DELMAR EUGENE 'GENE' McCLANAHAN
March 20, 2021
Delmar Eugene "Gene" McClanahan, 90, passed away March 20, 2021.
Gene was born in Walland. He was a longtime Clinton resident and was an active member of First Baptist Church of Clinton for many years where he served as a trustee, Deacon, Sunday School Department Director and greeter. Gene also served as the church liaison with the general contractor during construction of the FBC Family Life Center. Gene loved the outdoors, especially fishing with his sons, grandsons and good friend Bob Holt and hunting with his son Jerry and friend Les Swann.
Gene retired as a maintenance supervisor at the DOE Y-12 National Security Complex. Prior to his arriving at Y-12, Gene’s career included work at the former U.S. Rubber Company in developing welding techniques for zirconium and with The Boeing Company in the production of the Saturn V rocket for the NASA Apollo Program.
Gene was pre-deceased by: Wife of 39 years, Mary Ingram McClanahan; parents, Delmar and Bernis Caldwell McClanahan; brother, Sanford; sister, Nora Ann Pickens;daughter-in-law, Julia McClanahan; and first wife, Betty Latham McClanahan, the mother of his four sons.
He is survived by: Sons, Jerry (Debbie) McClanahan of Chattanooga, Steven McClanahan and Rodney McClanahan of Oak Ridge, Jim (Traci) McClanahan of Knoxville; step-daughters, Janine A. (Brian) Riggs and Jennifer (Michael) Fraker of Clinton; brother, Ray (Trudy) McClanahan of Taylors, S.C.; sisters, Ruth Branton of Walland, Delsie Millsaps, Faye (Roger) Bolin, and June Hall of Maryville.
Gene was blessed with seven grandchildren: Lindsey (Josh) Vaughn of Columbia, David (Stephanie) McClanahan of Bristol, Kaylee McClanahan of Nashville, Adam Jennings, Lauren (Josh) Queener, Caroline (Jeremy) Bray of Clinton, and Ashlee (Michael) Mathis of Arlington, Texas.
He was also blessed with nine great-grandchildren: Andy, Lilly, and Oliver Vaughn of Columbia, Justin McClanahan and Eric (Abby) McClanahan of Knoxville, Adeline Queener and Neyland and Beesley Bray of Clinton, Tennessee; and Michael Jr. and Megan Mathis of Arlington, Texas.
Graveside service was held at 10 a.m. Friday, March 26, 2021, at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Christian Service Center (Food Pantry) of First Baptist Church of Clinton, TN, 37717-0268.
Holley Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements and may be viewed on www.holleygamble.com.
BONNIE JEAN HENDERSON
March 19, 2021
Bonnie Jean Henderson, 90, Clinton, passed away March 19, 2021, surrounded by her family.
She was born Aug. 6, 1930, and was one of seven children of Hurbert and Daisy Singleton. She and her husband George Henderson had two children. Bonnie loved her family and spending time with her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren. Bonnie had owned her own hair salon before pursuing her career as an LPN at Ft. Sanders and retired from there after many years. After retiring she loved traveling with her sisters, and devoted her time caring for her grandchildren.
Bonnie was preceded in death by: Parents, Hurbert and Daisy Singleton; husband, George Henderson; brothers, William, Ben, and Lawrence Singleton; sisters, Louise Dagley, and Mildred Sweet.
Bonnie is survived by: Son, Michael Henderson; daughter, Debbie (Roger) Moser; grandchildren, Geoff (Bobbi Jo) Henderson, Carrie (Jimmy) Sells, Roger Lee Moser, Leah (Jason) Gilbert; great-grandchildren, Emilie Henderson, Kyla Henderson, Winston Henderson, Dylan Henderson, Devin Gilbert, Dalton Gilbert, Drake Gilbert; great-great-grandchildren, Waylon Hood, River Hood, and Cora Gilbert; sister, Virginia Nelson; and several nieces and nephews.
Bonnie's family received her friends from 5 – 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 23, 2021, in the chapel of Jones Mortuary.
