FRED KEENEY
January 5, 2021
Fred Keeney, 93, Heiskell, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021, at his home.
He was born Aug. 4, 1927, to the late Joe and Sarah Welch Keeney in Heiskell. He was a veteran of the United States Marine Corps having served in both World War II and the Korean conflict. He also took pride in receiving a certificate of recognition for having saved a man’s life when the ConAgra Mill exploded. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by: Wife, Ella Adams Keeney; son, Dennis Keeney; four sisters; one brother; and daughter-in-law, Vicki Cooper Keeney.
He is survived by: Sons, Gary Keeney, Ray Keeney; grandchildren, Gary J. Keeney II and wife Annetta, Melissa Cline Davis, Stephanie Keeney Braden and husband Benji; great-grandchildren, Alicia, Brittany, Lucas, Lissa, Zachary, Bailey, Abbey, and Garrett; six great-great-grandchildren; sister-in-law, Betty Smith; and brother-in-law, Bill Adams.
The family will receive friends at Holley-Gamble Funeral Home from 10 – 11 a.m. Friday, Jan. 6, 2021, with the funeral service to follow at 11 a.m.
His burial will follow at Woodhaven Memorial Gardens with full military honors provided by Campbell County Honor Guard.
www.holleygamble.com
WANDA SUE CORNETT
January 4, 2021
Wanda Sue Cornett, 81, Lake City, passed away Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, at her residence.
She was born Aug. 21, 1939, in Fort Mountain to the late Woodrow and Virgie Moody Chamblee. Sue loved her flower garden, her “she shed,” four-wheeling and anything outside.
In addition to her parents, Sue was preceded in death by: Brothers, Bayless Aslinger, Harold Aslinger and Paul Aslinger; sister, Irene Bragg; and great-grandchildren, Nolan Taylor and Hadaleigh Phillips.
Survivors: Husband, Fred Cornett of Lake City; sons, Wayne Cornett of Lake City, Freddy Cornett and Donna of Clinton, Jimmy Cornett of Lake City; daughter, Linda Burke of Heiskell; brother, J.C. Aslinger and Betty of Bellevue, Ohio; sister, Polly Gibson of Briceville; 12 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren.
Visitation was held from 5 – 7 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, at Hatmaker Funeral Home.
Interment was at 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 9, 2021, at Mountain View Cemetery in Lake City.
GENE R. PERRY
January 4, 2021
Gene R. Perry, 89, Clinton, passed away Monday, Jan. 4, 2021, from COVID-19 at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.
Gene contracted the coronavirus in the nursing home where he lived.
Gene was born and raised near Madison, W.Va. He earned a bachelor of divinity degree from Drew Theological Seminary (Drew University, Madison, N.J.). He later earned a master’s of divinity degree. The Reverend Gene Perry served the Baltimore (Md.) Conference of the United Methodist Church for 30 years. He spent his retirement relaxing in Tennessee.
During his younger years, one of Gene’s favorite leisure activities was fishing from a small boat, occasionally accompanied by his beagle, Snoopy. He also loved to attend Christian revival events. But most of the time he was visiting with parishioners, conducting church business, or working on the next Sunday’s sermon.
Regarding the delivery of his sermons, Gene enjoyed a captive audience and was quite skillful at steering clear of the “less is more” approach. Throughout his life, Gene was always enthusiastic about his Christian faith and loved to talk about scriptures from the Bible.
Gene is survived by: Sons, Timothy (Sharon) Perry, Chuck Perry, Chris Perry, Glenn Gardner; daughter, Nancy Gardner; and granddaughter, Christilia Perry.
Gene also leaves behind: Sister-in-law, Nancy (Barbara) Caldwell; niece, Margie (Tom) Knight; wonderful neighbors, Charlie and Kay Hayes; and his most helpful, caring friend, Jenny Williams.
Gene was preceded in death by: Beloved wife, Annie; his parents, Charles and Nina Perry; and brothers, Gerald Perry, and Elwood Perry.
In Gene’s memory, please wear a mask in public and take COVID-19 seriously.
Due to the pandemic, no service will be held.
GORDON 'SCOTTY' GRAY
January 3, 2021
Gordon “Scotty” Gray, 87, Clinton passed away Jan. 3, 2021.
Born Sept. 17, 1933, he is survived by his wife of 35 years, Beulah Phillips Gray.
Scotty was born in Dumbarton, Scotland, and came to the United States at age 16. His immigration was sponsored by his aunt and uncle, who brought him to Detroit to live with them and to pursue the American Dream, which he ultimately achieved when he founded a company.
Scotty’s mischievous sense of humor combined with the twinkle in his clear, blue eyes made him a joy to be with. He was a natural storyteller.
He entered the U.S. Army near the end of the Korean War and was stationed in Italy.
He worked for Dexco Tool Company in Michigan for 30 years as a vice president before co-founding his own business, Dumbarton Tool, in 1986. He retired in 1993 and relocated to Tennessee. Dumbarton Tool is now owned by his son, Danny.
He was a lifetime member of the Scottish Rite.
He was preceded in death by: Parents, Robert and Elizabeth Gray. He was one of eight children. Two sisters, Edith and Myra, and two brothers, George and Robert, preceded him in death.
In addition to his wife, Beulah, he is survived by: Brother, Danny; two sisters, Jane and Betty; one son, Danny; three daughters, Shirley, Sharon “Toto”, and Diane; grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was particularly close to his nieces, Debbie and Sheryl; and nephews, Tony, Mike, Alan and Randy.
