LARRY DEAN SMITH
April 7, 2020
Larry Dean Smith, 64, Sharps Chapel, passed away Tuesday, April 7, 2020, at North Knoxville Medical Center.
He was of the Baptist faith. Born in Richlands, Va., Larry graduated from Richlands High School.
Larry retired two years ago from Caterpillar as a manager of technical publications after 34 years and moved to Norris Lake, where he and his wife built their dream home. He enjoyed fishing and the great outdoors. Having been the only son and middle child, he was the ultimate prankster. He loved people and his family the most.
Preceded in death by: Father, Burley Smith.
He is survived by: Wife, Pattie Bullock Smith; son, Nick Smith; mother, Juanita Smith; sisters, Pat Smith and Creta Lawson; along with several nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and a host of extended family and friends.
Due to current events, the family has chosen to have a Celebration of Life at a later date.
holleygamble.com
RUSSELL TIMOTHY STRAND
April 7, 2020
Russell Timothy Strand, a precious and beautiful soul, went peacefully home to be with his Lord and Savior April 7, 2020.
He was a kind and compassionate man with a willing heart to help others. The outdoors was a place of comfort; he enjoyed hunting, fishing, walking in the woods, gardening, and ginseng hunting. God, family, and country were priorities to him; he served in the U.S. Army.
Russell was born in International Falls, Minn., Jan. 8, 1956, to Ronald E. Strand and Alice L. Strand Taylor.
He was preceded in death by: Parents; sister, Candace; many loved ones and special friends.
Forever loved and sorely missed by: Wife, Bobbie Cardwell Strand; children and children he loved as his own, Sam, Monica (Juan), Emili, Gary, Mary Ann; special nephews, Jason and Dereck; grandchildren, Rowan, Aiden, Zander, and Michael; fur baby, Shadow; brother, Charles; sisters, Della, Kathy, Donna (Art), Cheryl, Cindy, Tina, Carol, Lori (Joe), Connie (Dan) of Minnesota, Melanie, Ann, and Stephanie of Canada; many extended family and lots of special friends.
A special thank you to the Rogersville VA Clinic staff, Mt. Home VA H.B.P.C Partners and those who shared in the journey of his life.
A Celebration of Life will be announced when a date can be finalized.
Jones Mortuary in Clinton is serving the family of Russell Timothy Strand.
SHIRLEY BERMUDA HANSARD
April 5, 2020
Shirley Bermuda Hansard, 83, Toledo, Ohio, passed away Friday. April 5, 2020, at the Hospice of Northwest Ohio.
Shirley liked to shop, work in her yard, she was very independent and “feisty” as her friends and family would jokingly say. Shirley liked butterflies and flowers also.
Shirley was preceded in death by: Parents, Dock Arthur Taylor and Edra Taylor; husband, Carl lee Hansard; infant son, Wendel Ray Hansard; brother, Jerry Taylor of Toledo, Ohio; sisters, Betty Murray of Texas, Joyce Martin.
Shirley is survived by: Daughters, Sherie Hansard of Clinton, Tammy Hansard of Toledo, Ohio; sisters, Ginger Turnbill of Clinton, Maryln Dumbar of Toledo, Ohio, Dolly Lykins of Briceville, Sandra Wilson of Lake City, and Violet Harmon of Jacksboro. Shirley also has four grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Shirley’s family received her friends from 11 a.m. -1 p.m. Thursday June 11, 2020, in the chapel of Jones Mortuary in Clinton, with funeral service at 1 p.m. Interment immediately followed at Jarnigan Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery.
Jones Mortuary in Clinton was in charge of all arrangements.
BERNARD O’NEAL GRIGGS SR.
April 5, 2020
Bernard O’Neal Griggs Sr., 88, Clinton, passed away Sunday, April 5, 2020.
He was a family man through and through who never met a stranger.
He was born in Blackburn, Ala., but grew up with his other brothers and sisters in Gallatin and graduated from Gallatin High School, where he played basketball and football. He was proud to serve his country as a military policeman in the Korean War, and afterward attended Tennessee Tech where he graduated with a chemical engineering degree.
Bernard worked many years as a chemical engineer, and retired from Y-12 Oak Ridge.
Bernard was an avid reader and enjoyed working all kinds of word puzzles. He also loved Atlanta Braves baseball, and traveled extensively with his “Posse” - his wife, Mary, and sisters- in-law, Dot and Carolyn - to attend Lady Vols basketball games. In later years, he and his beloved wife, Mary, enjoyed long drives to Norris Park and surrounding areas. He was a member of First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge, where he enjoyed teaching Sunday school classes in years past.
He was preceded in death by: Wife, Mary Scruggs Griggs; parents, Walter and Anne Griggs; four brothers and four sisters.
