Museum and Genealogical Library, 640 Main Street North, McKenzie, TN 38201.

ANNIE BELL SEAVERS
1921-2008
EL DORADO, ARKANSAS: Annie Bell Seavers, 87, formerly of Huntingdon, died Tuesday, June 24, at Life Touch Hospice in El Dorado, Arkansas. Graveside services were Friday, June 27, at 11 a.m. at McLemoresville Cemetery with Robert D. Fodge officiating.
Mrs. Seavers was born January 16, 1921 in Carroll County to the late Jim and Annie B. Reed Ezell. She was a beautician, an employee of Wal-Mart and a member of Huntingdon Church of Christ. She was preceded in death by one sister, Pauline Fodge; and three brothers, Mutt Ezell, Labe Ezell and James Ezell.
Survivors include: her husband, Odell Seavers of El Dorado, Arkansas; one daughter, Rose Mary (Billy) Dickson of El Dorado, Arkansas; and two grandchildren.
Dilday Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

OVIE LEE BONKOWSKI
1921-2008
HUNTINGDON: Ovie Lee Bonkowski, 87, died Saturday June 28, at Baptist Memorial Hospital. Funeral services were Monday, June 30, at 2 p.m. at Dilday Funeral Home with Bro. Scott Carter officiating. Burial followed in Hebron Cemetery.
Mrs. Bonkowski was born April 28,1921 to the late Virgil and Betha Lee Hicks Bond. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harry Bonkowski; her stepmother, Vivian Bond; three sisters, Lorene Wyatt, Aline Grooms and Ruth Bennett; and one brother, Hubert Bond.
Survivors include: two sisters, Jewel Dean Thomas of Huntingdon and William Roberts of Nashville; and four brothers, Travis Bond of Huntingdon, Charles Bond and Paul Bond, both of Bruceton, and Dave Bond of Michigan.

GRACIE THEO STANFORD
1918-2008
CEDAR GROVE: Gracie Theo Stanford, 90, died Friday, June 27, at her home. Funeral services were Monday, June 30, at 11 a.m. at Dilday Funeral Home with Bro. Steve Osborne and Bro. Jimmy Burroughs officiating. Burial followed in Hickory Flatt Cemetery.
Mrs. Stanford was born April 7, 1918 to the late Joe and Alice Renfroe Bishop. She was a retired employee of Wonder Products. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Robert Stanford; two sisters, Mayme Mullins and Nellie Jewel Bishop; and two brothers, Clyde Bishop and Howley Bishop.
Survivors include: one daughter, Sandra Hampton of Bartlett; two sons, David Stanford of Westmoreland and Donald Stanford of Cedar Grove; one sister, Annie Ruth Volner of Covington; six grandchildren and 11 great-grandchildren.

CHARLES E. "CHARLIE" RHODES
FRANKLIN, TENNESSEE: Charles E. "Charlie" Rhodes, 65, died Saturday, June 28, after a brief illness. Memorial services were Tuesday, July 1, at Williamson Memorial Funeral Home in Franklin.
Mr. Rhodes was a graduate of the University of Tennessee and the University of Pittsburgh and had a 20-year career with Alcoa in Pittsburgh and a 20-year career as owner and operator of GENISYS Systems Group in Nashville. He was preceded in death by his father, Stewart Ray Rhodes.
Survivors include: his wife, Kathy Rhodes of Franklin; one daughter, Lisa (Jeff) Church of Waco, Texas; one son, Mark (Tonja) Rhodes of Howe, Texas; two stepsons, Ellison (Nicole) Belt of Brandon, Mississippi and Corey Belt of Asheville, North Carolina; his mother, Louise Rhodes of Huntingdon; one brother, David (Ruth) Rhodes of Huntingdon; and two grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the University of Tennessee Department of Engineering, Knoxville, TN.

CHARLES RAY HUNT
1962-2008
LOWELL, INDIANA: Charles Ray Hunt, 45, died Wednesday, June 25, at Merrillville, Indiana at his work. Funeral services were Sunday, June 29, at 2 p.m. at Gallimore Funeral Home in Gleason with Mike Stigall and Darren Wilson officiating. Burial followed in Hopewell Cemetery.
Mr. Hunt was born September 30, 1962 in Chicago, Illinois. He was a machinist V.P. He was preceded in death by his father, Raybon (Sonny) Hunt.
Survivors include: one son, Brandon Hunt of Schaumburg, Illinois; two daughters, Megan Rae Hunt and Brittany Ann Hunt, both of Schaumburg, Illinois; his mother, Barbara (Holland) Hunt; one brother, Kevin Hunt of Crown Point, Indiana; and three sisters, Rhonda Foss of Romeoville, Illinois, Donna Stigall of Martin, and Lisa Reiss of Elgin, Illinois.

EDWARD HENRY "SOAP" SOPER
1929-2008
MCKENZIE: Edward Henry "Soap" Soper died Friday, June 27, at Jackson Madison County General Hospital. Funeral services were Sunday, June 29, at 2 p.m. at McKenzie Funeral Home with Bro. Kenny Carr officiating; also speaking were Daniel Watson and Rocky Smyth. Entombment was at Everett's Chapel Cemetery.
Mr. Soper was born December 16, 1929 in Albany, New York to the late Edward and Onie Ulrich Soper. He was a member of the Episcopalian Church. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one sister-in-law, Jane Fowler.
Survivors include: his wife of 54 years, Marjorie Lemonds Soper of McKenzie; one sister, Marie Hudgins of Huntington Beach, California; two brothers-in-law, Kenneth (Marty) Lemonds of Gleason and Ray (Martha) Lemonds of McKenzie; two sisters-in-law, Julia Fowler of Gleason and Audrey (Dwayne) Crossett of McKenzie.

