HAMILTON COUNTY
Ralph Eidson Sr.
Ralph E. Eidson Sr., 83, went to be with the Lord on Friday, May 7, 2010, surrounded by his family.
Ralph was born on May 24, 1927, the youngest of eight children of Thomas L. and Ruth Roberts Eidson.
Ralph graduated from Kirkman Tech High School and from there served in the U.S. Army for 18 months. While in the Army, he was assigned to the United Nations at Lake Success, N.Y., and was commended highly for facilitating transportation for delegates and staff of the United Nations during the period of General Assembly.
Ralph began working with the Humane Educational Society Inc. in May of 1947, starting as an animal control officer and rising to the positions of field representative, investigator and later as the executive director. He worked with neglected and abused children, an agency responsibility until the late 1970s when such duties were turned over to the Juvenile Court and newly established Department of Human Services.
Ralph was a member of the Tennessee Conference of Social Work and the Tennessee Law Enforcement Officers Association, the East Lake Masonic Lodge, the American Humane Association, and Founder and President of the Tennessee Animal Control Association. He was active in getting laws passed to protect animals.
After 45 years of service to his community, Ralph retired and became an entrepreneur. He owned and operated the Eidson Detective Agency in Chattanooga and Cleveland, Tenn., along with the Cherokee Answering Service of Cleveland, the Hospital Sitting Service and established the Pet Haven Cemetery. He and his wife of more than 63 years, Mary, worked side by side in everything.
Ralph was preceded in death by his parents, Tom and Ruth Eidson; sisters, Ruby Thompson and Mary Adams, of East Ridge; brothers, Bud and Clyde, of East Ridge, and Willard of Ringgold, Ga.
He is survived by his wife, Mary Eidson; son, Ralph Eidson Jr., of Rossville; daughters, Jeanette (Richard) Elrod, of East Ridge, and Teresa (Sam) Bryant, of Hixson; brother, James (Mary Rose) Eidson, of East Ridge; sister, Louise Moore, of East Brainerd; grandsons, Trey (Ann) Lewallen, of East Ridge, Chris (Alyssa) Eidson, of Atlanta, Josh (Mandy) Eidson, of Elizabethtown, Ky.; granddaughters, Michelle (Jamey) Gaston, of Rock Hill, S.C., Beth (Everett) Chretien, of Oak Ridge, Tenn.; seven great-grandchildren, Zachary and Tracy Lewallen, Emily Chretien, Tori and Matthew Gaston and Shelby and Taylor Eidson; several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. today at the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home with the Rev. Royce Powell and Hamilton County Sheriff Jim Hammond officiating.
Interment will follow in Lakewood Memory Gardens, South.
The family will receive friends from noon-1 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.mem.com.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to the American Diabetes Association P.O.Box 11454, Alexandria, VA, 22312.
Wallace Gould Jr.
Wallace Harry Gould Jr., 65, of Chattanooga, died Wednesday, May 5, 2010.
He was a member of Our Lady of Perpetual Help Catholic Church.
Survivors include his daughter, Mary Gould; two grandsons, Christian Moore and Grant Compton; and former wife, Sandra Cummings Gould.
The Rev. Bruce Howland will conduct the graveside service 11 a.m. Tuesday, May 11, 2010, in Tyner Cemetery.
Interment will be in Tyner Cemetery.
Arrangements will be announced by Covenant Funeral & Cremation Service, Crox family owned and operated.
John Heise
John Heise, of East Ridge, died Saturday, May 8, 2010, in a local hospital after a brief illness.
He was a U.S. Air Force veteran and was retired from Roper Corp. He was a member of the Church of the Nativity and enjoyed many hobbies including fishing and had a passion for cooking. He held membership in the Crazy Quilters Quilting Guild and was an avid reader.
He is survived by his wife of 46 years, Mary Heise, East Ridge; a son, John Edwin Heise III, Ooltewah; a daughter, Elizabeth (Opie) Reed, Newport, Tenn.; two sisters, Elaine (John) Lynch, Bluffton, S.C., and Charlotte (Henry) Cromeek, Parker, Colo.; and two grandchildren, Jessi and Alicia Reed, Newport, Tenn.; and several nieces and nephews.