Her family and friends gathered at Sunset Cemetery at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 24, 2021, for her graveside service with Pastor Lucas Heard officiating.
Jones Mortuary in Clinton was in charge of all arrangements.
Condolences can be made to the family at www.jonesmortuaryllc.com
BARBARA ALMA JEFFERS
March 19, 2021
Barbara Alma Jeffers, 84, Clinton, passed away Friday, March 19, 2021, at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.
Barbara was born May 12, 1936, in Anderson County to Cleo and Gertrude Brummett. She was a member of Clinton First Baptist Church.
Barbara is survived by: Loving husband, Gailon Jeffers of Clinton; two first cousins; and five second cousins.
The family held a graveside service at 11 a.m. Tuesday, March 23, 2021, at Sunset Cemetery with the Rev. Terry Baker officiating.
Holley Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements.
www.holleygamble.com
ROBERT DAVID STEPP
March 17, 2021
Robert David Stepp, 73, Port Wentworth, Ga., formerly of Clinton, left his earthly home and joined his heavenly father Feb, 23, 2021.
He was born in Knoxville on Dec. 22, 1947, and raised on the side of a mountain in Lake City. He graduated from Lake City High School in 1966 where he was a star football player and a member of the marching band. He had a love of music and performed and toured the United States and Canada with several country rock bands. He loved the East Tennessee mountains and lakes and grew up camping, fishing, and boating. He was a member of the armed forces and served his country in the Army National Guard. He was a devout Christian and served as a Deacon at Tokyo Baptist Church in Tokyo, Japan. He was a scheduler planner for AT&T and Lucent Technologies and traveled around the U.S. and the world. He was a devoted husband to his wife of 42 years, Sandy, and a devoted and loving father to his daughter, Tonya, and his granddaughter and "blue eyed wonder" Cyrus. He cherished time with his family singing, playing music, and having family dinners. He was always kind and showed love and compassion to anyone he met. He fought the battle of life with love, grace, and courage and was a blessing to all who knew him.
He was preceeded in death by: Parents, Robert "Bob" Stepp and Helen Smith Stepp of Claxton.
He leaves behind: Wife, Sandra Carver Stepp of Port Wentworth, Ga.; daughter, Tonya Stepp and partner Siamak Bayki and granddaughter Cyrus Layla Bayki of Port Wentworth, Ga.; brother, and sister-in-law, Mark and Paulette Stepp and nephew Robert Austin Stepp of Maryville; brother and sister-in-law, Randy and Geraldine Carver of Knoxville; brother-in-law, Richard Carver of Knoxville; daughters of the heart, Leinna Slone, Sabrina Slone, and Brittnay Stout of Clinton, and Allison Hope Taylor of Claxton; grandson of the heart, Braylon Taylor of Claxton; ss well as several aunts, uncles, cousins, and a host of lifelong friends that were always in his heart.
He will truly and greatly be missed by all who had the privilege of knowing and loving him.
A memorial is planned for a later date in his Tennessee home and will be announced.
SHENNA IDLES
March 17, 2021
Shenna Idles, 37, Rocky Top, passed away Thursday, March 11, 2021, at her home.
She was born June 12, 1983, in LaFollette, the daughter of Jackie Ray Hankins and Cathy Carlene Lawson. She married her best friend James Thomas Idles on April 4, 2009.
Shenna was preceded in death by: Brother, Michael Todd Patterson; father, Jackie Ray Hankins; and grandmother, Willow Dean Tucker.
She is survived by: Loving husband; four daughters; one son; one granddaughter; and one brother.
Husband, James Thomas Idles; daughters, Haley Siler (husband, Timothy Siler), Lacey Disney, Briley Idles, and Lakeley Idles; son, Jayden Rains; granddaughter, Macy Ann Siler; brother, Eric Patterson (wife Heather Patterson); nieces, Alisha Patterson and Alyssa Tucker; nephews, Leeland Patterson, Caden Idles, Blayze Idles, and Emerson Idles; special parents, Ernie and Jackie Ciuffini, and Mike Prosise; special brothers, Jesse Ciuffini, Phillip Sexton, Bryant Idles, and Michael Idles.
