Oak Ridge Today

County law director dies at 65

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Jay Yeager

Anderson County Law Director Nicholas “Jay” Yeager, of Clinton, died Friday. He was 65.

Yeager was assistant attorney in Anderson County from 2001 to 2006, and he has been law director since then.

“Mr. Yeager was known for his unwavering commitment to his profession and Anderson County government, having joined Anderson County nearly 23 years ago, on October 29, 2001,” officials said in a statement from Anderson County Commission Chair Tyler Mayes, Anderson County Mayor Terry Frank, and Anderson County Commission. “His expertise and leadership significantly contributed to our community. He was a constant presence at meetings, active in the operations of government, and his legacy will be felt for years to come.

“His contributions extended beyond his professional role; he was a mentor, a colleague, and a friend to many. In his committed dedication to his work, he built relationships that he held for a lifetime.”

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Obituaries: Jan. 28-Feb. 1, 2023

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Joyce Annacea Wilson Bradley, 79, of Oliver Springs, April 21, 1943-February 1, 2023. Raised in Claxton, attended Clinton High School, loved her family, piecing quilts, canning, growing flowers, fishing, and her little dog Maggie. Read her obituary here.

Kelby Scott Rice, 54, of Coalfield, July 22, 1968-January 31, 2023. Graduated from Coalfield high school, kicked off a 30-year mission as a distinguished firefighter and fire chief with the Coalfield Volunteer Fire Department, also enjoyed dirt race tracks, marksmanship, and cars. Read his obituary here.

Margaret England, 82, of Clinton, July 23, 1940-January 31, 2023. Full obituary will be available later here.

Sergeant Herman Daniel Ownby, 76, of Clinton, November 27, 1946-January 29, 2023. Born in the Glades area of Gatlinburg, well-known by many for his style of Chet Adkins guitar picking, worked in Nashville in the 1970s as a studio musician and record producer for Duel Records (he was better known as “Scatch Ownby” at the time), played behind many great musicians throughout the years. Read his obituary here.

Argie Marie Bell, 90, of Clinton, November 9, 1932-January 28, 2023. Air Force veteran who loved to travel, loyal University of Tennessee football and basketball fan. Read her obituary here.

Obituaries: Jan. 23-27, 2023

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James (Jim) Michael Dagley, 74, of Clinton, January 22, 1949-January 26, 2023. Graduated from Clinton High School in 1967, served four years in the Air Force during the Vietnam War and one year in the Army Reserve, a chemical operator at Y-12 for 38 years. Read his obituary here.

Leona Flatford, 97, of Clinton, June 24, 1925-January 26, 2023. Member of Glory Way Baptist Church in Clinton, proud mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her family, especially going out to dinner. Read her obituary here.

Gary Ray Nichols, 69, of Clinton, October 10, 1953-January 25, 2023. Born in Clinton to the late Sandy Gordon and Mannie Burnette Raby Nichols, preceded in death by his wife Linda Jean Brock Nichols, survived by two brothers and sisters-in-law and three grandchildren. Read his obituary here.

Dorothy Latham Cook, 80, of Powell, October 31, 1942-January 25, 2023. Graduated from Powell High School in 1962, married her high school sweetheart Forrest Cook in 1963 and moved to their beloved farm in 1970, member of the Friendship Sunday School class at Temple Baptist Church for more than 50 years. Read her obituary here.

Joseph Leroy Sims, 83, of Clinton, April 30, 1939-January 25, 2023. Deacon of Emmanuel Baptist Church, a Christian man that loved God, his church, and his family. Read his obituary here.

Bishop James Carroll Bandy, 90, of Oak Ridge, June 4, 1932-January 25, 2023. The Bandys served Oak Ridge Church of God longer than any other pastor in the church history, and during 31 years of service, the church made significant progress. The church’s physical growth paralleled spiritual growth, with increasing the membership from 50 to 571. Read his obituary here.

Lowell Eugene Thomas, 87, November 1, 1935-January 25, 2023. Born in Bristol, Tennessee, a proud veteran of the U.S. Navy and retired from the United States Postal Service. Lowell and his wife were longtime members of Woodland Baptist Church. Read his obituary here.

Willard Dean Reynolds, 61, of Oliver Springs, passed away at his home on Wednesday, January 25, 2023. Survived by three children, six grandchildren, a brother, three sisters and two brothers-in law, and other family members and friends. Read his obituary here.

Wendy Lee Trentham, 52, of Oak Ridge, June 15, 1970-January 24, 2023. An amazing wife, mother, daughter, sister, and nana, she was known for her incredible baking, her kindness, and loving her family fiercely. Read her obituary here.

