Category: Obituaries

“We little knew that day, God was going to call your name. In life we loved you dearly, in death we do the same. It broke our hearts to lose you, the day God called you home. You left us beautiful memories; your love is still our guide. And although we cannot see you, you are always by our side. Our family chain is broken, and nothing seems the same. But as God calls us one by one the chain will link again.”

Ernie Lee “Hoss” Nunley was born on April 19, 1952, in Manchester, TN, to the late Lillard Bayo and Iva Lee Oliver Nunley. He enjoyed deer hunting, riding horses, and watching Alabama football. “Hoss” retired from Carrier, Inc. where he was employed in the tool & die department.

In addition to his parents, “Hoss” is preceded in death by his stepdaughter, Carol Ashburn, and nephew, Jeremy Nunley. He is survived by his loving wife of 42 years, Hattie DeMitro Nunley; stepson, Robert Wellman; brothers, Charles E. Nunley and his wife, Sandy, William A.C. Nunley and his wife, Kathy, Bobby Joe “Jody” Nunley and his wife, Edith, Danny Ray Nunley and his wife, Melissa, and Frankie Dale Nunley and his wife, Sharon; several nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, and a host of friends.

As per “Hoss’s” request, cremation was chosen, and no services are scheduled at this time.

Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Nunley family.

Mrs. Lois Kathleen Smith, 81, passed away Sunday
October 17, 2021, at McArthur Manor in Manchester, Tennessee.  She was born
in Lebanon, Tennessee on October 22, 1939, to Joe Murphy Fuller and
Elizabeth Cato Fuller who preceded her in death.

She was a member of Rutledge Falls Baptist Church.  She liked to cross
stitch, read, watch football, care for her grandchildren, play the piano at
home and at church. She worked as a teacher’s aide at West Wood Middle
School, Vacation Bible School at Trinity Baptist Church and worked at a day
care in her younger days. She enjoyed traveling and has visited all 50
States and Canada.

She is survived by her husband, Johnny Reid Smith, son, Frank (Kathy)
Smith; daughters, Lydia (Chuck) Keating and Renee (Jeff) Arnold; brother,
Joe Davis (Becky) Fuller; grandchildren, Chad Duke, Erin (Travis) Layton,
Justin (Meredith) Keating, Corey Arnold, Ethan (Chelsey) Smith, Michael
(Briana) Keating, Ashley (Beck) Roberts, Lake (Jacklyn) Elam; great
grandchildren, Landry, Lynnex, Dominick and River.

Visitation with the family will be Wednesday, October 20, 2021, from
10:30am until 12:30pm at Central Funeral Home in Manchester, TN. Funeral
services will be conducted immediately following visitation at 12:30pm in
the chapel of Central Funeral Home with Rev. Justin Keating and Barry
Rhoads officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Hill Memorial Gardens in
Tullahoma, TN.

The family wishes to express their heartfelt thanks to the nurses and staff
at McArthur Manor.

Central Funeral Home is serving the family, 931-723-7774,
centralfuneralhome.com

Mark Speechley age 68, of Manchester passed this life Monday, October 18,
2021 at the Unity Medical Center. No Services are scheduled at this time.

Mark, a native of Montreal, Canada, was the son of the late Anthony and
Margareta Andersbengts Speechley.  He was a world traveler and enjoyed
photography, gardening, carpentry projects and working on automobiles.

Mark is survived by his wife, Jean Speechley of Jackson, TN and brother,
Christopher Speechley of Jackson, TN.

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

Jimmy Leon Hanley of Tullahoma passed this life Sunday, October 17, 2021 at
his residence at the age of 73. Funeral Services are scheduled for
Wednesday, October 20 at 2 PM at Daves-Culbertson Funeral Home with burial
to follow at Rose Hill Memorial Gardens.  The family will receive friends
from 12 PM until the service time.

Mr. Hanley, a native of Franklin County, was the son of the late Howard and
Eunice Anderton Hanley.  He enjoyed playing softball, fishing and watching
football. He was an avid TN Vols fan.  He loved being with his family and
enjoyed playing with his great grandchildren.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brothers, Billy
Anderton, Steve Hanley and Kenneth D. Hanley and sisters, Freeda Anderton
Keeton and Brenda Partin.