Visit www.heritagefh.com to share condolences with the family.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, remembrances be made to the Church of the Nativity Fund for the Hungry, P.O. Box 2356, Fort Oglethorpe, GA 30742.
Memorial services will be held at 1 p.m. today at the Church of the Nativity with the Rev. Betty Latham officiating.
The family will receive friends from noon-1 today at the church.
Arrangements by Heritage Funeral Home & Crematory, Fort Oglethorpe, Geor
James Hurst
James Albert Hurst, 79, much loved father of four, died May 8, 2010 at Memorial Hospital.
He was born on Lookout Mountain, Tennessee on June 8, 1930 to Lawrence Albert Hurst and Haseltine Gore Hurst.
He graduated from McCallie School and joined the Marine Corps after attending Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He received his undergraduate degree from University of Tennessee at Knoxville and his MBA from UTC.
Jim is survived by Norinne Hurst, of Lookout Mountain; their children – Nandy Hurst, of Atlanta, Ga.; Jamey and Louisa Hurst, of Lookout Mountain; Elizabeth and Jim Branch, of Madison, Ga., and Matt Hurst, of Lookout Mountain; six grandchildren, Eliza, Colmore and Adelaide Hurst, of Lookout Mountain, and Alex and Kate Branch, of Madison, Ga.; and sister Adelaiede Brinkley, of Greensboro, N.C.
Funeral arrangements will be announced by Wann Funeral Home of Chattanooga with Father Robert Childers of Church of the Good Shepherd Episcopal on Lookout Mountain will officiate.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Hospice of Chattanooga or Good Shepherd Episcopal on Lookout Mountain.
Freddie Johnson
Freddie Johnson, 63, departed this life on May 6, 2010 in a local hospital.
He was a native of Chattanooga and a member of the Howard High School class of 1966. He was a US Veteran and Retired from Wheland Foundry.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Eddie and Lillie Johnson; sister, Gwendolyn Bowles; his twin brother, Eddie V. Johnson and brother, Ronald Johnson.
He leaves to cherish his memories his wife of 42 years, Rosetta Johnson; son, Michael Johnson; brother, Charles T. Johnson; nephews, Darren, Kevin, Gregg and Cedric; aunts, Molly Brown and Tommie Lee Williams; godson, Christian M. Bell; a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, life-long friend, Larry “Bear” High and caretaker, Kirk Bell.
Services will be held at noon on Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at John P. Franklin Funeral Home with the Rev. Ternae Jordon and others officiating.
Interment – National Cemetery.
The body will lie in state after noon today with the family receiving friends from 7 – 8 p.m. at John P. Franklin Funeral Home, 1101 Dodds Avenue, 622-9995.
James Longshore
James W. Longshore, 64, of Chattanooga, passed away Sunday, May 9, 2010 in a local hospital.
Arrangements will be announced by the East Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home, 404 South Moore Road.
Dr. Katherine McClure
Dr. Katherine Louise “Kitty” McClure, 81, died Friday, May 7, 2010 at her home.
She was born in Chattanooga and attended City High School. She received her BS from the University of Chattanooga in 1950, her MA degree in 1954 from George Peabody College and her MPH degree in 1959 from the University of North Carolina. She then taught as a Professor of Early Childhood Education in several universities and colleges until 1965 when she entered the University of Georgia and completed her Doctor of Education in 1969.
She then returned to Chattanooga to care for her Mother and began a 21 year career as the Director of Special Education in the Chattanooga City School System, retiring in 1991. Kitty was well-known not only for her love and care for handicapped children and their education but also as an athlete and coach. As early as 1952 she coached girl’s basketball at Allen elementary in Soddy-Daisy. She was one of the area’s first proponents of the importance of sports for women. Even though she was required to wear a dress or skirt at all times while coaching, she forged ahead.
