Category: Obituaries

THOMAS EARL HILL, age 69, of Winchester, Tenn., departed this life Friday, June 26, 2015 at the Willows of Winchester.

Mr. Hill was born on August 21, 1945 in Huntland, Tenn., to the late Hugh Lawson and Edna (Watson) Hill.

He was a member of Hickory Grove Baptist Church in Huntland. Mr. Hill worked as a small engine repair mechanic.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his wife, Bonnie Hill.

Mr. Hill is survived by his son James Hill of Chattanooga, Tenn., daughter Marcia (Tino) Padovan of Manchester, Tenn., grandchildren; Jessica Parker, Vallon Williams, Logan Williams, Sean Hornsby, Jacob Breed, and 5 great-grandchildren.

Visitation with the family will be Saturday, June 27, 2015 from 12:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. at Grant Funeral Services.

Services will be held on Sunday , June 28, 2015 at 2:00 P.M. from the chapel of Grant Funeral Services with Eulogist James Hill, officiating.

Interment will follow at Watson Cemetery in Huntland, Tenn., where he will be laid to rest next to his wife.

Grant Funeral Services in charge of arrangements.

Billy “Earl” Tuck passed away Thursday, June 25, 2015 at Harton Regional Medical Center.

Earl was a machinist at A.E.D.C. and was Vice President and Chief Steward of the International Association of Machine and Aerospace Workers Local Lodge 1501, and was very proud of his union participation. Earl was a loving grandfather and was adored by his grand children. He was dedicated to his family and always fulfilled his role as the leader. Earl was also an avid Harley rider.

He is preceded in death by his mother, Margie “Jackie” Tuck.

The family request that memorial donations be made to Guide dogs of America, 13445 Glenoaks Blvd., Sylmar, CA 91342.

He is survived by his wife of 13 years, Caroline Tuck, father, Orville Tuck, children, Sheena Tuck and her fiancé Justin Todd, Dillon Tuck and his significant other, Aubrey Morrison, Rebecca (Derek) Swiger, Christie (Josh) Curtis, sister, Karen (Jeff) Reaves, grandchildren, Tyler Meeks, Zech Swiger, Jaxon Todd, Allie Swiger, Will Swiger, Matt Swiger, Sofia Todd, Levi Todd, nephew, Derek (Amy) Tipps, great nephew, Konner Tipps and a multitude of loving extended family and friends.

Visitation with the family will be from 6:00 till 9:00 PM, Friday evening at Tullahoma Funeral Home.

A graveside service will be held at Bethlehem Baptist Church Cemetery at a later date.

Tullahoma Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mr. Billy Earl Tuck.

JAMIE SHAWN BOHNA, age 45, of Estill Springs, Tenn., departed this life suddenly on Wednesday, June 24, 2015 in Memphis, Tenn., from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

Mr. Bohna was a motorcycle enthusiast. He was a loving and caring father and grandfather.

Mr Bohna was preceded in death by father, Leonard Bohna.

He is survived by his wife, Wendy Bohna of Murfreesboro, Tenn., mother, Carole Bohna of Estill Springs, Tenn., sons; Christopher Bohna and his wife, Lakoya of Hillsboro, Tenn., Matthew Bohna of Murfreesboro, Tenn., daughter, Leslie Bohna (Mike Koontz) of Winchester, Tenn., and 1 grandson, Cole Bohna.

Visitation with the family will be Saturday, June 27, 2015, from 4:00 P.M. – 6:00 P.M. at Grant Funeral Services.

Services will be held also on Saturday, June 27, 2015, at 6:00 P.M. from the chapel of Grant Funeral Services with Eulogist Jay Prall, officiating.

Grant Funeral Services in charge of arrangements.

Funeral services for Captain Jeffery Lynn McCullough, age 58, of Manchester, will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Sunday, June 28, 2015 at Main Street Church of Christ in Manchester with Alan Adams officiating.

Burial will follow in Holland Hill Cemetery.

Visitation with the family will be from 2:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Saturday, June 27 at Manchester Funeral Home.