James Lee Winn, 83, of Powell, July 16, 1939-January 23, 2023. Born in Brazil, Indiana, where he will be interred in the Bee Ridge Cemetery. Read his obituary here.

Obituaries: Jan. 20-Jan. 22, 2023

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Michael Robert Ford, 49, of Knoxville, formerly of Oliver Springs, June 8, 1973-January 22, 2023. Born in Oak Ridge, graduated from Clinton High School in 1991, and an avid Tennessee and Atlanta Braves sports fan. Read his obituary here.

Catherine Wallace Rutherford, 91, of Clinton, January 6, 1932-January 22, 2023. Born in Anderson County, worked in the Anderson County Clerk’s office for 16 years. Read her obituary here.

Andre Dominique Fritts, 37, January 19, 1986-January 22, 2023. Served in the U.S. Army Reserve, a loving son, grandson, brother, uncle, and father. Read his obituary here.

Robbie Thomas “Robbie” Marth, 29, August 25, 1993-January 21, 2023. Family gives special thanks to the doctors and nurses in the CCU at Parkwest Medical Center, especially Ryan T. Read his obituary here.

Jennifer Lyn Smith, age 34, of Clinton, October 5, 1988-January 21, 2023. Jennifer loved the Lord and was a faithful member of Redemption Church in Knoxville. Read her obituary here.

Sue Worthington White, age 82, March 28, 1940-January 21, 2023. Graduated from Oak Ridge High School, Class of 1958, and worked as a substitute teacher in the 1980s and 1990s, mostly at Clinton High School, where she was fondly known as “Momma White.” Read her obituary here.

Virginia Lee Tokes, age, 89, of Clinton, June 24, 1933-January 20, 2023. Joined the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War, worked for BF Goodrich Tire Co. and later Roadway Trucking Co. after leaving the service, moved to Clinton after retiring to be close to her siblings. Read her obituary here.

Former AC Commissioner Hitchcock dies

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Harry “Whitey” Hitchcock

Note: This story was updated at 11:30 a.m.

Harry “Whitey” Hitchcock, who represented part of Oak Ridge in three terms on Anderson County Commission, died January 10. A former teacher, he was 76.

Hitchcock served on Anderson County Commission from 2006 to 2018. He represented District 6 in Oak Ridge, including the City Hall, Robertsville, and West Hills voting precincts.

At the request of Commissioner Catherine Denenberg, the Anderson County Commission had a moment of silence in honor of Hitchcock during their monthly meeting on Tuesday, January 17.

Later in the meeting, Anderson County Commissioner Tracy Wandell said he appreciated Hitchcock’s friendship and leadership.

“He did a lot of things in a short amount of time,” Wandell said. “He always did things that made our county better.”

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Obituary: Trenda Lynn Howard

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Trenda Lynn Howard

Trenda Lynn Howard, age 79, went to be with the Lord on Saturday February 12, 2022.

She was of the Baptist faith and a member of the Order of the Eastern Star #390.

Trenda was formerly employed by Oak Ridge Schools as a cafeteria worker.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, James William Howard, Jr.; mother, Myrl Catherine Edwards; father, Isaac Henderson Tackett, Jr.; grandson, Joseph William Howard Tunkel; sisters, Beverly Lee Mitchell and Andra Long; brother, Timothy Tackett; brother-in-law, Donald Wayne Gullett; and nephew, Earl Russ Long.

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Obituary: Harold ‘Hal’ Lloyd Davis

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Harold ‘Hal’ Lloyd Davis

Harold “Hal” Lloyd Davis, 91, of Oak Ridge, went to be with the Lord, December 7, 2021. He passed surrounded by his family following a short illness. Hal’s legacy of love for his family and passion for learning will stay with his family and friends forever.

Harold was born at home on September 18, 1930, to Bertha and Ray Davis in Portage, Ohio, and he grew up in the Buckeye State. From the very beginning, Harold had a strong passion and aptitude for education. He attended Portage Elementary School in Ohio, a school with three classes in one room and no indoor plumbing. In high school, he was bused from Portage to Bowling Green. He graduated in 1948 and started his college education at Bowling Green State University that fall.

In 1952, he interrupted his education to serve in the U.S. Army during the Korean War. He performed personnel duties at the regimental level and was in charge of the regimental Morning Report; after all, he could type! He was honorably discharged as a staff sergeant in 1953 and returned to Bowling Green State University where he was awarded a B.S. (cum laude) in Physics in June 1954.

Never one to sit still, he spent the summer as a bricklayer working for various contractors in the vicinity of Bowling Green before enrolling as a physics graduate student at Ohio State University that fall. His drive to learn led to Harold passing a two-day test that allowed him to continue his studies toward a Ph.D. at Ohio State without taking time for a master’s degree. His formal education ended with Ohio State awarding Harold a Ph.D. in theoretical materials science on Friday June 12, 1959.

