THE REV. DR. TAYLOR D. HOOKER JR.
The Rev. Dr. Taylor D. Hooker Jr., 87, Norris, entered into eternal rest Dec. 5, 2022, free at last from the devastating effects of Alzheimer’s disease.
It is impossible to describe in a few paragraphs a lifetime of dedication and service as a loving husband, father, grandfather, great grandfather, minister, and friend. Giving and ministering to others was the only way of life he knew. His life was devoted to faith, family, and sharing the gospel with everyone he met. He loved people. He baptized, married, and buried hundreds of loved ones and friends, ministered to many sick and grieving others, and those needing comfort. T.D. was very good at fixing things, anything.
His funeral service will be held Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, at Norris First Baptist Church with arrangements by Cross-Smith Funeral Home of LaFollette. The family will receive friends from 11:30 a.m. - 1 p.m., with funeral and graveside services to follow.
Officiants will be Bill Harrison, long-time friend and fellow minister, and nephew Jimmy Witherow.
Taylor, or T.D. as he was known by most, was born in Chatsworth, Ga., as the seventh of eight children of T.D. Hooker Sr. and Annette Payne Hooker. He graduated from Murray County High School, and married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Ann Roe, on Dec. 8, 1957. He served in the Army National Guard for six years. He was raised on a farm and loved recounting the tale of the time he got kicked in the chest by a mule. He enjoyed fishing, golf, and tinkering on anything with parts.
He accepted the call to ministry in 1959, pastoring Cool Springs Baptist, Free Hope Baptist, and First Baptist Cohutta, located in north Georgia. Locally, he also pastored Clear Branch Baptist, First Baptist Norris, and First Baptist Caryville, along with interim pastorates at numerous local churches. He served the North American Mission Board as Director of Church and Community Ministries in the Clinton Baptist Association, and also served as chaplain of Anderson County Sheriff’s Department.
He was a lifelong learner and studier of the Bible. He graduated from Clear Creek Bible School (Pineville, Ky), Cumberland College (Williamsburg, Ky.), Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary (Fort Worth, Texas), where he earned a Master of Arts in Religious Education, and Trinity Theological Seminary (Evansville, Ind.), where he earned Master of Divinity and Doctor of Ministry degrees. Upon completion of seminary, he returned to serve as assistant to the president and professor of pastoral ministry at Clear Creek Bible College (Pineville, Ky.) before returning to pastorates in Tennessee where he served until retirement.
He is survived by: Wife and caregiver, Pat; daughter and son-in-law, Jeanine and Rodney Reeder; daughter, Carol Gillespie; grandchildren, Brigette Hatmaker, Miranda Finch (Michael), Evan (Stacey) and Lauren Gillespie; great-grandchildren, Johnathon Pangle, Jacob Hatmaker, and Anastasia Gillespie; nephews, David Witherow (Pam) and Jimmy Witherow (Christy); and several great-nieces and nephews.
He will also be greatly missed by his best friend and “best cat ever,” Calico, who he had many heartfelt and profound conversations with during his illness.
He was preceded in death by his parents and siblings and daughter, Diane Cruze.
He had a special golfing and fishing bond with son-in-law, Rodney, and most recently during his illness, developed a unique relationship with great-grandson, Johnathon, who provided caregiving reprieve and became a best friend.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Keystone Adult Day Program at First United Methodist Church in Oak Ridge or the Alzheimer’s Association.
Bobby Utley, 82, Clinton, passed away Monday, Dec. 5, 2022, at Tennova Turkey Creek.
Bob was born Sept. 23, 1940, in Lake City to Raymond and Pauline Utley. He was a member of Mt. Olive Baptist Church. Bob was an avid outdoorsman who loved farming and gardening. Bob loved big. His greatest loves on earth were his wife, and two children, and his pride and joy were his 4fourgrandchildren and Papa’s two buddies, Bella and Bentley. Most of all, he loved his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
He leaves behind: Loving wife of 57 years, Sue Vandergriff Utley of Clinton; daughter, Karen Arowood and husband Bob of Clinton and their son, Reid; son, Brad Utley and girlfriend B.J. Amburgey and Brad’s children, Carson Utley, Camryn Utley, and Carter Utley, all of Clinton; brothers, Roy Utley and wife Sue of Clinton, Carl Utley and wife Betty of Clinton, and Chuck Utley and wife Theresa of Clinton; sisters, Shirley Wells of Claxton, Brenda Gray and husband Lonnie of Clinton, and Pat Gray and husband Ronnie of Clinton; several nieces and nephews
The family will receive friends from 5 – 7 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, at Holley Gamble Funeral Home.
His funeral service will follow in the chapel with Pastor Clayton Duncan and Pastor Clarence Duncan officiating.
His graveside will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 10, 2022, at Grandview Memorial Garden.