Visitation took place from 5-6 p.m. Thursday, Jan 7, 2021, at Hatmaker Funeral Home in Rocky Top and graveside services were at 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8, 2021, at Woodhaven Memorial Gardens in Claxton.
The family asked that attendees wear masks.
KATHY PAULINE METCALF
January 3, 2021
Kathy Pauline Metcalf, 62, Powell, passed away Sunday, Jan. 3, 2021, due to complications from COVID-19.
She was born Oct. 20, 1958, to Albert Charles “Bud” Cook and Ella Mae (Kelley) Cook. Kathy loved her family and had lots of friends. She enjoyed shopping for jewelry, purses, shoes and clothes. She was adventurous and loved traveling and will be dearly missed by all who knew her.
Kathy was preceded in death by: Brother, Charles Kevin Cook; grandparents Jim and Georgia Kelley and David and Lizzie Cook; special uncles, Jimmy Kelley and Eugene Kelley; aunts, Arvilla Bunch, Bess Melton, and Della Loope; mother and father-in-law, Buford and Dixie Metcalf; and several cousins and other family and friends.
Survived by: Husband of 41 years, Roger Metcalf; parents, Charles “Bud” and Ella Mae Kelley Cook; sister, Debbie Cook; nephews, Logan Cook and Ian Cook; special nephew, Calvin McCarter; many friends and family.
Kathy’s family is planning a memorial service at a later date.
Holley Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements.
In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Susan G. Komen Foundation or St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital.
www.holleygamble.com
SHIRLEY FAY ‘MELTON’ ALLAWAY
January 3, 2021
Shirley Fay “Melton” Allaway, Andersonville, born April 15, 1945, in East Chicago, Indiana, passed away Jan. 3, 2021.
Shirley was a member of Mt. Pleasant Methodist Church in Andersonville. She’s in heaven with Jesus and her God. She was thankful for all the prayers from her church family, and friends from all over the country. It’s been a long struggle with her heath, especially the last two years. She would like to thank the doctors and nurses that tried to keep her alive.
A girlfriend introduced her to her future husband at a bowling alley, called it a perfect strike from Cupid. The couple made their home in Hammond, Ind., and Dyer, Ind. They enjoyed comradery with friends over card games, concerts (Johnny Mathis, Tom Jones, Liberace and Travis Tritt were favorites) and more birthdays, dinners, anniversaries, holidays and Sunday-afternoon visits with extended family than any calendar could keep track of. Shirley and Richard bought a pop-up camper and enjoyed the great outdoors at campgrounds, national parks and recreation areas for many years. When they moved to Andersonville in 2002, they set up a large camper in Norris as temporary “home and hearth” while their house was being built. Shirley and Richard were dedicated Notre Dame fans — donning the blue and gold to attend every home game (and some away) for more than 30 years. They adapted, however, when they crossed that state line into Big Orange Country and became fans of Pat Summit and her Lady Vols.
She was preceded in death by: Parents, Clarence and Leona” Stooksbury” Melton; brother, Markel Wayne Melton; mother-in-law, Ruth Allaway; sister-in-law, Carole Groszewski; close friends, Anna Pullen, Diane Krajewki and Rose Horvath.
Shirley is survived by: Beloved husband, Richard Lee Allaway; nephew, Lawrence Groszewski; niece, Carrie Colleen Melton; lifelong friend, Carmella Rowe.
Per the family’s request Shirley’s services will be private.
holleygamble.com
DONALD R. KNIGHT
January 2, 2021
On Saturday, Jan. 2, 2021, Donald R. Knight, loving husband and father, passed away at the age of 67 from complications of COVID-19.
Donnie was born Feb. 17, 1953, in Knoxville. He was a small business owner in Oak Ridge for more than 30 years. Donnie was known to some of the local musicians as a band mate and sound engineer.
Preceded in death by: Grandparents, Dester and Mossie Cox Sharp of Clinton; father, Ralph “Pete” Knight of Haleyville, Ala.; mother, Reba (Sharp) Monday of Clinton; sisters, Debbie Johnson, Mary Ann Johnson, Linda (Monday) Blair, all of Clinton.
Donald is survived by: Wife, Carol Knight of Clinton; son, Michael (Krista) Knight of Oak Ridge; daughter, Stacy (Joshua) Suggs of Knoxville; stepdaughter, Kari (Brian) Kelly; stepson, Steve Watts.
Donald was also poppy to six grandchildren and one great-grandchild; big brother to Shelia (Joe) McClure, Brenda Roach, Bo (Sylvia) Knight, Tommy Knight, Kelly (Knight) Calvo, and several cousins, nieces, and nephews.
Graveside services will be held at a later date.
WILLIAM DALPHINE LEDFORD
December 30, 2020
William Dalphine Ledford, 86, Clinton, passed away Dec. 30, 2020, with his family by his side.
Prior to his retirement, he worked at Hammers Department Store. Mr. Ledford was the son of Issac and Lucy Hutchins Ledford and was of the Baptist faith. He enjoyed fishing and visiting with his friends.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by: Son William Ledford; brothers, Joseph Ledford and Franklin Ledford; sister, Freddie Mae Ledford; nieces, Cheryl Kay Ledford and Deborah Coward; and nephew, Jimmy Ledford.
He is survived by: Sister and brother-in-law, Dorothy and Will Morrell; daughters, Kimberly (Allen) Brummett, Virginia Shipley, Martha (Robert) Wagner, and Rebecca (Roy) Jenkins; 12 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and many friends.
A graveside service was held in Woodhaven Memorial Gardens at 2 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2021.
Woodhaven Funeral Home and Memorial Gardens are honored to serve the family of William Ledford.
