WILLA DEAN COOPER DAGLEY
January 15, 2021
Willa Dean Cooper Dagley, 93, died Jan. 15, 2021, at Courtyards Senior Living in Oak Ridge.
Willa Dean was born in Morgan County to Ruben Claude and Bedie Mary Wilson Cooper. On New Year’s Eve, 1947, she married the love of her life, Carvel Lonas Dagley. She was a longtime member of Black Oak Baptist Church in Clinton. She was a beloved mother and Grandmommy to her grand-kids and great-grand-kids.
Along with her parents and husband Carvel, Willa Dean was preceded in death by: Daughter, Diane Long; father and mother-in-law, Everette and Pearl Dagley; sisters, Jo Carter, Ann Rainey, and Claudia Jansen; brothers-in-law, Leonard Rainey, Wade Seiber, Dick Baldwin, and D.L. Dagley; sisters-in-law, Louise Dagley and Mary (Patsy) Wilson.
She is survived by: Children, Robert (Charlotte) Dagley, Gail (Kenny) Cook, and Lisa (Denny) Kirkland; son-in-law, Steve Long; grandchildren, Meagan Canipe, Logan (Lisa) Dagley, Stacy Long, Bethany Long, Alicia (Joe) Shelton, Kevin (Shannon) Cook, Nic (Adele) Kirkland, Trisha (Tommy) Riley, and Casey Swain (T.J. Daugherty); great-grandchildren, Jack, Luke, Sam and Charlotte Dagley, Cole and Emma Canipe, Amber and Josiah Shelton, Keaton and Kennedy Cook, Ziva Kirkland and Layla Daugherty.
She is also survived by: Sister, Rema Seiber; brothers-in-law, Tom Dagley, Bob Carter and Dave Jansen; and many nieces and nephews.
The family would like to thank the staff at The Courtyards for all their loving care.
You may call at your convenience from noon – 4 p.m. Monday, Jan. 18, 2021, at Holley Gamble Funeral Home.
A graveside service will be held at Black Oak Baptist Church Cemetery at 11:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 19, 2021, with Logan Dagley officiating.
Holley Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements.
www.holleygamble.com
RALPH DEAN PORTER
January 15, 2021
Ralph Dean Porter passed away Jan. 15, 2021, peacefully at the age of 90 at his home in Norris.
Ralph was born Oct. 3, 1930, in Carroll County to J.D. and Ilah (Vaughn) Porter. His family moved to Knoxville where he graduated from Knoxville High in 1948. Ralph attended Milligan College for two years where he was on the football team. He returned to Knoxville to begin his lifelong career as an electrician, a trade he shared with his father and older brother, David. He worked for several Knoxville area electrical contractors and worked on the construction of government facilities in Oak Ridge and Paducah, Ky. Ralph was a veteran of the U.S. Army where he attended Signal School and served in the Signal Corp at Fort Huachuca, Ari. In 1962 he went to work for the Oak Ridge National Laboratory where his career spanned 34 years. His work there was well respected and could be identified by his meticulous attention to detail.
Ralph is survived by: Beloved wife of 67 years, JoAnn (Wallace) Porter; son and daughter-in-law, Wally and Kay Porter of Clinton; and daughter, Penny (Porter) Crabtree of Clinton; grandchildren include, Samuel G. Porter and wife Susan of Signal Mountain, Aaron K. Porter and wife Lynnsey of Jefferson City, Kaylee (Crabtree) Keck and husband Tyler of Norris, and Rachel Crabtree of Clinton, and boyfriend Logan Harris; great-grandchildren include, Addison and Emily Porter, Elearie and Ilah Porter, and Kasen Keck.
Other family includes: Sister-in-law, June (Wallace) McWane; niece, Melanie (McWane) Grant and husband David and sons Jack and Andrew; brother, Robert Porter and wife Beverly; nephew, Tommy; and niece, Tammy; nieces, Carol (Porter) Long and Susan (Porter) Bowling; and great-nephews and nieces.
Ralph was predeceased by: Parents, J.D. and Ilah Porter; father and mother-in-law, Glenn and Myrtle Wallace; brothers, Vaughn, Gordon, David; and sister-in-law, Betty; son-in-law, Richie Crabtree; granddaughter, Rebecca Crabtree; and brother-in-law, Luke McWane.