Mr. Hanley is survived by his loving wife of 52 years, Deborah Hanley of
Tullahoma; son, Shawn Hanley of Tullahoma; daughter, Angela Hanley-Ferrell
(Richard) of Tullahoma; brother, Howard Jack Hanley of Shelbyville;
grandchildren, Sasha Krueger (fiancé, Frankie), Austin Chase Lendley, Adam
Leon Hanley and Brandon Hanley and great grandchildren, Xavia K. Mayes and
Rocket Gillis.

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

Memorial services for Ms. Laura Beth Cornelison, age 62 of Manchester, will be conducted on Friday, October 22, 2021, at 12 Noon, in the Manchester Funeral Home chapel. Visitation with the family will begin at 11 AM until time of service at the funeral home on Friday. Ms. Cornelison passed away at Alive Hospice in Murfreesboro after an extended illness.

Ms. Cornelison was born on November 25, 1958, in Dallas, TX to the late Ben Martin and Wenona Brady Martin. She was a retired manager at O’Charley’s.

In addition to her parents, Ms. Cornelison is preceded in death by her husband, Mark Cornelison and brother, David Martin. She is survived by her children, Marcie Phillips and her husband, Eric, Shawn Gassett, and Clay Gassett; stepdaughters, Elizabeth Padgett, and Sarah Hall; grandchildren, Samantha Hall, Dylon Ball, Halle Phillips, TaraLynn Gassett; brother, Harold Martin; sisters, Terri Hanson, and Amy Morris; several nieces and nephews, and a host of friends.

Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Cornelison family.

 Mr. Woodie Coy Shelton, age 83, of Manchester, TN,
passed from this life on Sunday, October 17, 2021, at his residence.

Mr. Shelton was born in Coffee Co., TN, to his late parents Raymond Frank
Shelton and Robbie Elenter Banks Shelton. He was a factory worker for Coey
Tannery for most of his life until retirement. Mr. Shelton enjoyed
gardening and loved living in his cabin home. He was a simple man and was
loved by many.

Mr. Shelton is survived by brother, Buddy Boyce Shelton; sister, Jo Phyllis
(Ronnie) Crownover; several nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Graveside services will be held on Tuesday, October 19, 2021, at 12:00pm
noon at Rileys Creek Baptist Church Cemetery, 2760 Roberts Ridge Rd.,
Manchester, TN, 37355, with Bro. Dwight Duckworth officiating. Burial will
immediately follow the graveside services.

Central Funeral Home is serving the family, 931-723-7774,
centralfuneralhome.com

On Friday October 15, 2021,  Mr. Wilbur Elmer
Gesell, 87, passed away peacefully at his home.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Arthur and Carrie Gesell; in-laws,
Chester and Lydia Wiedeman; sister, Doris Christensen.

He leaves behind his best friend and bride of sixty-five years, Mitzi.  He
also leaves behind his children,  Gary A. (Chip) Gesell, Jon S. Gesell and
Mark (Cathy) Gesell and Linda Adams, all of Manchester; brother, Rudolph
John Gesell, Brookeville, Indiana; sister, Phyllis Jean Utterback,
Brownsburg, Indiana; grandchildren, Jennifer Gesell (Michael Caruso), Lori
(Stephen) Henley, Julie Gesell, Sara Adams, Gregory (Amber) Palmier and
Kevin (Jodi) Palmier; great grandchildren, Matthew (Cynthia) Palmier,
Jessica (Ben) Fitzgerald, Kayla Palmier, Dylan Palmier, and Jackson Henley;
great great grandchild, Marilyn Palmier.

Wilbur traveled all across the United States while driving for 55 years for
Batesville Casket Company.  He was also a supervisor at Batesville where he
made numerous life-long friends.  Batesville Casket Company was a very
large and important part of his life.

He had a strong work ethic and high expectations for himself.  He believed
in “doing the right thing” which meant doing his best no matter how trivial
the task.

Wilbur was a loving husband and dad, a proud papa, a caring brother, and a
friend whose door was always open.

