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Obituaries

William Douglas Carter

William Douglas Carter

May 20, 1956 — October 27, 2024

Clinton

William Douglas “Doug” Carter, age 68 of Clinton, Tn. passed away on Sunday, October 27, 2024 at the North Knoxville Medical Center surrounded by family following a period of declining health. Doug was a brick mason and a maintenance worker for ORNL Credit Union.

Born in Knoxville, Tn. on May 20, 1956 he was the son of the late William Cleo Carter and Margie Bumgardner Carter. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife: Cindy Carter, and sister: Theressia Hammers.

Doug is survived by his son: Kevin Carter and wife Audrey of Briceville, Tn.; sisters: Jennifer Carter, Rebecca Hartsfield and husband Anthony, Tammy Henderlight and husband Jeff and Jeanette Carroll and husband Ronnie, all of Clinton, Tn.; grandchildren: Anthony Martin, Anna Martin, Skylar Martin, June Carter, Dakoda Carter, Shania Carter and Jolene Carter and many other nieces and nephews and other relatives and friends.

The Carter family will receive friends on Friday, November 1, 2024 from 5:00 p.m. until time of the funeral service at 7:00 p.m. in the Jones Mortuary Chapel with Rev. David Bumgardner officiating. Burial will follow at a later date.

Jones Mortuary of Clinton, Tn. is serving the family of William Douglas “Doug” Carter.

Pauline Robertson Collins

Pauline Robertson Collins, 98, of Clinton, passed away on Oct. 27, 2024. She was the youngest child of Squire Jefferson and Mary Mink Robertson of Claiborne County. The Robertsons reared 11 children on their farm in the Goin community.

Pauline worked at and retired from Shinliver Elementary School in Anderson County. She was a long-time member of Second Baptist Church in Clinton. She was married to O.C. Collins of Clinton for 59-1/2 years.

Pauline was preceded in death by her husband and her daughter, Patsy Collins of Soddy Daisy, Tennessee. She is survived by her daughter Brenda Latham and husband, Fred, of Knoxville; grandson, Zach Latham and wife, Ashley; great-grandchildren, Ella and Livi Latham of Soddy Daisy; and sister-in-law, Linda Collins of Claiborne County.

The family will receive friends from 5 to 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 1, 2024, at Holley-Gamble Funeral Home. Her funeral will follow in the chapel with the Rev. Dr. Michael Thompson and the Rev. Gary Swaggerty officiating. The graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, at Woodhaven Memorial Garden, officiated by the Rev. Mike Atkins.

Pallbearers will be nephews of the deceased, with Becky Rayburn’s Sunday School class of Second Baptist Church serving as honorary pallbearers. The family extends heartfelt thanks to the caregivers and nurses at Viva (Commonwealth) Senior Living for their excellent care over the past seven years.

Holley-Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton is in charge of arrangements.

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BETTY FRANK COX

Born to William Augustus Frank and Daisy Milton, Betty Frank Cox filled her life with love, laughter, and an unending spirit of adventure.

She leaves behind a family who adored her: her daughter, Sharon Cox Gilbert; son and daughter-in-law, James “Gary” and Peggy Cox; granddaughters, René Gilbert Hebenstreit, and Ashley Gaillard; and four great-grandchildren, Natalie Hebenstreit, Erich Hebenstreit, Lauren Klappholz, and Hayden Klappholz.

Her legacy lives on in each of us, woven into our memories, stories, and shared laughter in her honor.

Betty was married to her beloved husband, Jim, for almost 75 years. Together they filled those decades with rich experiences, unforgettable adventures, and friendships that spanned a lifetime. In every season and every journey, Betty’s boundless love and unwavering devotion to her family remained constant. Their dear friends, Ben and Francis Lewis, shared in so many of these treasured years and became more like family than friends.