She then moved to the Nashville area to attend Peabody College, where she also coached the girl’s basketball team at DuPont High School in Old Hickory. At this time she coached many girls who would become life-long friends. Kitty never lost her love for women’s basketball and became a huge fan of women’s college basketball, especially the Lady Bulldawgs. In 1965 she followed her nephew, Robert (Happy) Dicks to the University of Georgia. While Happy was attending and playing football for the Georgia Bulldogs, she also attended the University and completed her Doctor of Education degree.
Kitty moved back home to Chattanooga and steadfastly cared for her mother, Mora McClure until Mora’s death at 94 years of age. She continued to be very involved in the community and was a constant and loving aunt to her niece, Georgia McCravey and her two children, Gus and Moira McCravey.
Because of her avid support and participation in women’s sports, both as a player and coach, she is considered one the most important women who paved the way for the many opportunities that women in athletics enjoy today.
Kitty was preceded in death by her parents, George W. and Mora Brady McClure; her brother, James McClure; and sister, Annie Ruth Tucker.
She is survived by her sister, Leila McClure Dicks; her nieces, Georgia Dicks McCravey, Bunny Derlak and Debra Lawson; nephews, Robert “Happy” Dicks and Jimmy McClure Jr. She is also survived by nine great-nieces and nephews and seven great-great-nieces and nephews.
Graveside services are 11 a.m. Thursday at Chattanooga Memorial Park.
Visitation is 4-7 p.m. Wednesday at Lane Funeral Home, 601 Ashland Terrace.
Memorial contributions may be made to Pilgrim Congregational Church (698-5682) or to Orange Grove School.
Please visit www.lanefh.com to send condolences.
Phil McKnelly
Phil McKnelly, 72, a 49 year resident of Tiftonia, Tennessee passed away at a local hospital on Saturday May 8, 2010.
He was preceded in death by his father, Isom McKnelly and mother, Edna McKnelly, of Illinois.
Survivors include his wife, Chelsa McKnelly, of 48 years, of Tiftonia, Tennessee; a son, Steve McKnelly and his wife, Caitlyn, from Lawrence, Ill.; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren, several nieces and nephews; brother, Jerry McKnelly, of Louisville, Ill.; a sister, Mary Ellen Workman and her husband, Garlin Workman, of Louisville; sister, Jacobeth Drees, of Louisville.
He worked for thirty years at Parker’s Full Service CITGO in Brainerd, Tennessee.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. on Tuesday at the Chattanooga Funeral Home East Chapel with the Rev. Horace Crawford officiating.
Interment will be in Tennessee Georgia Memorial Park Cemetery in Rossville, Georgia.
The family will receive friends from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Memorial contributions may be made to Valley Memorial Baptist Church Building Fund, 614 Brown Ferrys Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37419.
Please share your thoughts and memories at www.mem.com
Arrangements are by the Chattanooga Funeral Home, Crematory and Florist, East Chapel, 404 South Moore Road, Chattanooga, Tennessee 37412.
Connie Ogle
Connie Inez Camp Ogle, 86, of Apison, went to be with the Lord Thursday, May 6, 2010.
She was a lifelong member of High Point Baptist Church and had served as treasurer for over 30 years.
Mrs. Ogle is survived by her husband of 67 years, Robert E. Ogle; daughter and son-in-law, Mary and Spencer Johnson; two granddaughters, Lori (Kevin) Lawson and Stephanie (Darren) Hodges; great-granddaughter, Alissa Hodges, all of Apison.
Graveside services will be held at 2 p.m. today in Plowman Cemetery with Rev. Millard Hooper and Dr. Spencer Johnson officiating.
Pallbearers will be Kevin Lawson, Darren Hodges, Don Stafford Jr., Tim Stafford and Melvin Johnston. Honorary pallbearers will be Keith Hooper, Cory Hooper, Dr. Stan Ireland and Robert Ireland.
Visit www.heritagefh.com to share words of comfort and view the memorial tribute.
Arrangements are by Heritage Funeral Home, East Brainerd Road.
Bill Wilson
William Monroe “Bill” Wilson, 67, of Hixson, passed away on Saturday, May 8, 2010.