He was also the best caregiver to his daughter Linda.  He was devoted to
her well-being and making sure she was happy.  He always tried to leave her
with a smile and a laugh.

Wilbur loved God, his country, and was blessed with the gift to make people
feel at ease.

He was good at many things. He could take a bushel of grapes and turn them
into a fine wine.  He was an accomplished card player, Cincinnati Reds fan,
an avid NASCAR fan, a carpenter, farmer, and a true adventurer. He loved
life and people.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 AM Wednesday at the Hillsboro United
Methodist Church with Ministers, Kent Bailey and George Brown officiating
with burial to follow in the Hillsboro Methodist Cemetery.

Visitation: 5:00 PM – 8:00 PM Tuesday at Central Funeral Home, Manchester,
Tennessee.

Masonic Service: 8:00 PM Tuesday in the chapel of Central Funeral Home.

In lieu of flowers, he asked that donations be made to the First United
Methodist Church Cemetery, Hillsboro, Tennessee or The Saint John’s Church
Cemetery in Penntown, Indiana.

Kevin Lance Dale, age 33, passed this life on October 5, 2021 at his
residence in Tullahoma. He was the son of Clinton Dale and Margaret Dougall
Dale. He is preceded in death by his mother, Margaret. He accepted Christ
and was baptized at Shepard Street Pentecostal Church. He attended church
at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church. Kevin loved basketball, playing his
Xbox, listening to music and most of all he loved his family and children.

He leaves to mourn his memories: Father, Clinton Dale; wife, Jasmine Dale;
children, Aiyanna, Kyan, Akyra and Kylar Dale; siblings, Karen Williams,
Kijuan Dale, Shanique Dale, Adonia Dale, Shantel Dale and Kerry Dale;
Nephew, Ayden Dale; special niece, Niyah Maxwell; sister and brother in
law, Janequa (Otavius) Johnson, Joseph (Jarel) Nixon, Jacob Nixon, Justice
Nixon, Jordan Nixon, Nefftia (Billy) Pruitt, Antionette (Eric) Johnson,
Summer Niles and Paris (Danny) Pierre.

The family will receive friends from 4-6 PM on October 16th at
Dave-Culbertson Funeral Home. Chapel Services will follow with Evangelist
Sernobia Mcgee officiating.

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

Funeral services for Mrs. Almer Jean Duke, age 87 of Estill Springs, will be conducted at 1:00PM on Monday, October 18, 2021, at Manchester Funeral Home.  Burial will follow in HooDoo Cemetery.  The family will receive friends from 11:00AM until the time of services at the funeral home.  Mrs. Duke passed from this life on Friday, October 15, 2021, at Vanderbilt Tullahoma – Harton Hospital in Tullahoma, TN. 

Jean was born in Emit, Arkansas on January 2, 1934, the daughter of the late Marshall and Lela Smith.  Jean enjoyed crocheting and gardening in her flower garden.  She especially loved her grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren.  Jean was the oldest of 8 children.  She met the love of her life, Raymond, and they married on December 18, 1950.  Jean was a loving and devoted wife, mother, grandmother, and sister. 

In addition to her parents, Jean is also preceded in death by her beloved husband, Raymond Howard Duke; granddaughter, Amy Duke; sisters, Lee Lawson and Betty Fanning; brother, Marshall Smith, Jr.  She is survived by her children, Patricia Garner, Larry Duke, and Donnie Duke; grandchildren, Paula Rigney (Max), Stacey Anderson, Kelly Roche (Sam), Casey Duke, Howard James Duke, Donald Duke, Zack Duke (Leslie), Atreyu Duke; great-grandchildren, Zack Duke, Kodey Rigney, Shawn Anderson, Trystan Moore (Haden), Shelby Duke, Sigmund Duke, Ava Roche, Libby Roche, Riley Nancy, Emily Whitehead, and Isaac Whitehead; great-great-grandchildren, Aurora Moore, Audrey Clark, Kinzley Bibb, Kacelynn Duke, and Dalton Bibb, Jr; sisters, Ann Bower (Ronnie), Connie Dombeck (Mark); brothers, Travis Smith and Terry Smith (An). 

Manchester Funeral Home is honored to serve the Duke family