He will lie in state at Main Street Church of Christ from 12:00 Noon until time of service on Sunday.

Jeff passed away suddenly on Wednesday afternoon at Southern Tennessee Medical Center in Winchester, TN.

Jeff was born at home in Coffee County, TN, the son of J.D. McCullough and the late Della Ezell Rhoton McCullough.

He was a Captain for the Coffee County Sheriff’s Department, where he was also Captain of the CCSD Honor Guard. He was a member of the Fraternal Order of Police and a member of Main Street Church of Christ. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

In addition to his mother, Jeff was also preceded in death by a grandson, Ashlin Prince; sister-in-law, Susan Sparks; and brother-in-law, Jacob Wilhoite, Sr.

He is survived by his loving wife of 25 years, Sandy Nash McCullough of Manchester; five daughters, Brittney Lynn (Jason) Sells of Lynchburg, Moranda (Chad) Odeneal and Ann (John) Sweeney, both of Shelbyville, Kimberly (Shawn) Eckert of Las Vegas, NV, and Jeanette Prince of Manchester; five brothers, Daniel (Sherry) McCullough, Marlin (Doris) McCullough, John (Beverly) McCullough, and Travis (Linda) McCullough, all of Manchester, and Robert (Debbie) McCullough of Shelbyville; one sister, Faye Wilhoite of Manchester; 16 grandchildren, Joe, Luke, Caleb, Chris, Brandon, Chase, Megan, Taylor, Zack, Jada, Katie, Zain, Savannah, Cody, Kaitlyn, and Brooklynn; and one great grandchild, Mia.

MANCHESTER FUNERAL HOME IS HONORED TO SERVE THE McCULLOUGH FAMILY

Mrs. Alberta Peterson 77, of Tullahoma passed Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at Harton Regional Medical Center.

She was the daughter of the late Percy Johnson Sr and Edith Landers Johnson. She was retired from Tennessee Apparel.

She is survived by her husband, Paul Peterson, Sr of Tullahoma, TN.

Four Daughters, Charlotte Johnson Webb, Paula Johnson Childress, and Linda Dot Peterson all of Tullahoma, TN and Kimberly Peterson of Detroit, MI.

Son, Paul Peterson (Ethel), Jr of Tullahoma, TN.

10 grandchildren

13 great grandchildren

1 great -grandchild

Three sisters, Ida Mae Blake of Tullahoma, TN; Marie (James) Kincherlow and Callie Mae Kincherlow both of Huntland, TN.

One brother, Bobby Joe Johnson of Mt. Vernon, NY and host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.

Visitation Monday, June 29, 2015 at 1:00 pm at MT. Zion Baptist Church of Tullahoma with Funeral Services to follow at 2:00 pm with Pastor Elvy Davis officiating and Pastor James Crutchfield as Eulogist.

Interment Evergreen Cemetery.

J. A. Welton & Son Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Bonnie Ruth Creson Sissom, age 84, of Manchester passed away Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at Alive Hospice in Nashville.

She was a native of Cannon County.

Survivors include her granddaughter, Amy Brandon & husband, Brent Brandon of Woodbury; Sister, Jean Rigsby of Woodbury; Great Granddaughter, Anna Brandon of Woodbury; and Daughter-in-law, Pat Sissom of Woodbury.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Fred L. Sissom; Parents, Casto & Mary Bragg Creson; Son, Charles Sissom; and Siblings, Edward Creson & Geneva Sutton.

She was a member of the Red Hill Church of Christ in Manchester and was retired from General Electric.

Memorial Services will be 5 PM Friday, June 26, 2015 in the Chapel of Woodbury Funeral Home with Bro. Ralph Hart officiating.

Visitation with the family will be from 4 to 5 PM Friday, June 26, 2015 at the funeral home.

In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Red Hill Church of Christ (Manchester), American Heart Association, or Short Mountain Bible Camp.

