Oak Ridge Today

Donnie Griffis

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Donnie Griffis, age 61, a resident of Harriman, passed away Saturday, May 11, at his home in Harriman.

Mr. Griffis was born May 5, 1952 in Oliver Springs. He was a lifelong resident of this area. Donnie enjoyed painting and was an exceptional artist.

Mr. Griffis was preceded in death by his parents, Hurley Lee Griffis and Christine Bolling Griffis, and by a sister, Geraldine Seiber.

Donnie is survived by a sister, Debra Lowery and husband, Dennis, of Lancing, and by a host of nieces and nephews. [Read more…]

Esther E. Beeten

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Esther E. Beeten, age 92, a resident of Knoxville and formerly of Sun City Center, Fla., passed away Tuesday, May 7, of natural causes.

Esther was born June 8, 1920 in Petoskey, Mich., to the late Harrison and Lilly Mae Ball.

She graduated from Brimley, Mich., High School and later became a licensed realtor and real estate broker in Hawaii. She enjoyed traveling and during her lifetime she lived in Michigan, Hawaii, Japan, California, Florida, and Tennessee. She was an avid outdoor person who enjoyed fishing, camping, hunting, and boating. [Read more…]

Delores Faye Henderson

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Delores Faye Henderson

Delores Faye Henderson

Delores Faye Henderson, age 86, of Oak Ridge, went home to be with the Lord on May 9 at Methodist Medical Center.

She was born Oct. 12, 1926, in Loudon County, the daughter of Reece and Bessie Brown Pope.

Mrs. Henderson served as vice president of the Bank of Oak Ridge for many years. She was a longtime member of Central Baptist Church. Her passion in life was spending time with and taking care of her family.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Otis Henderson, on Jan. 25, 1987 and son, Ron Henderson, on May 3, 2012.  [Read more…]

Kathleen ‘Kitty’ Van Story Doughty Acuff

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Kathleen "Kitty" Van Story Doughty Acuff

Kathleen “Kitty” Van Story Doughty Acuff

Kathleen “Kitty” Van Story Doughty Acuff, age 87, of Oak Ridge, passed away Wednesday, May 8, at Norris Health and Rehab Center.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John E. Acuff, Jr., on May 24, 2010.

Mrs. Acuff worked at what is now known as Y-12 during World War II as one of the “Calutron Girls.”

Kitty had a love of music and was a life member of the Knoxville Area Dulcimer Club. She was also a member of The Tuesday Group, playing lovely harmony on her lap dulcimer. [Read more…]

Mary Margaret Neal

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Mary Margaret Neal

Mary Margaret Neal

Mary Margaret Neal, age 59, of Oak Ridge, passed away Wednesday, May 8, at her home.

She was born Feb. 21, 1954, in Oak Ridge, the daughter of Joe and Rhoda McBride Neal.

Mary worked with the Anderson County School System as a para-professional. She was a 1972 graduate of Oak Ridge High School. Mary was a longtime member of Robertsville Baptist Church, where she participated in many activities and volunteered her time with the church’s food ministry, Tabitha’s Table. She also sang in the choir and considered the church, which she loved, her second family. [Read more…]

Ella Jean ‘Jeanie’ Lane

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Ella Jean “Jeanie” Lane, age 57, a resident of Oliver Springs, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 7, at her home.

Jeanie was born Jan. 28, 1956, in Oliver Springs. She was a lifelong resident of this area.

Jeanie was a loving mother and grandmother and a member of Mt. Pisgah Baptist Church. She loved playing with her grandson, Eli, and she enjoyed cooking and gardening.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Arnold and Frances Hattaway Lane, and by sisters, Lola Faye Boruff and Donna Hawn.  [Read more…]

Ronald ‘Ronnie’ Herman LeTellier

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Ronald "Ronnie" Herman LeTellier

Ronald “Ronnie” Herman LeTellier

Ronald “Ronnie” Herman LeTellier, age 64 of Powell, went to be with the Lord on Tuesday, May 7, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

He was born Sept. 9, 1948, in Oak Ridge, the son of Herman Curtis LeTellier and Carrie Nation Kathleen Stinnett LeTellier. He was a 1967 graduate of Oak Ridge High School and was the lead singer in the popular 1960s band, The Rogues. He was a member of Central Baptist Church. Mr. LeTellier served with the U.S. Navy from 1968–1970.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his brother, Jack LeTellier, and sister, Betty LeTellier.

