REGINA KATHRYN COX
Regina Kathryn Cox was born March 21, 1929, in Chattanooga and died peacefully at her home in South Clinton Aug. 23, 2023.
She was preceded in death by: Husband of 66 years, the Rev. Paul Cox; parents, John and Grace Duncum; son, Gregory; grandson, Dewayne Webster; and sisters, Faye King, Juanita Ferraro, and Ann Heffernan.
She is survived by: Sons, Tony (Joy), and Lynn (Linda); daughter-in-law, Sabrena; grandchildren, the Rev. John (Sunny), Stephen (Amy), Kevin (Robin), Dennis (Melissa), Rebekah, Logan (Maddi), and Anthony; 17 great-grandchildren; one great-great-grandchild; sister, Sue Lewis; and several nieces and nephews.
Pastor Cox and Kathryn were married June 9, 1950, at Sinking Springs Methodist Church.
For more than 40 years Kathryn was a beloved pastor's wife in the two churches they served, Mascot Wesleyan Methodist Church and Clinton Christ Fellowship. During retirement years, with Kathryn by his side Pastor Cox remained active in ministry, preaching in several states and working as an interim pastor at Pearisburg Christ Fellowship in Pearisburg, Va.
Kathryn's wit and wisdom kept us laughing and lined up. Her quilts kept us warm. Her stack cakes were the centerpieces of Christmas dinner, and a Saturday morning with "cat head" biscuits and pear honey preserves was the best meal of the week. But it was her steadfast faith and love for God's Word that is now our comfort and peace.
Her memory will be eternally in our hearts.
The family will have a graveside service at 1 p.m. Monday, Aug. 28, 2023, at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials be made to the charity or church of their choice.
Holley Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements.
holleygamble.com
William R. “Russ” Oaks, 64, passed away unexpectedly Aug. 16, 2023, at home in Andersonville.
He was born in Knoxville, and was preceded in death by his parents, William “Bill” Oaks and Robinette Catherine Kesley Oaks.
Russ grew up in Halls. He graduated from the University of Tennessee in Knoxville in 1981, and was commissioned as an Armor Officer in the U.S. Army. His duty posts included Fort Hood; Fort Knox; Headquarters, US Army, Europe in Germany; Fort Leavenworth; Fort Stewart; and the Pentagon. During his time at Fort Stewart, he was deployed to Kuwait twice. He retired as a Lt. Colonel after 20 years of service to his country. After his retirement in 2001, he accepted a position with Knox County Schools. He served in several jobs culminating with Chief Operating Officer. He retired in 2022.
Russ was a rock for his family, his friends, and his colleagues. He was described as reserved, reliable, responsible, supportive, a problem solver, kind, generous, a good leader, pragmatic, and inspired those qualities in others. He was steadfast. In his retirement he rekindled a hobby from his high school days, Ham radio. He also enjoyed woodworking, repairing anything around the house (he was usually successful), and genealogy. He had recently become involved with the Union County Cemetery Association as several of his ancestors are interred in that county.
He is survived by: Wife of 33 years, Teri; son Will; three brothers, Randy (Jo Dell), Michael, and David (Allison); niece, Rebekah; and nephew Jeffrey; and numerous cousins in the Knoxville area and Florida.
The family will receive friends from 4 – 6 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21, 2023, at Mynatt Funeral Home, Halls Chapel with a celebration of life to follow.
In lieu of flowers, it is suggested that donations be made to Anderson County High School Band, Clinton, TN which Will was a member of for four years, or your favorite organization/charity.
Online condolences may be sent to www.mynattfh.com
On Aug. 16, 2023, surrounded by her beloved family, Avonia Gail (Taylor) Rubright, 64, Clinton, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer.
Gail was born Aug. 24, 1958, to Earl Taylor and Pearl Lane in Knoxville. After Gail graduated from Young High School in 1976, she earned a nursing degree from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville and began her first nursing job at Baptist Hospital. She went back to school to complete a master’s degree in nursing administration from East Tennessee State University allowing her to work for the Tennessee Department of Health until she retired in 2022.
In June 2012, Gail married Tom Rubright, blending two families together. Gail and Tom shared a love of traveling, whether it was on the back of a motorcycle through the mountains, on a cruise ship to a tropical destination, or on a simple beach trip with family. The importance of spending time with family was evident in their presence at school productions, ballgames, dance recitals, graduations, and musicals. Both Tom and Gail loved attending Highland View Church of Christ for years and are currently members of Hardin Valley Church of Christ.
Gail loved the Lord and was a selfless servant of Christ, an excellent example of loving your neighbor as yourself. She tirelessly and generously put into practice a love for serving others, putting others first, and helping people in need. Her smile was infectious and made you feel accepted when that smile was directed toward you. She was driven and determined, hard-working and caring, a thoughtful gift-giver, and an avid Vol fan. She held several titles…mother, wife, nurse, sister…the icing on the cake being her job as Nana. She loved her sons but her granddaughter, Lynlee became her world.