Holley Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton is in charge of all arrangements.
holleygamble.com
Louise grew up in Meadville, Penn., graduating from high school during World War II. She married the love of her life, former mayor of Clinton, Howard “Hud” Poly, in 1946. They moved to Clinton in 1957 where she was active in the Timely Topics Club, Beta Sigma Pi sorority and a founding member of St. Therese Catholic Church. She retired from ORTEC as an electronic technician.
Preceded in death by: Husband of 52 years, Howard Poly; daughter, Elaine Poly Trent; granddaughter, Marie Poly; and grandson, Daniel Poly.
She is survived by: Sister, Patty Ferguson of Meadville, Penn.; son, Dennis (Lynn); granddaughter, Ellen Poly Jeffries (Matt); great-grandchildren, Caleb and Wren of Bellevue, Neb.; son-in-law, Frank Trent of Clinton; granddaughter, Laura Trent Fee (John) of Maryville; grandson, David Trent (Ashleigh); and great-granddaughters, Tatum and Tenleigh of Dallas, Texas.
Louise will always be remembered as a loving and caring mother and grandmother. She was an accomplished artist. She enjoyed entertaining, shopping, bridge club, and time with family and her many friends.
Visitation will be from noon – 1 p.m. Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, at Holley-Gamble Funeral Home, Clinton, with service at 1 p.m., followed by interment at Anderson Memorial Gardens.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials to St. Therese Catholic Church, 701 S Charles G. Seivers Blvd, Clinton, TN 37716.
www.holleygamble.com
Christopher D. Loy, 51, Heiskell, passed away Dec. 1, 2022.
He was born in Knoxville, July 11, 1971, to Albert and Peggy Loy.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Greg Loy.
He is survived by: Wife of 16 years, Rebecca Wasson-Loy; children, Crystal Mika Loy, Jarissa Maka Loy, and Jerrod Christian-Takota Loy; brother-in-law, Jeremy Wasson.
Chris was employed by Grasshopper Inc. He enjoyed being outdoors, fishing, riding his motorcycle, and driving semi trucks.
The family will receive friends at Holley-Gamble Funeral Home from 1- 3 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 8, 2023, with a memorial service to follow at 3 p.m.
www.holleygamble.com
Emma Sue Williams, 85, Oliver Springs, passed away Nov. 30, 2022 at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center of Knoxville.
Emma Sue was born Dec. 28, 1936, in Anderson County to Charles Braden and Margaret Daugherty. She was a member of Indian Bluff Baptist Church and enjoyed thrift store shopping, flowers, making candy, and watching deer.
In addition to her parents, Emma Sue was preceded in death by: Son, Hank Patterson; grandson, Matthew Hank Wilson; father of her children, Henion Patterson; sisters, Blanche Smith, Lula Mae Cox, Inez Braden, Charlotte Braden; and brothers, Cleve, Lester, and Charles Ed Braden.
Survivors: Daughters, Sheila Patterson Ford and husband Bill of Oliver Springs, Penny Patterson Crace and husband Mark of Oliver Springs; grandchildren, Keith Wilson and wife Amber, Ryan Carter and wife Mindy, Brock Carter; stepgranddaughter, Shannon Weatherford and husband Zach; stepgrandson, Brian Crace; great-grandchildren, Jackson Wilson and Lexee Wilson, Kyla Carter, Preston Carter, and Chloe Carter, MaKenna Weatherford, Ellie Weatherford, Barrett Weatherford and Carter Weatherford; sisters, Shelby Jean Duncan of Clinton, Nancy Morgan and husband Junior of Oliver Springs; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Visitation will be from 5 – 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, at Hatmaker Funeral Home.
Funeral service will be at 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 3, 2022, in the Hatmaker Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Jim Ault and the Rev. Nicky Braden officiating.
Family and friends will meet at Hatmaker Funeral Home at 1:15 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022, to go in procession to Indian Bluff Baptist Church Cemetery for a 2 p.m. graveside service.
You may also view Emma Sue's guestbook online at www.hatmakerfuneralhome.com
Sam Houston Burgess Jr. joined his beloved wife in their forever home in Heaven Nov. 30, 2022.
Sam, 88, was born in Harriman to Sam Houston and Dovie Mae Isham Burgess, Sept. 22, 1934. He spent his youth in Oakdale before joining the Navy to see the world and stay out of trouble
At the age of 29, he met and married his life partner, Mary Ellen Goodson. Together, they served our family, community and country while stationed in Jacksonville Fla., Norfolk, Va., and Roosevelt Roads, Puerto Rico. Sam sailed the oceans on numerous Navy vessels and visited many countries. His favorite country for food was Italy, even though he cut his noodles, to sightsee he loved Spain, his favorite tattoo parlor was in Coney Island, N.Y., and there was no better place to live than his beloved Tennessee. Upon his military retirement, he and Mary bought a home in Harriman. He worked at K-25 for several years and then moved into security at Y-12 until his retirement in 1995. He and Mary enjoyed traveling together to see their favorite country music artists at various small venues.