When Betty and her family lived in Clinton, she was a dedicated member of the United Methodist Church, a place where she found both community and purpose. A devoted wife, mother, and grandmother, Betty brought warmth and joy into every role. She was always there for her family—from being the Little

League mom, always cheering on her kids, to indulging Jim’s projects, no matter how big or unexpected (including the one that may or may not have filled the house with airplane parts!). Known for her kindness and generosity, she was deeply involved in her community. She cherished her time in “Timely Topics,” a local civic group, and was a proud member of Beta Sigma Phi, an international women’s sorority, where she formed lifelong friendships and shared laughter with women who became an extended family.

Betty found joy in the simple pleasures of life: tending to her garden, gathering with friends for bridge games, and never turning down a chance to dominate in Kings in the Corner, where she could beat the best of us with ease! Whether it was through art, music, or her love of travel, Betty embraced every opportunity to make life vibrant and full of discovery. She took pride in her clubs and cherished every gathering, especially when family was close by.

Today, we remember her not with sadness but with gratitude and smiles for the joy, laughter, and lessons she brought into our lives. Her legacy of love and resilience will continue to inspire us as we carry forward her kindness and warmth to everyone around us. Betty’s presence was a gift, and her memory will forever be a blessing to us all.

Services will be held on Nov. 6 at the Michels and Lundquist Chapel.

Receiving of friends begins at 4 p.m., with the service and a reception to follow.

She will be buried along with her husband, Jim Cox, at the Florida National Cemetery.

In honor of Betty’s lifelong love for animals, please consider making a donation to the Humane Society or an animal organization in your area, especially those impacted by recent floods.

Stephen Otis Carr

Stephen Otis Carr

April 11, 1958 — October 26, 2024

Clinton

Stephen Otis Carr, age 66 of Clinton, Tn. passed away on Saturday, October 26, 2024 at the Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge, Tn.

A retired automotive detailer, Stephen was born on April 11, 1958 in Oak Ridge, Tn. and was the son of the late Shirley Otis Carr and Nancy Shilt Carr Seiber. In addition to his parents, Stephen was preceded in death by his sister, Joan Byrge, and grandchild, Baby Carr.

Stephen is survived by his daughter: Tabetha Carr of Caryville, Tn.; brother: John Carr of Lenoir City, Tn.; sisters: Loretta Braden and husband Benny of Clinton, Tn. and Pam Warner and husband Randy of Virginia Beach, Va.; brother-in-law: Mike Byrge of Maynardville, Tn.; his grandchildren: Rae Leigh Henegar and Journey Carr, and many other relatives and friends.

There will be a Celebration of Life Service at a later date.

Jones Mortuary of Clinton, Tn. is serving the family of Stephen Otis Carr.

Hazel Jean Summers

Hazel Jean Summers

March 21, 1945 — October 24, 2024

Knoxville

Hazel Jean Summers, age 79 of Knoxville, TN passed away on Thursday, October 24, 2024 at her home. She was born to the late William and Cynthia Briddle on March 21, 1945. Hazel loved being around her family and friends. She enjoyed going to church and gardening.

Along with per parents she is preceded in death by her husband R.L. Summers Jr.; daughter Kathy Daugherty, and several brothers and sisters.

Hazel is survived by her children, Jimmy Summers of Conway, S.C., Debbie McClung of Rocky Top, TN, Melissa Summers of Knoxville, TN; Shawn Summers of Halls, TN; also several grandchildren, great grandchildren and great – great grandchildren.

Hazel’s family and friends will meet for her graveside service at 3:00 pm on Wednesday, October 30, 2024 at Grandview Memorial Garden in Clinton, TN.

Jones Mortuary in Clinton, TN is honored to serve the family of Hazel Jean Summers.

Virl Hobson

Virl Hobson, 98, of Norris, passed away peacefully on Oct. 24, 2024. A funeral will be held at 1:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 2, at Holley-Gamble Funeral Home, with visitation beginning at 12:30 p.m. Interment will follow at Woodhaven Memorial Gardens.