Shenna always had a house full of kids, not all hers by blood but by choice, and they all called her mom. She loved her animals; dogs, Gracie, Charlie, and Berry; five cats, and one granddog, Cooper.
Her favorite place to be was at the beach, sitting on the sand finding shark teeth. Her whole world was her girls, granddaughter, and her family. She will be missed by so many people. She was loved so very much.
The family will received friends at the Holley-Gamble Funeral Home in Rocky Top from noon – 2 p.m. Tuesday, March 16, 2021, with the funeral service following at 2 p.m. with Pastor Jason Goans officiating.
Her graveside service was at Circle Cemetery following the funeral service.
MICHAEL DAVID HOLSTINE SR.
March 17, 2021
Michael David Holstine Sr., 61, Clinton, passed away Saturday, March 13, 2021, at his home.
He was born Feb. 10, 1960, in Lake City to William Holstine and Geraldine Heatherly. He loved to play the flat top and bass guitar. He liked to fish, hunt, and target shoot. He enjoyed taking trips to the beach and watching the dolphins. Michael attended the Clinton Church of God of Prophecy and will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by: Sister, Shirley Gentry; niece, Beverly Wilson; and brothers, Fred and Gary.
He is survived by: Wife, Karen Holstine; children, Michael David Holstine Jr. and wife Nicole, Kevin Lee Holstine and wife Ashley, and Crystal Holstine and fiancé Devon Smith; step-children, Jordan Fraley, Cody David Holstine, Austin Connor Osborne, and Cheyenne Lee Barber; siblings, Brenda Wilson and husband David, and Martha Tucker; grandchildren, Allison, Madison, Christian, Reagan, Brooklyn, Landon, Bentley, Riley, Joey, and Aundrea; father-in-law, Kenneth Owen Seiber; several nieces, nephews and a host of other family and friends.
The family will receive friends at the Holley-Gamble Funeral Home in Rocky Top from 5 – 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, 2021, with the funeral service to follow at 7 p.m.
GLADYS ELKINS
March 17, 2021
Gladys Elkins, 91, Clinton, passed away Wednesday, March 10, 2021, at her residence.
Gladys was born Nov. 8, 1929 in Clinton, to Alonzo and Mary Shoopman. She was a lifetime member of Clinton First Baptist Church and will be remembered as a loving mother to all her family. Gladys family will miss her phone calls notifying them of any traffic updates, upcoming weather and weather conditions, and calling to see they made it home safe.
In addition to her parents she was also preceded in death by: Son, Barry Elkins; sisters, Virginia Hill and Lorene Davis; brother, Carl Shoopman.
She was survived by: Loving husband of 69 years, Ray Elkins of Clinton; daughter, Joni Gannon and husband Rich of Knoxville; grandson, Clay Gannon of Knoxville; several nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and many dear lifelong friends.
The family would like to thank the amazing team of caregivers during the last 6 months!
Friends and family came to Holley Gamble Funeral Home between 9 a.m. – 29.m. Saturday, March 13, 2021, to sign the register book. The family held a graveside service at 3 p.m. Saturday, March 13, 2021, at Sunset Cemetery with the Rev. Danny Chisholm officiating.
In lieu of flowers the family requests memorials be made to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Holley Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements.
www.holleygamble.com
KENNETH RAY BARKER
March 17, 2021
Kenneth Ray Barker, 59, Oak Ridge passed away Saturday, March 14 at the University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville,
Born in Del Ray, Texas, Ken worked in Information Technology as a systems administrator. He was employed at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for the past 12 years.
Survivors include: Wife, Karen Long Barker; two step-children, Dr. Nixie Cat, Elmira, N.Y., and Laura Nolan-Robillard (Daniel), Las Vegas, Nev.; and step-grandchild Trevor Robillard.
A memorial gathering with friends and family will be held at a future date.
Holley Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements.
www.holleygamble.com
