Category: Obituaries

Linton, Susan Frances , of Tullahoma, passed this life on Saturday, January 15 th , 2022 at Life Care Center at the age of 76. A graveside service will be held on Thursday, January 20 th , 2022 at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Barbara Joyce Tucker was born into eternal life on Sunday, January 16, 2022. Joyce, Momma, Grammy left her family and friends in the early hours of that morning as a snow storm filled the air with millions of beautiful white flakes. She had just enjoyed her last Christmas with her daughter, Paige Matthews of Smyrna, TN, and grandchildren: Erin Matthews of Atlanta, GA; Micah Matthews of Birmingham, AL and Brendan Matthews of Smyrna, TN. A few days later she became ill and after a brief hospital stay, was admitted to Alive Hospice in Murfreesboro, where she was well cared for by the nurses and staff as she began her journey home to God. Her family including her beloved sister, Jeanette, was by her side. The Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia, whom her daughter has worked with for almost 25 years, visited her during this time to offer prayers and comfort for her and her family. The Chaplains for Alive Hospice also provided spiritual nourishment and comfort to Joyce, Paige, her grandchildren and Jeanette. Born in the small town of Winchester, Tennessee, surrounded by a large family of grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins, Joyce and her two sisters: Jeanette Perry Carver and the late, Ira Sue Perry Robinson, came from humble beginnings. Her father, the late Raymond Perry, worked as a nurseryman, and her mother, the late Elsie Elizabeth Syler Perry, was taken by death at the young age of 36. Joyce never got over the loss of her mother and many times recounted this tremendous heart-breaking loss. Several years after her mother’s death, her father remarried and he and her stepmother, Dorothy, had three children: Jeff Perry, Kay Perry Cowger and Connie Perry Boston. As older siblings, Joyce, Jeanette and Sue, loved and adored their younger siblings. As a teen, Joyce moved with her family to Manchester, Tennessee, where she met her handsome and kind husband, Oscar Samuel “Buddy” Tucker, Jr. who was a neighbor and school mate. They worked at the Arnold Drive-In in Tullahoma during high school. After graduating from high school, they married in 1958 and they were married for 57 years until Buddy’s death in December 2015. Joyce was very talented with her hands. She began sewing baseballs and softballs with her mother and sisters at a very young age. This grew into her talent as a seamstress. One of her first jobs was working for Genesco sewing shoes but her talent as a seamstress shined in the clothing she made for herself and her family. Many nights and weekends were spent making her daughter, Paige’s cheerleading uniforms. When Paige broke her arm learning to ride her bike at 4 years old, Joyce made a whole set of tops with buttons on each shoulder that could easily be worn with the large cast. She also used those talented and hard-working hands to make delicious meals for her family including their favorites of fried chicken, mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, green beans, sweet tea and banana pudding. Joyce had a green thumb and used her hard-working hands to make her home and yard beautiful. She and Buddy won Yard of the Month awards on several occasions from “Keeping Coffee County Beautiful”. If you visited their home, Joyce always enjoyed giving you a “yard tour” where she would point out all of the different types of flowers, plants and trees. This love of the outdoors began in her youth when her father was working on the nurseries. Joyce was a very talented and hard worker. After leaving the Genesco Shoe Factory, she began as a technician for Life Companies where she spent the remainder of her career. She again used her talented hands to build the intricate circuit boards and inner workings of medical equipment including pacemakers and heart monitors. She made wonderful work friends during her years with Life Companies, including her special buddy, Randall Brazelton. She and her husband, Buddy, loved the beach and typically visited beaches in Florida every summer and sometimes in the winter. When they retired, they began spending the winter months in Siesta Key, Florida, where they very much enjoyed the warm weather, sandy beaches, making friends with the other seasonal snowbirds, fresh fruit and vegetables from the Farmers’ Market, seafood and cheeseburgers from the Tiki Bar across the street from their condo. What she most loved was her family: her daughter, Paige, three grandchildren: Erin, Micah and Brendan; her siblings: Jeanette of Manchester, TN; the late Ira Sue Robinson of Nashville, TN: Jeff (Sandy) Perry of Carrollton, KY; Connie (Jerry) Boston of Princess Anne, MD; and Kay (Bobby) Cowger of Pocomoke, MD and their children and her in-laws: the late Oscar and Daisy Tucker; brother and sister in-laws: the late Don and Mary Tucker of Manchester, TN, Linda and Fred Smith of Tullahoma, TN and their children. For about the last 10 years of her life, she suffered from dementia which gradually caused advanced memory loss, disorientation and confusion. It did not, however, keep her from living in her beautiful home which she desired. She was able to accomplish this goal with the assistance of care givers including her beloved and dear granddaughter, Micah; her daughter, Paige, and assistance from Family Staffing Solutions/Arosa, Inc. and their special care giver, Angela Montague. Joyce’s funeral service will be conducted on Saturday, January 22 at 2PM by the Rev. Evan Owen, pastor of Rutledge Falls Baptist Church, where she and her family were members for her adult life. Family and friends are invited to visit with her immediate family from 12-2PM on Saturday just prior to the service celebrating her life. Pallbearers will be Brendan Matthews, Jeff Perry, Scott Carver, Johnathan Curtis, Jerry Boston, and Bobby Cowger. Entombment will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. If you prefer to make a charitable contribution rather than sending flowers, the family asks that donations in Joyce’s memory be made to either the Dominican Sisters of St. Cecilia Congregation, Attn: Mission Advancement Office, 801 Dominican Drive, Nashville, TN 37228 or Alive Hospice, 1718 Patterson Street, Nashville, Tennessee 37203. Kilgore Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Funeral services for Mrs. Lila Patricia Crabtree, age 71 of Manchester, will be conducted on Thursday, January 20, 2022, at 2 PM in the Coffee County Funeral Chapel. Burial will follow in the Old Reddens Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held from 12 Noon until time of service on Thursday at the funeral home. Mrs. Crabtree passed away on Sunday, January 16 at Unity Medical Center in Manchester after an extended illness.