Virl was the third of seven children born to C.M. and Elizabeth Johnson in Loudon, Tennessee. Growing up during the Great Depression forged a strong sense of resilience, adaptability, faith, and humor in her family, traits that defined Virl throughout her life. Following her high school graduation during World War II, Virl joined Tennessee Eastman as a calutron operator supporting the Manhattan Project in Oak Ridge. She appears in Ed Westcott’s iconic photograph of the “Calutron Girls,” seated at a cubicle in the lower-left corner. After the war, she attended Draughon’s Business College and returned to Y-12, working in the purchasing department.

While living in Oak Ridge, she met and married Jack Hobson. They moved to Norris in 1955, welcomed two daughters, and Virl became a full-time homemaker until Jack’s untimely death in 1964. She then drew on her inner strength as a young widow and single mother, soon returning to a secretarial position at K-25, from where she retired with 30 years of service.

In retirement, Virl took on the role of devoted grandmother, honing adaptability and her sense of humor as she shepherded her grandchildren to church, provided after-school care, and for many years hosted family holiday and birthday gatherings.

Her resilience, adaptability, faith, and humor shone brightly as she faced the challenges of aging, remaining gracious and cheerful through Alzheimer’s, her ready smile and whispered “thank you” a lasting legacy for her family and caregivers.

In addition to her parents and husband, Virl was preceded in death by her brothers G. Benton Johnson and Jim Johnson; sisters Thelma Alexson, Mary Annis Arnwine, and Faye Conover. She is survived by her sister, Pat Green; daughters Karen Angel (Richard) and Melinda Beach (Chuck); grandchildren Alicia Bell (Brad), Kari Heuer (Mike), Joseph Angel (Miriam), Melissa Gerard (Lou), and Brooke Johnson (David); 12 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-granddaughters.

Memorial donations may be made to First Baptist Church, Norris, or the Alzheimer’s Association.

Virl’s family extends heartfelt gratitude for the loving care provided by The Lantern at Morning Pointe and Gentiva.

Doris Lovell Dunn

On the morning of Oct. 24, 2024, our Mum, Gram, and Great-Gram, Doris Lovell Dunn, passed away in her sleep at the age of 94. We celebrate her long life and the love she had for the beauty found in nature, music, learning, words, the Gospel, and most of all, her family.

When we remember her, we think of her as a teacher, grammarian, and lover of opera, classical, and jazz music (she even met Miles Davis and Chuck Mangione). She was a beatnik and artist, a rebel before her time. She continued going to school in secret even when she was forbidden to go and went on to complete her GED later in life. She was a cartographer and won multiple awards from the Bureau of the Census for drawing beautiful and precise maps. Her art included a variety of media, from painting watercolors to sewing dresses for Ms. Gay Knoxville to cooking culinary delights such as beef tongue sandwich and beef steak and kidney pie.

She passed on many traditions to her own family, including the Lovell Christmas toast, the Lovell family initiation ritual, and daily Jeopardy viewings.

Doris May Lovell was born on May 10, 1930 in Rochester, New York. She was the first child of the Lovell family born on this side of the Atlantic Ocean after her father, mother, and four older siblings emigrated to the United States from England.

In the following years, she was joined by three younger siblings. Doris married George Woittiez, with whom she had four children: Geoffrey (Candy), Cynthia (Robert), Timothy (Stacey), and Janice (Scott). In 1965, she married Lindsay Dougal and had another child, Elizabeth (Kevin). She married once more in the 1990s to Ted Dunn.

Over the years, she welcomed five grandchildren: Jeremy (Angela), Jonathan (Holly), Victoria (Brian), Ryan (Rachel), and Belle. Five great-grandchildren have since been born: Cooper, Ansley, Keegan, Mason, and Thomas. She was preceded in death by her children Timothy and Cynthia, and by five siblings: Frank, Reginald, Leonard, Gwendoline, and Geoffrey. She is survived by her siblings Grace and Joyce.

Doris’s legacy includes her family and friends, whom she loved dearly, such as faithful companions Lorri Johnson and Katie Musgrave. She loved well and was so well-loved in return.