Woodbury Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Joseph Lester Ferrgus Jr., was born August 29, 1928 in Chattanooga and graduated from Chattanooga High School in 1946. He attended the University of Chattanooga for two years where he was a member of scouting’s Alpha Phi Omega service fraternity and Lambda Chi Alpha social fraternity. At the University of Tennessee, he graduated in 1950 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering and was elected to Tau Beta Pi and Phi Kappa Phi scholastic societies and was a charter member of Pi Tau Sigma honorary ME society.
He enlisted in the Air Force January 1951 and was sent to Lackland AFB, TX for basic training. He then was transferred to Wright-Patterson AFB, OH and engaged in simulated flight testing of a ramjet model in a small wind tunnel and technical reporting. In December of 1952, he was commissioned a 2nd Lt. and assigned to Lowry AFB, CO for training in electronic countermeasures. He was discharged from active duty in August 1953 and retired from the Air Force Reserve as a Captain in 1961.
In October 1953, he was employed by ARO, Inc. at the Arnold Engineering Development Center for an exciting and challenging 37 year career. His early tenure included testing, data analysis and technical reporting for fighter aircraft turbine engines. He the engaged in rocket engine development testing. A unique experience was associated with a one of a kind test facility, a cryogenically cooled test cell for ultra high altitude ground testing of space propulsion systems. Operability and performance were evaluated for the lunar landing and ascent stage rocket engines and other rockets for NASA and AG space systems. He reverted then to development testing and performance evaluation of the air launched cruise missile engine. His last duty was test data analysis engineer for an engine for the F22 fighter.
During his tenure, he was principal or co-author of over 25 technical reports and four technical paper presentations. Professional membership affiliations were the National Society of Professional Engineers, American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics, National Management Association and American Society of Mechanical Engineers.
Mr. Fergus was a member of the First United Methodist Church having served on several committees and boards and was a lay speaker at area Methodist churches. He was a member of the Strangely Warmed Sunday school class, joined the Methodist Men on local projects and volunteered for three mission teams to support churches in Central America.
An avid scouter for over 60 years, he served as an adult leader on the Troop and exploer post unit levels, the Elk River District committee and Executive Board of the Middle Tennessee Council. He earned the Scouters Key and Scoutmasters Key and was awarded the council Long Rifle and Silver Beaver. As a member of the National Eagle Scout Association he received the silver Wreath. A highlight of his scouting experience was serving as the council’s ’79 contingent leader to Philmout Scout Ranch in Cimarron, NM. He completed Wood Badge training and later served as a staffer. Another privilege was staff service at the 1977, 1993, 1997 and 2001 National Scout Jamborees. Aside from his enjoyable outdoor experiences with boy scouts he delighted in donning a simulated period uniform of the founder of the world scouting Lord Robert Baden-Powell. Attending scout units he would describe how Baden-Powell’s career in the British military prepared him to start world wide scouting and develop the handbooks for training boys and adult leaders.
In 1971 the family moved from Tullahoma to a small farm in north Franklin Co. to accommodate the fervent love of horses. The family enjoyed many local trail rides and activities with the Tullahoma Saddle Club. After the children left a friend from Chattanooga encouraged Mrs. Fergus to start a program of therapeutic horseback riding for handicapped children. A small indoor arena was constructed in 1995 by the Fergus’s and the founded Horse Play in 1996 at their Double J Ranch. To accommodate handicapped adults as well as children, Freedom Friends was founded in 2001 and operated thru 2010. He was grateful for the many volunteers and donors who made the programs succeed. A major contributor to these programs was the TN Valley Paso Fino Horse Association where he served several years as chairman for their statewide trail rides.
He is preceded in death by his beloved wife of 63 years, Jean James Fergus. He is survived by daughters, Dr. Victoria Jane Fergus of Morgantown, WV, Brenda Catherine Fergus Watson and her husband Don of Paducah, KY, son, James Gary Fergus of Tullahoma, granddaughter, Zannie Leia Brewer of Nashville, grandson, Zachary Fergus Thacker of Paducah, KY, and nephew, Peter Leonard Palmer and his wife Donna of Rock Spring, GA.
In lieu of flowers the family suggest memorial donations be made to Boy Scout Troop 158, c/o The First Methodist Church, 208 W. Lauderdale St., Tullahoma, TN 37388,The Middle Tennessee Council, BSA, 3414 Hillsboro Pike, PO Box 150409, Nashville, TN 37215 or the Tennessee Valley Paso Fino Horse Assosiation, 2322 Floraton Rd., Readyville, TN 37149.

