Young Hogan Etheridge (December 9, 1943-May 12, 2019): A man without limit, with original energy. Out of Ashley County, Arkansas toward Raasay, Edinburgh, Dublin, Paris, and others; seeking things true and untrue, unafraid to know; telling tall tales, unconstrained by “facts”; drinking Beaujolais Nouveau, fully breathing the grapes and the land; whistling unmistakably; endlessly reading Pratchett, Twain, Rowling, Dickens, Doyle, Stout; curious, always curious, listening intently to all of the music of the universe; great-grandfather of Marley; grandfather of Ruth, Adrian, Seth, Jacob, Carina, Dalton, Lucy, Garrison, Stella, and Annie; father of Allen (Suzanne), Allise, Jennifer (Vance), Sam (Yvonne), Amos (Lari), and Jon (Mary); husband of Katherine (love without limit and without end). Weatherford Mortuary in charge of the arrangements. An on-line guestbook can be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com.
Obituary: Mira Ryczke Kimmelman, Holocaust survivor
Mira Ryczke Kimmelman, 95, of 969 West Outer Drive, died peacefully at home at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, April 17.
Mira’s long and purposeful life was dotted with tragic events and redeeming joys. She was born on September 17, 1923, in the seaside resort of Zoppot, a suburb of the free City of Danzig. Her father Moritz was a grain merchant and her mother Eugenia dedicated herself to raising Mira and her younger brother Benno.
This happy life came to an abrupt end in 1939 when the Nazis invaded Danzig and drove Mira and her family from their home, first to ghettos in Warsaw and Tomaszow Mazowiecki, then to concentration camps Blizyn-Majdanek and Auschwitz, and thereafter on a horrific death march to Bergen-Belsen, where Mira was liberated and reunited with her father. Sadly, her mother and brother did not survive the Holocaust.
In 1946, she met another survivor, Max Kimmelman, who had lost his wife and daughter in the Holocaust. They married on May 19, 1946, in Germany. With the assistance of family in Cincinnati, Ohio, they were able to immigrate to the United States and arrived in Cincinnati, Ohio, on August 2, 1948.
[Read more…]Obituary: James Edward ‘Ed’ Westcott
James Edward “Ed” Westcott
James Edward “Ed” Westcott, Sr., 97, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, passed away peacefully at his daughter’s home, where he lived, on March 29, 2019.
He was born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, on January 20, 1922, to parents Jamie Rupert Westcott and Lucille Green Westcott, who preceded him in death. Ed had one brother, Hugh “Buddy†Westcott, who also preceded him in death.
Ed was a member of Grace Evangelical Lutheran Church.
He grew up in Nashville, and he graduated from Andrews High School and attended the Watkins Art School in Nashville, Tennessee. He received his training in photography from the Photo Craft Studio, Shadow Art Studio, and from an internship with the National Youth Administration.
He was married June 16, 1941, to a former Nashvillian, Esther Seigenthaler Westcott, who passed away in 1996. [Read more…]
Obituary: Harriet Sirena Hawkins Cofer
Harriet Sirena Hawkins Cofer
Harriet Sirena Hawkins Cofer, 91, of Oak Ridge, passed away Friday, August 24, 2018, at the Courtyards of Oak Ridge.
She was the fourth child of nine born to James Dillard Hawkins and Lillie Gentry Hawkins of Jackson County, Tennessee.
Mrs. Cofer was a faithful servant of the Lord and a Charter Member of Highland View Church of Christ. She loved flowers, hummingbirds, and antiques, and she was an excellent cook and accomplished seamstress. She was also a very talented porcelain painter.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harold DeWillis Cofer, in 2012. [Read more…]
Celebration of Life to be held Saturday for Frank ‘Pappy’ Sewell
Frank Sewell
A Celebration of Life will be held for Frank “Pappy†Sewell, age 64, of Oak Ridge, who passed away Friday, July 13, at his home. The event will be held Saturday, August 4, at Calhoun’s in Oak Ridge from 1 to 4 p.m.
Frank served our country in the U.S. Navy. He retired from Anderson County government after 32 years and became director for Knoxville Recycling Coalition, where he worked for seven years. Frank also was a drummer and played with the West Side Cats and Mojo Tweed.
He is preceded in death by parents, Bill and Frances Sewell; his brother, Billy Sewell; and sister-in-law, Mary Sewell. [Read more…]
Obituary: Eula Wills Holland
Eula Holland
Eula Wills Holland of Kingsport, Tennessee, born September 2, 1923, at Silver Lake, Tennessee, passed away Tuesday, March 6, 2018.
Eula was a gracious and hospitable Southern lady who exemplified the attributes of I Corinthians 13 to all who knew her. She was born a farm girl who love the mountains and lived life to the fullest. Eula will be remembered by her family and friends as a loving, caring and compassionate wife, mother, and friend.
Mrs. Holland was a member of First Broad Street United Methodist Church. She was a committed Christian who enjoyed attending several Bible studies. Eula used her God-given talent of being an award-winning recipient in penmanship to share her faith. Her ministry was sharing her beautiful penmanship through notes to the sick, bereaved, and those celebrating special occasions. She treasured the company of her cherished friends, Chris Blue and Jan Larkins. Her greatest joy in life was her son, Walter.
