Oak Ridge Today

Michael Eric Braden

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Michael Eric Braden

Michael Eric Braden

Michael Eric Braden, 50, of Oak Ridge, earned his wings Wednesday, March 13, after a courageous battle with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease).

Mr. Braden was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., to Patricia Hill and Robert Braden. Upon graduation, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy as an aviation ordinance man, where he served 10 years active duty and three years in the Reserves and National Guard. He was very proud of his military service.

Mr. Braden was an active member of Calvary Baptist Church, teaching fourth grade Sunday School until his illness progressed. He was an avid sportsman, loved University of Tennessee sports, Pittsburgh Steelers football, and Pittsburgh Penguins hockey, but his favorite pastime was caring for their horse Lucky with his daughter. [Read more…]

Frank Weaver

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Frank Weaver, age 76, of Clinton, passed away early Wednesday morning, March 13.

Frank was a member of Midway Baptist church. He enjoyed gardening and working with his hands and was proud that he built his own home.

Frank was preceded in death by his parents; brother, David Weaver; and his wife, Charlotte Weaver. [Read more…]

Margaret P. Williams

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Margaret P. Williams, age 90, passed away Tuesday, March 12, at her son’s residence in Surfside Beach, S.C.

Margaret was of the Baptist faith. She loved animals, flowers, and gardening.

She was preceded in death by her parents, George and Clara (Barlow) Perry; husband, Dowell Williams; brother, James Perry; sisters, Helen Bryant, Nellie Powell, Marie Snow, Edna Bradshaw, and Anna Mae Perry, one grandchild; and one great-grandchild. [Read more…]

Maude McKenzie Gardner

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Maude McKenzie Gardner

Maude McKenzie Gardner

Maude McKenzie Gardner, 91, of Maryville, died Tuesday, March 12.

She was born to the late Jerome and Bertie McKenzie, on Sept. 28, 1921, in Decatur. Maude married Walter Gardner in 1945, and they lived together in Oak Ridge for 50 years, before relocating to Maryville.

Maude’s working career began at an early age as a school teacher to all grades of a one-room school near the Ten Mile community. She then became assistant to the Decatur postmaster. After moving to Oak Ridge, she was a guardette and calutron operator at the Y-12 facility, then worked at various local retail positions, where she got to know and love many of the locals.

She was an expert seamstress and homemaker. She was also a dedicated Red Cross volunteer, donating her time to help with the needs of our wartime soldiers. Maude was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. [Read more…]

Kenneth C. Liu

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Kenneth Chi-Shen Liu

Kenneth Chi-Shen Liu

Kenneth C. Liu, 82, of Oak Ridge, passed away Monday, March 11.

He was born Oct. 8, 1930, in Taipei, Taiwan, and graduated with a degree in civil engineering from the National Taiwan University.

He immigrated to the United States in 1958 to attend the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where he received a master’s degree in civil engineering. After working at Combustion Engineering for five years, he continued his studies at Yale University, where he received his Ph.D. in Applied Sciences. [Read more…]

Mark Jenson Mincey

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Mark Jenson Mincey, age 55, of Clinton, passed away March 11 at his residence in Clinton.

Mark is preceded in death by his parents, Charles and Alice Mincey; brother, Lee Mincey; and sister, Loretta Mincey.

[Read more…]

Catherine Janell Cline Weaver

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Catherine Janell Weaver

Catherine Janell Weaver

Catherine Janell Cline Weaver, 39, of Clinton and formerly of Oak Ridge, passed away Friday, March 8.

She was born July 3, 1973, in Newark, Ohio.

She is survived by her father, Charles Wesley Cline of Knoxville; mother, Sharyn Anderson of Clinton; daughters, Allyson Cline and Emily Weaver of Clinton and Denna Pratt of Knoxville; sister, Jennifer Christi Cline of Oak Ridge; niece, Jabray Cline, and nephew, Lamarcus Cline, both of Oak Ridge; and numerous extended family and very dear friends, Elizabeth Workapick of Oak Ridge, and Denna Woods of Kingston. [Read more…]

Kevin Eugene Samples

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Kevin Eugene Samples

Kevin Eugene Samples

Kevin Eugene Samples, age 38, of Powell, passed away Saturday, March 9, at home surrounded by his family.

Kevin was a 1992 graduate of Powell High School. He enjoyed listening to music and was an avid reader when he wasn’t with his family or friends.

Kevin was of the Baptist faith. He was a big-hearted person who would do anything for anybody and will be greatly missed by all who knew him. [Read more…]

Nancy Baird Showalter Carrol

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Nancy Baird Showalter Carrol

Nancy Baird Showalter Carrol

Nancy Baird Showalter Carrol, 89, of Oak Ridge, passed away Friday, March 8, at National Health Care of Oak Ridge.

Nancy was born Jan. 30, 1925 in LaFollette, Tenn., to the late Andrew and Alice McCullah Baird.

She was a member of Heritage Fellowship Church of God. Nancy was a homemaker and very loving, nurturing mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a competitive speed walker and was the Tennessee Senior State Champion in 1986, and also a member of a hiking club from 1984 to 2004. She loved sewing, gardening, and her animals. [Read more…]

Mary L. ‘Granny’ Smith

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Mary L. “Granny” Smith, age 83, a resident of Lenoir City and formerly of Powell, went home to be with the Lord, Saturday, March 9, at the NHC, Ft. Sanders in Knoxville.

Mary was born Sept. 15, 1929, in Sumner County, Tenn. She has lived in Knoxville since 1941.

Mrs. Smith was a homemaker, a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother. She was a faithful Christian and a member of the New Providence Baptist Church. Her hobbies included taking care of family, sewing, cooking, and spoiling her son-in-law, Tom, with fried apple pies. [Read more…]

Helen Kopp Schwenn

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Helen Kopp Schwenn, 92, died on Feb. 18 in Oak Ridge.

Helen was born Sept. 16, 1920, in Monroe, Wis., and spent her formative years in the Swiss community of New Glarus, Wis., where her father was a cheese maker.

She met her husband of 52 years, Marvin F. Schwenn, in Madison, Wis.

After a short time in New York City, where Marvin joined Union Carbide Corp. and the Manhattan Project at Columbia University, they relocated to Oak Ridge in August of 1944.

[Read more…]

Patricia Faye ‘Pat’ Morgan

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Patricia Faye "Pat" Morgan

Patricia Faye “Pat” Morgan

Patricia Faye “Pat” Morgan, age 69, a resident of Harriman, passed away Monday, March 4, at Methodist Medical Center.

Mrs. Morgan was born March 16, 1943, in Anderson County. She was a lifelong resident of this area.

Pat was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother. She was a faithful Christian and a member of the Dyllis Baptist Church.

She retired in 1999, following 20 years of employment at the Y-12 Federal Plant in Oak Ridge. She was a member of the Ritzy Thimble Quilters Guild in Oak Ridge. The local Quilters Guild often made quilts for the Oak Ridge Hospitality House, and this was an activity that she loved. [Read more…]