A Memorial service will be announced at a later date.

Tullahoma Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.

Funeral services for Mr. Robert Myles Nelson, age 81, of Morrison, TN, will be conducted at 2:00 PM on Friday, June 26, 2015 at Manchester Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Marvin Davenport officiating.

Visitation will be held from 12 Noon until time of service on Friday.

Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery in Londonderry, NH on Wednesday, July 1, 2015, with visitation at Peabody Funeral Home from 4:00 PM until 8:00 PM on Tuesday, June 30, 2015.

Mr. Nelson passed away on Tuesday, June 23 at St. Thomas Midtown in Nashville, TN.

Mr. Nelson was born in Nashua, NH, the son of the late Myles Renwick and Louise Holton Nelson.

He began his career with Rockwell in CA and then later worked for General Dynamics at Vandenberg AFB, and later for Boeing as a launch engineer at Cape Canaveral, FL. He concluded his career at AEDC (Arnold AFB) in Tullahoma, TN. He was raised in the Londonderry Presbyterian Church, where he and his wife were married.

In addition to his parents, Robert was also preceded in death by one son, Richard Nelson; one brother, Louis Yeaton Nelson; two sisters, Debbie Dionne and Phyllis Bourgault; and one grandson, David Leon Lowe.

He is survived by his loving wife, Janet C. Nelson, of Morrison, TN; two daughters, C. Ivy Nelson-Groves and her husband, Rick Groves of Renton, WA and Catherine (Dennis) Lowe of Morrison; four sisters, Phila Howard Brill of Plymouth, NH, Betty (Frances) Griffin of Westborough, Mass, Evelyn (Jim) Walker and Jean (Russ) Hanson, both of Nashua, NH; One Brother in Law, Ray Dionne, two grandchildren, Victoria (Matt) Armstrong and Elizabeth (David) Garrett; and four great grandchildren, Kaylee Conklin and Joshua, Jacob, and Matthew Garrett.

MANCHESTER FUNERAL HOME IS HONORED TO SERVE THE NELSON FAMILY

JERRY RAY WOODARD, age 64, of Estill Springs, Tenn., departed this life unexpectedly on Tuesday, June 23, 2015 at STRHS Winchester.

He was born on September 11, 1950 in Lincoln County, Tenn.

Mr. Woodard was of the Baptist faith. Before coming disabled, he was in Ground Maintenance. Mr. Woodard was an avid gardener and loved to fish, camp and cook on the grill.

He was preceded in death by his father, Johnny Woodard and sister, JoAnne Burton.

Mr. Woodard is survived by his loving and devoted wife of 25 years, Delores Woodard of Estill Springs, Tenn., mother, Doris Adkinson of Tullahoma, Tenn., daughters; Lisa Woodard of Oklahoma City, OK, Donna Davis and her husband, Randy of Estill Springs, Tenn., Debra McPheron of Tullahoma, Tenn., sons; David McPheron of Tullahoma, Tenn., Christopher McPheron of Manchester, Tenn., brothers; Kenneth Woodard of Fayetteville, Tenn., Johnny mark Woodard of Estill Springs, Tenn., sister, Sherry Bateman and her husband, Billy Wayne of Chapel Hill, Tenn., 2 grandchildren, several nieces and nephews.

Visitation with the family will be held prior to the funeral service starting at 1:00 P.M.

Services will be held on Friday, June 26, 2015 from the chapel of Grant Funeral Services at 3:00 P.M.

Interment will follow at Booneville Cemetery in Lynchburg, Tenn.

Grant Funeral Services in charge of arrangements.