He was a life long resident of the Chattanooga area and retired from Laborers Local Union #846. He was of the Church of God faith.
Bill was preceded in death by his mother, Fannie Wilson; his father, Monroe Wilson; his step-mother, Irene Wilson; and a son, Edward Knox Jr.
Survivors are his wife, Sarah Brady Wilson; daughters, Karen Reeves, Sandra Renee Wilson and Rhonda Kay Combs; four grandsons, Josh Ownby, Randy Reeves, Travis Cooper and Austin Hamrick; a great-granddaughter, Macy Ownby, all of Chattanooga; sister, Marie Barnes, of California; one niece, Vickie Fuller, of North Carolina.
The family would like to express their appreciation to Dr. Don Curtis of Alexian Brothers Pace Program for their kind assistance.
Funeral services will be held 2:30 p.m. Tuesday at the North Chapel of Chattanooga Funeral Home with Pastor Tommy Messer and Pastor Rick Hale officiating.
Burial will be at Old McDonald Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 2 until 8 p.m. today and 10:30 until 2:30 Tuesday at the funeral home.
Share your thoughts and memories online at www.mem.com.
Arrangements are by Chattanooga Funeral Home Crematory and Florist, North Chapel.
TENNESSEE
Frances Banks
CLEVELAND, Tenn. – Frances Inez Banks, 84, died Saturday, May 8, 2010.
Survivors include: children, Louise Maddux, Irene Jone, Glen Bans, Robert Banks; 13 grandchildren; 26 great-grandchildren; seven great-great-grandchildren; and three brothers.
Funeral services are 11 a.m. Tuesday and visitation is 5-8 p.m. today at Ralph Buckner Funeral Home.
Albert Clark
WINCHESTER, Tenn. – Albert Denoy Clark, 86 of Winchester, passed away May 8, 2010 at Southern TN Medical Center.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Monday, May 10, 2010 at Moore-Cortner Chapel with the Rev. Josh Layne officiating.
Interment at Franklin Memorial Gardens.
Moore-Cortner Funeral Home, 300 1st Ave NW, Winchester, TN 37398 (931) 967-2222. www.moorecortner.com.
Eva Lawson
DECATUR, Tenn. – Eva “Grace” (Collins) Lawson, 91, died on Sunday May 9, 2010 at her residence.
She was a member of the Burdette Chapel Church.
She is preceded in death by her parents, Sammy and Pansy (Eldridge) Collins; husband, Coy Lawson; brother, Bobby Lawson; daughter, Marjorie Palmer; grandson, Stan Casteel.
Survivors include four sons and daughter-in-laws, Kenneth and Shirley Lawson, of Cleveland, Tenn., Harold and Pat Lawson, of Kingston, Tenn., Douglas and Sandy Lawson, Jimmy and Susie Lawson, all of Decatur, Tenn.; 13 grandchildren; 21 great grandchildren; eight great- great-grandchildren and special friend, Wanda Monroe.
Funeral service will be held at 8 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, 2010 in the Bowers Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jerry Plaster officiating.
Interment will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, May 12, 2010 in Decatur Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 5-8 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, 2010 at the funeral home.
Please go to www.bowersfh.com and sign the guest book and offer your condolences.
Arrangements by Bowers Funeral Home Decatur Chapel of Decatur, TN. 423-334-3661
Charles Ray
TULLAHOMA, Tenn. – Charles Kenneth “Ludie” Ray, 80, died on Friday, May 7, 2010.
Funeral services were 3:30 p.m. Sunday, May 9, 2010 at Moore-Cortner Chapel with the Brother Neil Foster officiating.
Interment will be in Franklin Memorial Gardens, Winchester, Tenn.
Faye Rowland
ATHENS, Tenn. – Faye Dean Rowland, 67, died Friday, May 7, 2010.
Funeral services: 8 p.m. Tuesday in the Chapel of Ziegler Funeral Home.
Visitation: 5-8 p.m. Tuesday prior to the funeral service.