Growing up during the Great Depression, Doris learned the value of frugality, and living through World War II taught her the values of unity and patriotism.

Doris supported racial equality by standing up to discrimination in the housing market, and went against the grain when it came to childrearing, giving birth without anesthesia and opting to breastfeed her children even when it was out of fashion to do so.

As a parent, she instilled a love of reading in her children by reading to them nearly every night. Doris impressed the importance of family, duty, grammar, manners, etiquette and appreciation for the arts on each of her loved ones. Her love of teaching and mentoring even extended into her death with her decision to donate her body to scientific research. She didn’t know a stranger; there was no such thing as a “quick” errand, as she would start spontaneous conversations with anybody and everybody at the store. This attitude extended to her goodbyes as she always insisted on waving goodbye from her porch.

Doris worked in many roles throughout her life, including as a hospital intake staff member, Census interviewer, painter, choral soloist, volunteer with the Contact suicide prevention hotline, and a seamstress who spent countless hours sewing Easter dresses for her daughters. Additionally, she was an actress who played in Norris Little Theater productions such as “Inherit the Wind” and “Blithe Spirit.” In fact, she may have missed her calling as an actress, as she’d bring the house down in comedies, and even acted in a movie called “Laughing at the Moon” — check out her IMDb page!

Doris found great comfort and joy in sharing the story of how she became a Christian, and she was a beloved member of three churches over a period of 50 years. She often sought to encourage young believers with anecdotes and Bible passages that were near and dear to her heart. Furthermore, she prayed unceasingly for her loved ones and made it clear how important they were to her.

Join us for a celebration of her life to be held on Nov. 23, 2024, at Norris First Baptist Church, 149 W. Norris Road, Norris, with a receiving of friends at 11 a.m., followed by a celebration of life at noon. In lieu of flowers, the family requests you consider donating to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library at donate.imaginationlibrary.com.

Rema Jeffers Dabney

Rema Jeffers Dabney, loving wife and mother, passed away on Wednesday, Oct. 16, 2024, at the age of 92.

She was born in Scott County, Tennessee, in 1932 to Eddie and Mae Jeffers. Rema loved her church, where she was a member for 60 years. She worked for 30 years with the Tennessee Department of Health and Environment, serving in Oneida, Clinton and Knoxville, and retired as regional clerical supervisor.

Rema enjoyed reading, flowers, puzzles, walking, and caring for her family.

Known for her kindness and gentle nature, she was a living example of God’s discipleship through her love and dedication to her husband, children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. In her recent years, she was admired for her strength and continued goodwill toward others.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband, O.L. Dabney; sisters Reba Duncan and Christine Dabney; and brothers Clarence Jeffers, Clifton Jeffers, and Ralph Jeffers.

Left to cherish her loving memory are her children, Karen Cooper (Gary), Marie Deen (Ross), and Stephen Dabney; brothers Curtis Jeffers (Jeri), Gene Jeffers (Peggy), and Kermit Jeffers (Donna); grandsons John Cooper (Bahar) and Greg Cooper (Danielle); granddaughter Emma Dabney; and great-grandchildren Nataleigh, Carleigh, Isaac, Savannah, Luke, Ryan, and Sidnee. She is also survived by her brother-in-law, Joe Dabney, and special friends Dixie Billings, Jerry Cloyd, Betty Smith, Peggy Burton, Angie Page, and Juanita Smith, as well as a host of nieces, nephews, and other family and friends.

The family received friends on Tuesday, Oct. 22, 2024, at First Baptist Church in Clinton from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. The funeral followed and was officiated by Dr. Danny Chisholm. Family and friends travelled to Grandview Memorial Garden for Rema’s interment.

Pallbearers were Gary Cooper, Ross Deen, Greg Cooper, Mark Dabney, Kermit Jeffers, and David Duncan. Honorary pallbearers were John Cooper and Joe Dabney.

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