She was preceded in death by: Parents, Earl Taylor and Pearl Lane; her dear stepfather, Clifford Lane; and nephew, Christopher Kinkead.
She is survived by: Beloved husband, Tom Rubright; son, Eric Salage and his wife Chanell; son, David Salage; granddaughter, Lynlee Salage; brothers, Donnie Lane, David Taylor and wife Erin Taylor; sister, Renee Lane; nieces and nephews, Austin Kinkead, Madison Taylor, Donnie Lane Jr., Stacy Sweeney; many great-nieces and nephews; and the Rubright family: stepdaughter, Teresa McNelly and her husband Doug; stepdaughter, Jennifer Cummins and her husband Eric, stepdaughter, Cara Sheets and her husband Trevor; grandchildren, Becca Ray, Savannah McNeely, Sydney McNelly, Neal, Ben, Luke, and William Cummins, Anderson and Crosby Sheets.
A receiving of friends is scheduled from 5 – 7 p.m. Monday, Aug. 21, 2023, at Holley Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton, with a service to follow.
Graveside services will take place at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Aug. 22, 2023, at Grandview Memorial Garden, Clinton. Larry Cline, minister at Hardin Valley Church of Christ, will be officiating.
In lieu of flowers, please consider a contribution in memory of Gail to The American Cancer Society or The University of Tennessee Medical Center. Gifts can be made online (https://www.utmedicalcenter.org/give-back/ways-give) or sent to the Office of Philanthropy at: 2121 Medical Center Way, Suite 110, Knoxville, TN 37920.
Gail’s legacy of helping those in need could also be continued at Christmastime by generously giving to and supporting ministries that help provide presents and necessities to local children.
Holley Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements.
holleygamble.com
Velma “Chestine” Beaty Farr, 92, Powell, passed away peacefully in the care of Sacred Ground Hospice House Tuesday, July 18, 2023.
Mrs. Farr was born July 24, 1930, in Forbus.
Chestine graduated as salutatorian from York Institute (High School) in Jamestown in 1948, where she earned a scholarship to attend Tennessee Technological University. At TTU, she studied to become a teacher and later taught school for two years at the elementary school she attended as well as York Institute. She later attended the Tennessee School of Beauty in Oak Ridge and then ran her own shop in Claxton for a few years, Edgemoor Beauty Shop. Her business and beauty skills later came to benefit her whole family when she became the in-house beautician for her children, grandchildren, and other beloved family members.
In the summer of 1952, Chestine’s cousin invited her to spend the summer in Dayton, Ohio. It was while she was working in Ohio, that Chestine met her future husband, Bruce Jackson Farr. Bruce, a Marine from Tennessee, was working in Dayton as well. They met on July 13, 1952, and he claims to this day, that it was the luckiest day of his life. They married on Nov. 8, 1952, and were together for 71 years.
Chestine worked outside of her home for many years, but for the most part, she considered herself to be a fulltime homemaker. She enjoyed English and was an avid reader. She taught all three of her children to read by age four and diagram sentences by 7th grade. She ensured that all of her grandchildren were early readers as well. Chestine’s grandchildren loved visiting her and finding toys, puzzles, and arts and crafts activities in the “toy closet” in the hallway in her home to play with her. A proficient seamstress, her sewing skills evolved into a love for quilting and she happily made quilts for multiple family members.
Mrs. Farr was a member of the Tennessee Order of Eastern Star (369 Clinch Valley Chapter) for years. Chestine and Bruce have been members of Wallace Memorial Baptist Church in Knoxville for many years. In her spare time, she enjoyed shopping, dressing up, traveling with her husband to Korean War veteran events, and spending time with her family. She had a great sense of humor and always made people laugh.
She was preceded in death by: Parents, James “Caster” and Nova Tennessee (Upchurch) Beaty; son, Ivan Brent Farr; son-in-law, John M. Miller; and sister, Mary Beaty (Fred) Farley.
She is survived by: Husband, Bruce Jackson Farr; daughters, Judy Farr Miller and Jill Farr Browder (Tom) Smith; daughter-in-law, Carolyn Goans Farr; grandchildren, Brandy Miller (Chris) Vachtsevanos, Brittany Browder (Adam) Boone, William Miller, Julia Browder (David) Grubb, Cara Farr (Fiancée, Hunter Smith), and Allison Farr; great-grandchildren, Ellie and Sophia Vachtsevanos, Brighton and Bodey Boone, Elowen Grubb; sister, Gail Beaty (Danny) Voiles; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.
The family will receive friends at Holley Gamble Funeral Home from 10 a.m. - noon Saturday, July 29, 2023, immediately followed with a service officiated by the Rev. Kent Williams.
Graveside service and internment will be at Woodhaven Memorial Gardens at 1 p.m.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Sacred Ground Residential Hospice or a charity of your choice.
The family wishes to thank the staff at NHC Place Farragut and Sacred Ground Hospice House for their wonderful care of Mrs. Farr.