If you knew Sam, you know he was matter of fact, spoke his mind, and never worried about anything. He loved his family and took providing for them in all ways, seriously. He was a master gardener, grew vegetables to share and was blessed with an abundance, regardless of scaling back year after year. There will never be a tomato better than “a Sam Burgess tomato”.
If he made breakfast for you, you were special to him, his family will miss his biscuits and gravy. They will also miss the stories about growing up in Oakdale, the Norris Creamery days, his Navy adventures, and especially the words of wisdom. He loved the Lord and considered himself blessed to serve many years at First Christian Church of Harriman. Sam battled health issues with fierce determination. His vision issues were long standing, and he was a grateful recipient of a cornea transplant in Dec of 2021.
Sam was preceded in death by: Parents, Sam and Dovie Burgess; brothers, Lester, Reuben Paul (RP) and Lonnie Burgess; sisters, Essie Mae Burgess and Jessie Winters; his dear wife, Mary Ellen Burgess; three stepdaughters, Barbara Goad, Kathy Blair and Pam Smith; grandson, Christopher Burns; and two great-grandchildren, Brittany Luttrell and Joshua Andrews.
His legacy includes: Son, Paul Burgess (Saundra) of Harriman; and daughter Cindy Ross (Kevin) of Clinton; much-loved grandchildren, P.J. Burgess (Sara) of Elizabeth City, N.C., Corey Burgess of Harriman, Jonathan Ross (Bridgette Floyd) of Abingdon, Va., and Benjamin Ross (Sarah Thomas) of Nashville; great-grandchildren, Avery and Harper Burgess of Elizabeth City, N.C.
There are two surviving stepdaughters, Donna Burns of Boonville, Ind., and Janet Andrews of Pearland, Texas; 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and 10 great-great-grandchildren scattered throughout Tennessee, Florida, Arkansas and Texas. There are numerous local, beloved nieces and nephews, along with special life-long Oakdale school friends that he enjoyed meeting for breakfast.
Fair Winds and Following Seas.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to the First Christian Church Memorial Fund, 324 Morgan Avenue, Harriman, TN 37748.
Receiving of friends will be held from 5 – 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022, with funeral service to follow at Kyker Funeral Home in Harriman. T
he family will meet at 10 a.m. Friday, Dec. 9, 2022, for burial in Riggs Chapel Cemetery.
Kyker Funeral Home of Harriman serving the Burgess Family.
Edward (“Ed”) L. Chabot, 79, of the Claxton Community, passed away peacefully in his home Nov. 29, 2022.
Born Oct. 10, 1943, to Emilien and Eva Chabot in Texas, Ed served as electrician and avionics technician in the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps and subsequently made his home in Tennessee where he worked at Tennelec and Y-12.
Ed loved racing slot cars, stock cars, and Jeeps, and when he wasn’t racing, he enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting, and being with family and friends. He and his wife of 47 years, Violet Chabot, loved spending their time together travelling and square dancing.
Edward Chabot is survived by: Wife, Violet Chabot; daughters, Angel Chabot and Karen (Trent) Mayo; stepson, Shawn (Rebekah) Hatmaker; several foster children; and grandchildren, Laura Mayo and Isabella Simcox.
He was preceded in death by: Parents; sister, Diane Shelby; and grandson, Nathan Mayo.
A celebration of Ed’s life will be held at the Claxton Community Center from 5 – 8 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 8, 2022.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that you make donations to the Claxton Volunteer Fire Department or the Anderson County Rescue Squad.
The family also extends special thanks to the nurses and caretakers who cared for Ed the last couple years of his life.
www.holleygamble.com
Judy Lee Smith passed away early Tuesday morning, Nov. 29, 2022.
She passed away at her home in Clinton with her son by her side. Judy was born in Clinton Jan. 1, 1956, to the late Molly and Earnest Powell.
She is preceded in death by her brother, Douglas Powell of Clinton.
She is survived by: Brother, Joe Powell of Oliver Springs; sister, Sue Fox of Clinton; children, John K. Smith, and Kelli R. Smith, as well as their partners, Tammy Braden and Tyrone Irons; grandchildren, Dee Smith, who blessed her with a great-grand child, Damari Williams, as well as Taya Smith and Shemar Smith-Irons; among many more family and friends.
Judy worked at Norwood’s Early Head start, where she shined her light on so many children and faculty. She had a love for travel, animals of all kinds, Elvis Presley, and more than anything, her family. She lived an adventurous life, leaving smiles and full hearts in her wake.
Her family asks those whose lives were touched by Judy Lee Smith, to look fondly on your memories and celebrate her life.
Jones Mortuary, LLC of Clinton is serving the family of Judy Lee Smith