He is survived by: Three children, Neal Griggs (Jean), Lisa Griggs (Mike), and Sherri Baumeister (Jerry); grandchildren, Amy, Amber, and Shannon; great-grandchildren, Hailee, Makinzee, and Jaidan; brother, Grady Griggs of Johnson City; sisters, Anne Rodgers of Brewton, Ala., and Imogene Thurman of Gallatin; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Due to current situations, the family will plan a memorial service at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to either of the music programs at First United Methodist Church of Oak Ridge or St. Stephens Episcopal Church in Oak Ridge.
BLANCHE H. KELLY
April 2, 2020
Blanche H. Kelly, Clinton, passed away peacefully April 2, 2020, at the age of 97.
She was born Dec. 21, 1922. in Madison County, N.C. in 1941. She married, moved to, and raised her five children in Maryland. In 1979 after retiring, she and her husband moved to Riviera Beach, Fla. In 1997 Blanche moved to Tennessee to be closer to her daughter, Linda Stansberry.
Preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers.
Also preceded in death by: Husband of 49 years, Maurice T. Kelly; daughter, Barbara Mercer; and daughter, Joyce Platt.
Survived by: Sister, Evelyn Hunter of Mars Hill, N.C.; daughter, Linda Stansberry of Clinton; daughter, Mary Jane (Janie) Marengo of Clinton; son, Thomas (Tom) Kelly of Summerfield, Fla.; and son-in-law, George Platt of Boynton Beach, Fla. She is also survived by nine grandchildren and16 great-grandchildren.
A private graveside service will be held at Grandview Cemetery officiated by Pastor Dave Grant
In lieu of flowers, please make donations to St. Mark United Methodist Church, 252 N. Main Street, Clinton, TN. 37716.
Arrangements by Holley Gamble Funeral Home. www.holleygamble.com
JUSTIN SCOTT GHEEN
April 1, 2020
Justin Scott Gheen, beloved father, son, uncle and brother, born Nov. 5, 1981, passed away at the University of Tennessee Medical Center at 10:24 a.m. April 1, 2020.
Known for his infectious smile and contagious laugh he always had a story to tell. With his larger-than-life heart, Justin had also been a minister of the gospel of Jesus Christ, earning his minister’s license from The Light Of Ministries International.
Preceded in death by: Maternal grandparents, Vincent and Mildred Goad; and father, Kenneth Richard “Rick” Gheen.
He is survived by: Mother, Margaret Trent and stepfather David Trent; sons, Elijah Kovalick-Carnes and Isaiah Gheen; sisters, Shea Red Horse and Tracy Upton and families; brother, Kenny Gheen and family; many beloved nephews, nieces, aunts, uncles, cousins and friends, who will miss him dearly.
Jones mortuary will be overseeing all proceedings and there will be no viewing at this time.
In lieu of flowers please send donations to Justin’s Go Fund Me account located on his personal FaceBook page.
These funds will be used to help pay for all funeral costs.
GARY GENE MULLINS
March 31, 2020
Gary Gene Mullins, age 73 of Rocky Top, passed away on Tuesday, March 31, 2020 at his home. He was born on November 19, 1946 at Lafollette Hospital. He later moved to Texas where he worked for Harris County in Road Construction. After retirement he moved back to Lake City. Gary enjoyed trading cars and was a member of Ridgeview Baptist Church. He will be dearly missed by all who knew him.
He is preceded in death by wife, Vernia Mae Mullins; step-dad, Lawrence Mullins; sisters, Peggy Smith, Carol Peveto; and brother, James Mullins.
He is survived by: mother, Wanda Mullins; brothers, Michael Mullins, Carl Mullins; and other family and friends.
His graveside service at Ridgeview Baptist Church Cemetery will be private. Holley-Gamble Funeral Home in Rocky Top is in charge of all arrangements. www.holleygamble.com
WILLARD WHITE
March 30, 2020
Willard White, 80, Clinton, passed away Monday, March 30, 2020, at his home.
He was a long-time member of Batley Baptist Church.
He retired from Y-12 Nuclear Facility in 1999 after 32 years.
He was preceded in death by: Parents, Amos and Eva Lee White; brother, Steve White; niece, Shelley Rhea; nephew, Terry Long; and special cousin, A.C. White.
Willard is survived by: Wife of 55 years, Sue Worthington White; daughter and son-in-law, Carole and Greg Cooper; granddaughter, Taylor Viglasky and fiance Kaleb Rife; grandchildren, Brittainy and Eric Barger, Alex Cooper and Ryan Wood; grandson, Brandon Cooper; great-grandson, Zaylen Barger; and great-granddaughter, Emreigh Barger.
He is also survived by: Sister and special brother-in-law, Shelby and Rusty Kelley; sisters, Lola Parks, Helen White, Edna White; and sister-In-law, Irene White; niece, Angie and Charles Relford; and nephew, Tim and Donna Long; as well as several other nieces, nephews and family members.
A celebration of his life will be held at a later date.
Memorial donations may be sent in his name to Alzheimer’s Tennessee, 5801 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37919 or ahzTennessee.org.
Weatherford Mortuary is handling the arrangements.
An online guest book can be signed at weatherfordmortuary.com.