Mrs. Lila was born on October 5, 1950, in Terre Haute, IN, to the late Daniel and Dorothy Parker Haley. She retired from M-Tek in Manchester after 20+ years of employment in the shipping department. Mrs. Lila enjoyed going to the mountains in Gatlinburg, and she loved to go to the beach. She also enjoyed Facebook and shopping online.  She was a caregiver to many. But Mrs. Lila’s greatest joy came from spending time with family and friends. Mrs. Lila was a Godly woman with a very strong faith, which helped her fight and beat cancer four different times in her life. She attended the Roark’s Cove Baptist church until her health declined.

In addition to her parents, Mrs. Lila is preceded in death by her loving husband, William Wright “Bill” Crabtree, Sr.; grandson, Luke Urban; brothers, Danny, Gary, and Ricky Haley; sister, Carol Frazier. She is survived by her children, Steve Cobb and his wife, Julie; April Ross, and her husband, Shawn, and William Wright “Billy” Crabtree, Jr.; grandchildren, Alexis and Kendall Ross, and Ciera Ballinger; great grandchildren, Kennedy, Kaiden, and Keeley Simmons; sisters, Sheila Gowen, Tina Farrar, and Sue Haley; several nieces and nephews that were very dear to her, and extended family members and a host of friends.

Coffee County Funeral Chapel is honored to serve the Crabtree family

Vernon Ray Moore of Tullahoma departed this life on Sunday, January 16,
2022 at the home of his son and daughter-in-law in Talking Rock, GA. At the
age of 90. Funeral Services are scheduled on Thursday, January 20, 2022 at
1 PM at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home with burial to follow at Rose Hill
Memorial Gardens.  The family will receive friends from 11 AM until 1 PM.