IDA FREEDONIA ALLEN HOLLOWELL
1906-2008
MCLEMORESVILLE: Ida Freedonia Allen Hollowell, 101, died Wednesday, June 25, at Huntingdon Health and Rehabilitation Center. Funeral services were Saturday, June 28, at 2 p.m. at Dilday Funeral Home with Bro. J.D. Abbott and Bro. Verdell Allen officiating. Burial followed in Carroll Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Hollowell was born November 15, 1906 in Benton County to the late Alonzo and Mary Abbott Allen. She was a homemaker and a member of Pleasant Hill Missionary Baptist Church. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Chester A. Hollowell; one son, Elvis Hollowell; one daughter, Dortha Hollowell Wilson; four brothers, Frank Allen, Issac Allen, Lewis Allen, and Clyde Allen; and three sisters, Frances Woods, Susie Umstead and Myrtle Umstead.
Survivors include: one daughter, Betty Johnson of Milan; two sons, Oneal (Lexie) Hollowell of Atwood and Dwain Hollowell of Trezevant; five grandchildren, 12 great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren.

ROGER DALE HAYES
1947-2008
BUENA VISTA: Roger Dale Hayes, 60, died Tuesday, June 24, at Camden General Hospital. Funeral services were Friday, June 27, at 2 p.m. at Dilday Funeral Home with Bro. Fred Ward officiating. Burial followed in McAuley Cemetery.
Mr. Hayes was born August 18, 1947 in Henderson County to the late Cova and Chlorine Grice Hayes. He was a member of the VFW and an Army Vietnam veteran. Besides his parents, he was preceded in death by one daughter, Heather Hayes Ellis; and two brothers, Bobby Hayes and Thomas Hayes.
Survivors include: his wife, Brenda Hayes; one daughter, Tracy (Shane) Barrett of Huntingdon; one son, Chris (Rita) Hayes of Huntingdon; two sisters, Carolyn Geans of Huntingdon and Ann Grant of Parkers Crossroads; and four grandchildren.

JAMES SWAFFORD
1960 - 2008
LAVINIA: James Robert Swafford, 48, died Thursday, June 19, in Rockledge, Florida. Graveside services were Thursday, June 26, at 10 a.m. at Palestine Cemetery.
Mr. Swafford was born June 18, 1960 in Huntingdon. He was the owner of Mid South Bedding. He was preceded in death by his father, Robert A.L. Swafford.
Survivors include: his mother, Jacquelyn Swafford of Lavinia; one daughter, Heather Jeter of Jackson; one son, Robert Swafford of Jackson; and three sisters, Linda Mae (Sammy) Wynn of Paris, Wanda Jean (Mike) Matheny of Florida, and Nancy Marie (Robert) Farmer of Jackson.

JO ANNE MARSHALL
1930 - 2008
HUNTINGDON: Jo Anne Marshall, 77, died Monday, June 23, at her home. Funeral services were Thursday, June 26, at 11 a.m. at First Presbyterian Church with Rev. William Small officiating. Burial followed in McLemoresville Cemetery.
Mrs. Marshall was born August 4, 1930 in Missouri to the late Harris C. Griffin and Florence Belle (Voss) Griffin. She worked for the Wilson Clinic for seven years as an X-Ray Technician. She retired from McKenzie Regional Hospital as an X-Ray Technologist. She was a former member of the Huntingdon Garden Club and Huntingdon Women's Club, member of the First Presbyterian Church, the First Presbyterian Women's Group, Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Huntingdon Book Lovers Club. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dr. A.D. "Pete" Marshall.
Survivors include: one daughter, Lea Ann (Kenny) Scates of Bruceton; one son, Mark (Mignon) Marshall of McKenzie; one brother, Donald H. Griffin of Memphis; and two granddaughters.

ERMA LEE NOLEN
MCKENZIE: Erma Lee Nolen, 81, died Sunday, June 29, at Henry County Medical Center. Arrangements were incomplete at press time and will be announced by Trinity Funeral Home.

CAROL GRAY SCATES BLACKBURN
1940-2008
MCKENZIE: Carol Gray Scates Blackburn, 68, died Monday, June 30, at her home. Funeral services are Wednesday, July 2, at 11 a.m. at Brummitt Funeral Home, McKenzie with burial in Mt. Olivet Cemetery, McKenzie.
Mrs. Blackburn was born March 26, 1940 to the late Buren and Tommie Lou Wiseman Scates. She was a flight attendant and homemaker. Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Robert Gene Blackburn, Sr.
Survivors include: three sons, Bobby Blackburn of Nashville, Stephen Blackburn of Memphis, and Michael Blackburn of Houston, Texas; and three grandchildren, Brian, Shaun, and Jessica Blackburn.
Visitation will begin Tuesday, July 1, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Wednesday morning 9:30 a.m. until service time.