Ralph was a member of Bethel Baptist Church where he was a long time deacon and Sunday school teacher. He liked the outdoors, hunting, fishing, and boating and loved attending his grandchildren’s dance and sports events.
The family would like to give special thanks to his nurses and staff of Professional Case Management of Tennessee.
Holley Gamble (www.holleygamble.com) of Clinton will be handling arrangements.
There will be a private graveside service at this time followed by a celebration of life at a later date.
GEORGE M. WILSON
January 14, 2021
George M. Wilson, 94, Clinton, died Thursday, Jan. 14, 2021, at the Lantern at Morning Pointe, a caring and loving community.
He was born Sept. 16, 1926, in Blackey, Ky., the youngest of seven children. His parents were Elizabeth Griffith and James Taylor Wilson of Jellico. George had a love for sports and a passion for coaching and education. Before attending college, George joined the US Army where he served in the infantry in World War II in Japan and the Philippines. After returning from serving his country, he received an undergraduate degree from Cumberland College and a master’s degree from Union College.
He impacted the lives of many in his 35-year career serving his communities as a teacher, coach and principal in Anderson and Campbell Counties.
George is survived by: Loving wife of 59 years, Jennie Culver Wilson, also a former educator; two children, Elizabeth Ann “Liz” (Casey) Hobbs of Brentwood, Brian (Karen) Wilson of Oak Ridge; and four adored grandchildren, Christopher (Emmy) Hobbs, Grace, Kate and David Wilson; and many nieces and nephews.
George was a member of First United Methodist Church, Oak Ridge.
Holley Gamble Funeral Home is handling the arrangements and a Celebration of Life will be held at a later date.
The family would like to thank the dedicated staff at Morning Pointe and Caris Hospice for the wonderful care they provided.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in George’s honor to First United Methodist Church, 1350 Oak Ridge Turnpike, Oak Ridge, TN 37830 or Jefferson Middle School Athletic Department, 200 Fairbanks Rd. Oak Ridge, TN 37830.
Holley Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements.
www.holleygamble.com
BRYAN KEITH VOWELL
January 9, 2021
Bryan Keith Vowell, 58, Clinton, passed away Saturday Jan. 9, 2021.
Bryan was a simple man who loved to work on cars, including his 1987 Trans Am. He loved his family.
He was preceded in death by: Maternal grandparents, John L. and Revialla Noe; paternal grandparents, Everett and Edith Vowell; father-in-law, Glen Dabney.
Bryan is survived by: Wife of 25 years, Wendy Vowell; parents, Evelyn and J.C. Vowell; sister, Gwen and husband James Lane; mother-in-law, Mary Dabney; several brothers and sisters-in-law; a host of nieces and nephews; and lots of extended family.
The family will receive friends from 1 – 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 16, 2021 at Jones Mortuary. Services will be at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Garvan Walls officiating. Graveside will follow the service at Leach Cemetery in Rocky Top.
Jones Mortuary in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements.
Online condolences for the family may be expressed at www.jonesmortuaryllc,com
DIANA SMITH
January 8, 2021
Diana Smith, 72, Clinton, after fighting the good fight, went to be with the Lord Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, from The Waters of Clinton.
She was born Jan. 15, 1948, to the late Carl McAdoo Wallace and Dovie Omega Cline in Anderson County. She loved reading, especially her Bible. She enjoyed going to church and was a member of Sinking Springs United Methodist Church and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
In addition to her parents she was preceded in death by brother, W.A. "Butch" Martin.
She is survived by: Son, David Lee Smith and wife Linda; daughter, Rae Lyne Sharp and Michael Greene; grandchildren, Sinjin Smith, Stephanie, Tiffany, and Brittany Sharp, Jeremy and Matthew Shelton; great-grandchildren, Carson and Adalyn Shelton; special sister and best friend, Carol Farmer; special niece, Pat Martin; many other family and friends.
A special thank you to the staff at The Waters of Clinton for their love and support of 12 years.