Eula was a graduate of Steed College. She and her husband owned and ran several businesses including Holland Oil Company, Holland Texaco, Oak Ridge Equipment Rental, and Tri-City Equipment Rental to name a few. She served as an executive assistant in the engineering department at Holston Defense Corporation in Kingsport. During World War II, Eula transferred to the Oak Ridge, Tennessee, installation of the secret Manhattan Project where the material for nuclear explosives was refined. [Read more…]
Obituary: Pauline Hance Bishop
Pauline Hance Bishop
Pauline “Polly” Hance Bishop, 89, was born in the Sandy Ridge area near Dandridge, grew up in Chestnut Hill, and attended Maury High School in Dandridge, where she was the captain of the district-winning basketball team in her senior year.
She studied at Draughon’s Business College prior to her marriage to John C. Bishop. The couple met on a bus ride, where he was arriving in Chestnut Hill while designing/building a conveyer system at Bush Bros. Canning Factory and she was leaving to attend business school in Knoxville. Their romance began when John purchased Pauline’s pie at a church “pie supper” for the then huge amount of $5, and she ate pie with the winning bidder. They were married and moved to Oak Ridge, where John had earlier worked at the then World War II secret city.
Pauline was known to her many friends as Polly and to her granddaughter Brigid as MomBish. She was active in her church and in the community. She served in many capacities for Trinity’s Methodist Womens group and sang in the church choir. She was Room Mother for 1st-5th grades while her son attended “old” Linden Elementary and was Den Mother for the Cub Scouts. She sang with the Sweet Adelines, was a member of Beta Sigma Phi sorority, a board member of Oak Ridge Employees Credit Union, and represented the Oak Ridge Credit Unions Association at state meetings in Memphis. Her longest running contribution was her many years of work with the Contact Helpline. [Read more…]
Obituary: David L. Baker
David L. Baker
David L. Baker, 76, of Oak Ridge, Tennessee, passed away on March 16, 2017, due to health issues with family by his side.
David was born at home in Maryville, Tennessee, on February 2, 1941.
MSGT Baker retired from the U.S. Air Force after 20 years of service for his country. During his service time, he served in Vietnam, Philippines, Italy, and Thailand. He was stationed in numerous places around the world.
After his service, he came home to Oak Ridge, where he lived the rest of his days fishing. Many knew of him as “The Walking Man of Oak Ridge.” On March 16, 2017, David hung his walking shoes up for the last time. [Read more…]
Obituary: Samuel Wayne Provence
Wayne Provence
Samuel Wayne Provence, age 84, passed away February 4, 2017, at the Christian Care Center in Mesquite, Texas.
Originally from the Ball Camp community in Knox County, he lived an humble life as a Minister of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. He and his wife, Pat, were married for 63 years and served Baptist churches in Tennessee and North Carolina.
Wayne graduated from Karns High School, and he held a Bachelor of Arts from Belmont University and a Master of Divinity from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. [Read more…]
Obituary: Cora Juanita Braden
Cora Juanita Braden
Cora Juanita Braden, 86, of Oak Ridge passed away on February 13, 2017.
She was born in Swan Pond, Kentucky, on February 17, 1930, to parents Wymer C. Carter and Maymie Reynolds Carter.
Cora worked at Miller’s Department Store as credit manager.
She was preceded in death by her parents, Wymer C. and Maymie Carter; husband, Wiley G. Braden in 2002; brother, Paul E. Carter; sister, Alma Ruth Williams; grandson, Christopher Wilson; and in-laws, Sue and Dion Braden. [Read more…]
Obituary: Billy Paul Sams
Billy Paul Sams
Billy Sams, age 63, born September 9, 1953, died unexpectedly Saturday, January 7th, 2017, at his home in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.
Billy grew up in Kingsport, Tennessee. He completed his doctorate of jurisprudence from the University of Tennessee in 1978. Billy was then a Captain in the Air Force, serving as a JAG from 1978 to 1982. Thereafter, he opened his law practice in Oak Ridge in 1982.
Billy will be sorely missed by his daughter Sara Sams and his bonus daughter Kendahl Seith Moore; his siblings Sandra Sams Ervin and husband Kenny, Lois Sams Young and husband Ralph, Margaret Sams Hickam and husband Jeff, and Wayne Sams and wife Jenny; his loving nieces and nephews; his loyal and trusty sidekick Becky Cox; and countless others.
Billy was a man of worldly knowledge and useless interesting trivia. A true lover of music, books, history, and thought, he was (in)famous for his personalized mixed tapes. [Read more…]
Obituary: Joseph M. Gambill
Joseph Gambill
Joseph Martin Gambill was born to Everett F. and Sara M. Gambill in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, on June 4, 1957. He passed away peacefully with his family by his side on January 13, 2017.
He lived in Port St. Lucie, Florida, and was married to Lynn Gambill for 28 years. He was a loving father to his son, Gregory Joseph Gambill.
He is also survived by his siblings, James (Allison) Gambill and Jane (Jim) Gambill; father and mother-in-law, Robert and Mary Ann Nosun; sisters and brothers-in-law, Peggy and Michael Coleman, and Kathy and Greg Killingsworth.
He is preceded in death by his parents Everett F. and Sara M. Gambill. [Read more…]