He is survived by his wife of 23 years, Susan Snyder LeTellier; stepdaughter, Amy Coleman and husband Thomas, of Sweetwater; stepson, Randy Ferguson of Maryville; brother, Bob LeTellier and wife Joyce, of Kingston; five step-grandchildren, Lane and Caroline Ferguson, and Ben, Kaiya, and Sam Coleman; and by his beloved canine companion of 15 years, Celti. [Read more…]

Bristol Lynn Bailey

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Bristol Lynn Bailey, infant daughter of Brian Bailey and Kristen McClure of Oliver Springs, went home to be with the Lord, Monday, May 6, at Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center in Knoxville.

She is preceded in death by a grandfather, Brian Lynn Bailey.

In addition to her parents, she is also survived by a sister, Brianna Bailey of Oliver Springs; by her paternal grandparents, Melissa Truitt and husband Mike, of Oliver Springs; by her maternal grandmother, Dee Dee Kemp of Oliver Springs, and by her maternal grandfather, Doug Jenkins of Oliver Springs. [Read more…]

Herbert Fritts Jr.

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Herbert Fritts, Jr.

Herbert Fritts, Jr.

Herbert Fritts, Jr., age 56, a resident of the Dyllis Community in Roane County, passed away Sunday, May 5, at Methodist Medical Center.

Mr. Fritts was born July 5, 1956, in Harriman. He was a lifelong resident of this area.

He was preceded in death by a brother, Larry Dean Fritts; by his stepfather, Charles Ward; and by his father-in-law, Harold McKinney.

Herbert was employed as the shipping and receiving coordinator at American Magnetics for the past 28 years. [Read more…]

Delford and Delford Junior Marlow

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Delford Marlow, age 73, and Delford Junior Marlow, age 38, both of Knoxville, passed away suddenly on Thursday, May 2, due to an automobile accident.

Delford enjoyed fishing, country music, and wrestling. He was born on July 25, 1939, in Briceville to the late Starl Marlow and Martha Brown Marlow.

Along with his parents, he is preceded in death by his wife, Clara Bell Marlow; granddaughter, Cynthia Marie Jeffers; son, Delford Junior Marlow; sisters, Mary Viola Marlow and Ethel Marlow; and brother, Delbert Eugene Marlow.

He is survived by his daughters, Darlene and Randy Hensley of Knoxville, Penny and Dennis Pass of Knoxville, Becky Galvin of Knoxville, and Nancy Hutchinson of Knoxville; sisters, Susie and Alvin Daugherty of Clinton, Lula Mae Cooper of Lake City, and Emily Sharp of Harriman; nine grandchildren; five great-grandchildren; many very special nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends. [Read more…]

Barbara Anne Brown

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Barbara Anne Brown

Barbara Anne Brown

Barbara Anne Brown, age 55, a resident of Oliver Springs, passed away Tuesday, April 30.

She was preceded in death by her father, John Brown Jr., and by her precious dog, Pebbles.

Barbara is survived by her mother, Cleopatra Halburnt Brown of Oliver Springs; by sisters, Mary Sue Leagan and husband Gary, of Virginia Beach, Va., Shirley Sweeten and husband Dan, of Lenoir City, and Linda Gilmore and husband Terry, of Rockwood; and by brothers, John Brown of Harriman, James Brown and wife Vickie, of Harriman, Edgar Brown and wife Diane, of Oakdale, and Daniel Brown of Harriman. She is also survived by several nieces, nephews, extended family members, and many special friends. [Read more…]

Robert Peter Cunningham

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Robert Peter Cunningham

Robert Peter Cunningham

Robert Peter Cunningham of Oak Ridge, passed away Wednesday, April 17, at the age of 84.

He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; son, Glenn Cunningham; son Gerald (Jerry) Cunningham; and nine grandchildren.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents and brother, John Cunningham, as well as a daughter, Linda Branning, and a son Bruce Cunningham.

A memorial services will be held on Saturday, May 18, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Oak Ridge at 11 a.m. with Father Dustin officiating. [Read more…]