Graveside services: 11 a.m. Wednesday at the Jones Chapel Cemetery.
Arrangements by Ziegler Funeral Home, Athens.
GEORGIA
Jimmy Grant Sr.
ROSSVILLE, Ga. – Jimmy Lee Grant Sr., 63, passed away Saturday, May 8, 2010.
He was a lifelong resident of the Chattanooga and North Georgia areas and was of the Baptist faith. He was previously employed with Top Flight Paper Company as a Truck Driver for more than 43 years before retiring in 2009 and enjoyed woodworking. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather and will be sadly missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his mother, Faira Mae Grant and brother, Billy Grant.
Survivors include his wife, Linda Faye Grant, of Rossville, Ga.; father, Tommy Grant, of Chattanooga, Tenn.; two sons and daughters-in-law, Jimmy and Barbara Grant Jr., of Rossville, Ga. and Tommy and Kim Grant, of Dallas, Ga.; daughter and son-in-law, Angel and David Stafford, of Crandall, Ga.; brother, Jerry Grant, of Ringgold, Ga.; sisters and brothers-in-law, Janice and Danny Parris, of Trion, Ga., Elizabeth and Gene Meador, of Cleveland, Tenn. and Doris Dedmon, of Chattanooga; five grandchildren, Rebecca andMorgan Grant, David and Mary Stafford and Chad Rogers and several nieces and nephews.
Memorial services will be held at noon on Wednesday, May 12, 2010 in the Fort Oglethorpe Chapel with the Rev. Mason Blevins officiating.
Burial will be private.
The family will receive friends 9:00 a.m. Wednesday until the time of service at the funeral home.
Arrangements by W. L. Wilson & Sons Funeral Home, Fort Oglethorpe, GA.
Ethel McCurry
CHICKAMAUGA, Ga. – Ethel Louise McCurry, 99, died Saturday, May 8, 2010 at NHC Heathcare.
Mrs. MrCurry was a native of Unicoi County moving to East Ridge, Tenn., in 2004. She was a daughter of the late Sam Harrell and Dora Harrell McNabb. Mrs. McCurry was a homemaker and a member of Unicoi Baptist Church.
Other than her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Rothie McCurry; two children, Hoover McCurry and Eula Gouge; three brothers and five sisters.
Survivors include: son, Lonnie McCurry and wife Pam, Chickamauga, Ga.; grandchildren, Steve McCurry and wife, Cheryl, Debra Jennings and husband, Mike, Lisa Kisiah and husband, Ronnie, Christopher McCurry, Matthew McCurry and wife, Kelly; several great-grandchildren and their families; several nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral service for Mrs. McCurry will be held 2 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, 2010, at the Unicoi Funeral Home and Chapel. The Rev. Garry Edwards will officiate and music will be provided by Inez Chandler.
Interment will follow in Roselawn Memory Gardens, Johnson City, Tenn.
The family will receive friends from noon to 2 p.m. Tuesday at the funeral home.
In lieu of flowers the family request memorial donations be made to At Peace Hospice Care, 2168 Newtown Road, Calhoun, GA, 30701.
Online condolences may be sent to the family at rfledford@earthlink.net.
Unicoi Funeral Home, 4428 Unicoi Drive, Unicoi, TN, 37692 is in charge of funeral arrangements. 423-743-1381.
Lorene McNabb
ROSSVILLE, Ga. – Mrs. Elizabeth Lorene McNabb, 83, died Thursday, May 6, 2010 in a local hospital.
Funeral services will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, May 11, 2010 in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Billy Parker officiating.
Interment will follow at Chattanooga National Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 4-8 p.m. today at Heritage Funeral Home, 3239 Battlefield Parkway, Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia.
ALABAMA
Belinda Crocker
HUNTSVILLE, Ala. – Belinda Dawn McAnelly Crocker, 43, formerly of Rainsville, passed away Thursday, May 6, 2010 at his residence.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, May 9, 2010 from the W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel with the Rev. Ray Kittle officiating.
Burial in Town Creek Cemetery with W.T. Wilson Funeral Chapel in charge.