A graveside service will take place at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 12, 2021, at Sinking Springs United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Holley-Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements.
www.holleygamble.com
HELEN LLEWELLN HAMMER
January 7, 2021
Helen Llewellyn Hammer, 98, Clinton, died peacefully Jan. 7, 2021, at NHC in Oak Ridge.
Helen was born in Knoxville to Frank and Margaret Llewellyn. She was a graduate of Farragut High School and it was there that she met the love of her life, A.B. (Bernard) Hammer Jr. She attended the University of Tennessee for a time but chose to marry Bernard and move to Guntersville, Ala., where the original Hammer’s Department Store was established by his family.
Helen and Bernard came to Clinton in May of 1952 to stay for a week in order to close out a small store on Market Street that was in bankruptcy. Business was so good; however, that they sent back to Guntersville to get more merchandise. That original one week stay became a lifetime. Helen remained very active in the store throughout the last 68 years as she was featured in the store’s television and radio ads, never missed a buying trip or trade show, and worked every day in the office performing the bookkeeping duties of the company. During that time, she and Bernard introduced the business to their children and grandchildren and allowed them to fall in love with it just as they had. As a result, Helen was never far from the two things she loved most on this earth, her work and her family. Even though these things were her focus, she still took time to invest in her community. She served as president of the Clinton Chamber of Commerce, served on the board of Third National Bank, was an active member of the Timely Topics and Garden Club. She was a longtime member of Andersonville Methodist Church but spent the last years of her life at Second Baptist Church with family. Helen loved traveling, reading and entertaining family and friends. She was a beloved mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.
Helen was preceded in death by: Husband, A.B. Hammer Jr.; son, Jeffrey Hammer; daughter, Margaret Calhoun; brother, Buddy Llewellyn and wife Ruby.
She is survived by: Daughter-in-law, Billie Sue Hammer and son-in-law, Don Calhoun; grandson, Kelly Calhoun and wife Tanya; grandson, Will Hammer and wife Whitney; grandson, Clay Hammer and wife Ashley; great-grandchildren, Harrison and Matthew Calhoun, Morgan and Millie Hammer, Gabriella and Adaiah Hammer; niece, Janet Schofield; nephew, Rick Llewellyn.
The family would like to thank the kind nurses at NHC who cared for her during this difficult time.
The family will hold a private graveside service at Andersonville Cemetery at 3 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2021, with Dr. Mike Thompson officiating.
Helen believed in St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the American Cancer Society. The family requests memorials be made to these two charities in lieu of flowers.
LORA LYNN REED WIDENER
January 6, 2021
Lora Lynn Reed Widener, born May 2, 1964, departed this worldly life for her heavenly home Jan. 6, 2021, at the age of 56.
Lora was of Baptist faith and will be dearly missed by those who knew and loved her.
She was preceded in death by: Father; Jack Edward Reed; grandparents, Sherman and Iva Reed, the Rev. Edward and Alice Burnett.
She is survived by: Loving husband, Robert Widener; daughters, Sarah Floyd and Dana Hammond (Griffin); loving mother, Judy Webster; grandmother, Amanda Tatum; brother, Cecil Reed; and sister, Jackie Roberts; grandchildren, Riley, Daniel and Rowan; life-long friend, Sharon; along with a host of friends and extended family.
The family celebrated Lora’s life privately and laid her to rest at Caledonia Cemetery in Knoxville.
Arrangements provided by Bridges Funeral Home of Knoxville.
RONALD EUGENE COOPER
January 6, 2021
Ronald Eugene Cooper, 71, Powell, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 6, 2021, at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.
He was born July 23, 1949, in Knoxville to the late John Eugene Cooper and Elise Breeden Cooper. He was a veteran of the United States Army having served in Vietnam. After his time in the army he went on to serve in the National Guard.
In addition to his parents, Ronnie was preceded in death by: Wife, Phyllis Coward Cooper; siblings, Shirley Ann Shultz and Donald Ray Cooper.
Survived by: Siblings, Tommy Cooper, Michael Cooper and wife Carolyn and Barbara Anderson; special friends, Roger Metcalf, David Coward, James Monroe and Brian Johnson.
Ronald’s graveside will be held at the East Tennessee State Veteran Cemetery 2200 E. Governor John Sevier Highway at 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, January 20, 2021.
www.holleygamble.com