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Obituary: Laura Ann Jernigan

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Laura Ann Jernigan, age 73, passed away peacefully August 2, 2021. She was originally from Pennsylvania but has called East Tennessee home for more than 35 years. Her late husband Richard Jernigan III introduced her to the area; it was love at first sight.

Laura spent more than a decade working at the Emory Valley Center in Oak Ridge. She started working directly one-on-one with clients, and by the time she left, she was responsible for managing 10 houses. She played an integral part in forming, building, and participating in the Direct Support Professionals Association of East Tennessee, D-SPAT for short.

She also spent a decade with the Salvation Army helping to support and build on their mission. During the times she wasn’t employed, she was caring for others.

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Oak Ridge Public Works director dies after short illness

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Shira McWaters

Oak Ridge Public Works Director Shira McWaters died Saturday after a short illness, the city said. She was 60.

“Today we have lost a colleague and a friend,” Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said. “Our hearts are with Shira’s husband, children, and family as we share some small measure of their grief at the loss of this vibrant woman.”

McWaters, a civil engineer who had been working for a company in Arizona, was hired by the City of Oak Ridge as public works director in 2016. She started in March that year. She replaced former Public Works Director Gary Cinder, who retired in September 2015. The Public Works Department is responsible for much of the city’s essential infrastructure, from streets to drainage to water and wastewater. The department also maintains city-owned buildings and city vehicles and equipment.

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Obituary: William Taylor (‘T’) Henry Jr.

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William Taylor (‘T’) Henry Jr.

William Taylor (‘T’) Henry, Jr. passed away on April 24, 2021, two weeks before his 92nd birthday.

The second son of William and Nell Hardie Henry, Dad was born in a coal camp in Gatliff, Kentucky on May 6, 1929. His family grew up poor and hard and bounced around Appalachian coal mining camps until the family settled in Oak Ridge in early 1944. Due to all the moving, he was two years behind in school, but he quickly caught up and graduated on time from Oak Ridge High School in 1948.

Dad proudly served in the U. S. Army 4th Infantry Division from 1950-1952 and then returned to Oak Ridge. He never lived anywhere else or had any desire to. He was proud of Oak Ridge and its history, and he was always full of ideas of how to improve and promote his beloved hometown.

In February 1955, he married Billie Sue Looper of Hickory, North Carolina, and they had two sons. Dad was a hot cell operator at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for over 30 years before retiring—but he definitely did not slow down. He enjoyed whittling, traveling, working in his yard, collecting old tools, and spoiling his grandkids. He enjoyed listening to old-time country and bluegrass music, and he was an avid reader of Appalachian literature and classic poetry. His keen intellectual curiosity and interests were alive and thriving to the very end.

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Little Ponderosa Zoo has memorial for James Cox on Saturday

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A notice of a memorial ceremony for James Cox, founder of Little Ponderosa Zoo and Rescue, posted by the zoo.

There will be an outdoor memorial ceremony for James Michael Cox, founder of the Little Ponderosa Zoo and Rescue, on Saturday.

Cox, 61, of Clinton, died Tuesday at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville.

The memorial is scheduled from 12 to 6 p.m. Saturday, February 13 (see the flyer above). In place of flowers, Cox’s family is asking that you honor his legacy and work by donating to the Little Ponderosa Zoo and Rescue at 629 Granite Rd, Clinton, TN 37716, or through the website at www.littleponderosazoo.com.

“Our hearts are broken and our lives forever changed,” the zoo posted online this week. “There aren’t words to express what this man meant to us, to our community, and to the animal and rescue community…His devotion to animals was a lifelong passion surpassed only by his love of family and friends.”

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James Cox, founder of Little Ponderosa Zoo, dies

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James Cox (Photo via Anderson County Sheriff’s Office on Facebook)

James Cox, the founder of Little Ponderosa Zoo and Rescue in Anderson County, died Tuesday.

The cause of his death wasn’t clear, although the zoo had said in late January that Cox had had pneumonia and a weak heart and was in the hospital, moving from critical care to the heart floor. At that time, he was expected to be discharged in a few days to recover before heart surgery.

Many people in Anderson County and across the region said they were heartbroken to hear the news of his death on Tuesday.

“Today, we mourn the loss of a very special man,” the Anderson County Sheriff’s Office said in a social media post. “James had a deep passion to help the people of Anderson County and the countless animals he rescued. His heart was pure, and his love for humanity will be remembered for generations to come. There is not enough room on Facebook to list all of the tremendous ways he made an impact. He was truly that special. James, we are forever grateful for your friendship.”

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