Mr. Moore a native of Normandy, TN was the son of the late Birthel and
Annie Lee Grammar Moore. He retired as an Instrument Technician from AEDC.
Ray was a member of Grace Baptist Church and was ordained as a Deacon
there.  He enjoyed hunting and fishing.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by son, Mike Moore;
daughter, Lori Moore; brother and sister-in-law, Shannon and Patty Moore;
brother-in-law, Charles Fagg and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Earl and
Leola Fagg.

Mr. Moore is survived by his wife of 67 ½ years, Virginia Moore; son, Randy
Moore and his wife, Connie; grandchildren, Jason Moore and his wife, Molly,
Justin Moore and his wife, Amanda and Cortney Johnson and her husband,
Chris; great grandchildren, Eli, Emmie, Owen, Charle, Katy, Noah, Colby and
Gabe; nephews, Chris and Chad Moore and sister-in-law, Kathy Fagg.

In lieu of flowers, the family has requested memorial donations may be made
to Grace Baptist Church Building Fund, 1901 Ovoca Road, Tullahoma, TN
37388.

Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Bobbie (Essie Pearl) Thomas, 84, of Manchester Tennessee, passed on January
14, 2022 after an extended illness. Graveside Services are scheduled at 3
PM, Tuesday, January 18, 2022 at Hurricane Grove Cemetery.

She was born to Norvell Grant and Julie Richardson Burks on December 21,
1937 in Summitville, TN. She married John Dayton Thomas in 1956 and
together they were blessed with 5 daughters (one lost in infancy) and
raised one of their grandchildren as a daughter. Viva Mansfield (Tim),
Karen Mansfield (Johnny), Harriet Ann Thomas, Janet Lea McGee (Butch),
Mendy Thomas Swain (Al), Yvonne Harris Waggoner (Paul). She also had 9
grandchildren Amanda Wright (Jimmy), Sarah Mansfield, Erica Cosminsky
Edwards (David), Dustin Mansfield, John Cosminsky, Bryan McGee, Caden
Harris, Delaney Harris and Reagan Harris and 5 great grandchildren.

The family would like to thank Rickey & Bubba Brandon and the many
caregivers who helped provide care to John and Bobbie during their illness.

Bobbie loved spending time with her kids and grandkids. And as one of
Jehovah’s Witnesses she also enjoyed sharing her hope of Bible truths with
others. She had many jobs through the years but particularly loved helping
her husband run the Tullahoma Fruit Market which was on the corner of E
Lincoln and N Anderson streets.

Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Funeral services for Mr. James “Pete” Lewis Hillis, age 78 years, and 10 days of Beechgrove, will be conducted on Wednesday, January 19, 2022, at 1 PM in the Manchester Funeral Home chapel. Burial will follow in the New Beechgrove Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be held on Tuesday from 5 – 8 PM at the funeral home. Mr. Hillis passed away on Friday at his home after an extended illness. 

 “Pete”, as he was fondly known by family and friends, was born on January 4, 1944, to the late Lewis Henry and Georgia Harrell Hillis in Bell Buckle, TN. He was known for his athleticism in high school in Charleston, IL, where he set many records in track. Mr. Pete was a deacon at the First Baptist Church of Beechgrove for over 40 years. He enjoyed hunting with his sons and attending the ball games of his grandchildren. He was the trainer for the walking horses at Steve Hill Stables for many years. Mr. Pete and Chad, his son, would buy walking horse colts every year.  

In addition to his parents, Mr. Pete is preceded in death by his grandson, Taylan Gage Hillis, brothers, Bobby Gene and George Thomas Hillis, and his sisters, Dorothy Moore, Betty Lou Winn, Mary Jo Smith, Mary Elizabeth Hillis, and Bessie Ruth Allen. Mr. Pete is survived by his loving wife of 61 years, Janie Evalyn Gordon Hillis; sons, Tracy Hillis, and his wife, Monica, and Chad Hillis and his wife, Colleen; grandchildren, Trista Blair and Treydin Chance Hillis, and Keelie Shea and Olivia Danyel Hillis; sister, Cathey Wade and her husband, Roy; several nieces, nephews, and extended family members, and a host of friends. 

Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Hillis family 

www.manchesterfuneralhome.com  

Norman Louis Frazor of Shelbyville, TN passed this life on Friday, January
14, 2022 at his residence at the age of 66. No services are scheduled.

A native of Hendersonville, he was the son of the late Herman Douglas and
Vera Roberts Frazor.  He called square dancing and enjoyed teaching square
dancing to the young.

Mr. Frazor is survived by his wife, Cathey Frazor of Shelbyville; son,
Justin D. Frazor of Dickson; brothers, Jamie, Albert (June) and Arty
Frazor, all of Hendersonville and sister, Louise Watkins of Hendersonville.

Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Phillip “P.J.” James Thompson of Morrison, TN passed this life on
Wednesday, January 12, 2022 at St. Thomas Rutherford at the age of 50. No
services are scheduled.

A native of Kentucky, Phillip was the son of William Frank Thompson of
Kentucky and Sherry Bankston Grosch of Morrison.  He enjoyed fishing and
being with his family.

He was preceded in death by brother, Mark Ainsworth.

In addition to his parents, he is survived by girlfriend, Leslie Haley of
Woodbury; brothers, Joseph Ainsworth of Manchester, Frank Thompson of
Alexander, KY, Scott Thompson (Kim) of Lebanon, Nathan Grosch (Kristina) of
Murfreesboro and sister, Shelly Walden (Matthew) of Dunkirk, Maryland.

Online condolences may be made at www.davesculbertsonfuneralhome.com.
Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.

Charlotte Lillian Barker, age 64, of Tullahoma, TN, passed from this life
on Wednesday, January 12, 2022, in Tullahoma, TN. Mrs. Barker was born in
Virginia to her late parents, Thomas Starr Gray and Dixie Puffenbarger. She
most recently worked with PCA in Manchester, TN. She was a good seamstress
and enjoyed her grandchildren and great grandchildren very much. Mrs.
Barker would do anything for anybody and had a huge heart. In addition to
her parents, she was preceded in death by husband, Thomas Barker; brothers,
Thomas Gray and Scott Gray. Mrs. Barker is survived by her children, Jimmie
(Amanda) Lansdon, Dixie Branch, Thomas (Tamera) Barker, and George
(Jessica) Barker; siblings, Danny Gray, Robert Gray, Connie Seago, Betty
Gray, Oma Reynolds, and Cornelia Wood; grandchildren, Cage Clark, Jimmie
Lansdon Jr., Shelby Barker, Andrew Branch, Nathan Barker, Teagan Barker,
Gracyn Barker, Aaron Mata, Logan Cajina, Jesslynn Barker; great
grandchildren, Kaiden, Millie, Sebastian, and Ariel. Visitation with the
family will be held on Monday, January 17, 2022, from 12:00pm noon until
2:00pm at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN. Funeral services will be
conducted immediately following visitation at 2:00pm. Burial will follow at
Hurricane Grove Cemetery in Manchester, TN. Central Funeral Home is serving
the family, 931-723-7774, centralfuneralhome.com

Daisy Idella May , formerly of Tullahoma passed this life on Sunday, January 9, 2022 at Suncoast Hospice in Pinellas Park, FL at the age of 104. Mrs. May was born in Grandville, TN to the late Henry Cleveland and Mary Elizabeth Thomas Stockton. In addition to her parents, Mrs. May is preceded in death by her husband of 60 years, Floyd R. May; one daughter, Lois Farless; one grandson, Steve Riley; four sisters, Maggie Lou Maxey, Mattie Mae Abbott-Coffman, Ruby Jones and Jean Sanders; and one brother, Willie Stockton. She is survived by her granddaughter, Cheri Forrester, son-in-law Robert Farless; and numerous nieces and nephews. Visitation for Mrs. May will be held on Sunday, January 16 at 1:00pm at Kilgore Funeral Home. Funeral services will follow at 2:00pm in the Kilgore Funeral Home chapel with Bro. Jack Hice officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens. Kilgore Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.