Oak Ridge Today

Obituary: Shirley Steiert Mrochek

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Shirley Steiert Mrochek

Shirley Steiert Mrochek

Our beloved mother, grandmother, and our dear father John Mrochek’s life-long partner, Shirley Steiert Mrochek, went to be with her Savior, Monday, March 24.

Shirley grew up in Monona, Iowa, on her parents’, Leo and Florence Steiert’s, farm. She ventured out west where she met John Mrochek in Long Beach, Calif. Shirley and John moved to Oak Ridge in 1964, where they raised six children. As a mother of six, Shirley volunteered with Cub Scouts, Girl Scouts, ballet, and school functions, including working frequently as the school nurse.

She returned to her career as a registered nurse as her children grew up, so she could continue taking care of others as was her nature. After retirement, Shirley spent many days practicing her love of gardening among the flowers and vegetables.

Shirley was an active member of St. Mary’s Church in Oak Ridge for many years, where she volunteered on a regular basis. Jack and Shirley moved to Knoxville to be closer to their children several years ago. Many happy days were spent at each others’ homes celebrating weekends, birthdays and holidays, watching grandchildrens’ activities, and being close. [Read more…]

Obituary: Edna Louise Welte Smith

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Edna Louise Smith

Edna Louise Smith

Edna Louise Welte Smith, age 73, loving wife and mother, absent from the body, and present with the Lord, passed away Tuesday, March 25, at Methodist Medical Center.

She was born Nov. 9, 1940, in Wolfe County, Ky., to Martin and Maude Welte.

She was valedictorian of her high school class and graduated from Berea College in 1962, where she met her husband Elmer Smith, a fifth grade teacher in the Oak Ridge school system for many years. They were married Aug. 6, 1961, at Danforth Chapel in Berea, Ky.

Mrs. Smith taught school for three years before moving to Oak Ridge, where she was director of Jack and Jill Childcare Center for nine years. She was a faithful member of Central Baptist Church in Oak Ridge, where she taught Sunday School and was involved in many other activities at the church. [Read more…]

Obituary: Jaelynn O’Tool

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Jaelynn O’Tool, age three months, of Clinton, passed away suddenly at her residence on Sunday, March 23.

Sissy will be dearly missed by all her family, and they will carry the few but precious memories with them always.

Jaelynn is survived by her parents, Joshua O’Tool and Emily Reynolds of Clinton; grandparents, Earnie and Leah York of Clinton, and Jerry and Melissa Reynolds of Knoxville; brother, Jayden O’Tool of Clinton; and a host of aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends. [Read more…]

Obituary: Daniel ‘RC’ Carroll

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Daniel Ramsey Cecil Carroll

Daniel Ramsey Cecil Carroll

Daniel “RC” Carroll, age 58, a resident of Oliver Springs, passed away Wednesday, March 19, 2014, at his home.

Mr. Carroll was born April 2, 1955, in Oliver Springs. He was a lifelong resident of this area.

RC was a retired auto mechanic. In his spare time, he enjoyed playing guitar and fishing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Eli Roysden and Lela Carroll; by a sister, Reba Poore’ by brothers, Thomas and Gene Roysden; by a uncle, Ramsey Carroll’ and by special friends, Tommy Long and Woody Joe Duncan. [Read more…]

Obituary: Jimmy Allen Seiber

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Jimmy Allen Seiber

Jimmy Allen Seiber

Jimmy Allen Seiber, age 56, a resident of Port Richey, Fla., passed away Saturday, March 15, 2014, at Bayonet Point Hospital in Hudson, Fla.

He was born in Oliver Springs on Dec. 30, 1957, at the Dr. Stone Hospital. He grew up and was raised in Devonia, the New River community, in Anderson County.

Surviving him are his wife Annie; sisters, Sharon Seiber-Stefka (Michael), Janet Seiber-Tworek (Peter), Brenda Seiber-Sharp (Ronnie), and MaryLinda Seiber-Hoegsted (Khris). He is further survived by 11 stepchildren and 32 step-grandchildren and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews, and by a special aunt that Jimmy considered as his second mother, Lizzy West Seiber and her family. [Read more…]

Obituary: Harold A. Smith Jr.

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Harold A. Smith

Harold A. Smith

Harold A. Smith, Jr, age 73, longtime resident of Oak Ridge, passed away peacefully on March 24 at Briarcliff Health Care Center.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harold A. Smith Sr. and Lucy Avanelle Smith of Oak Ridge, and is survived by his devoted brother, Lemoyne Smith of Oliver Springs, and only child, Harold Smith-Franzen of Brooklyn, N.Y,, and son-in-law Jim Franzen.

Harold was an Army veteran, who dutifully served as part of his country’s Special Forces (a.k.a. “Green Berets”). He later served his community as a corporal in the Orange County Sheriff’s Department of Orlando, Fla. [Read more…]

Obituary: Theodore ‘Ted’ Shapiro

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Theodore "Ted" Shapiro

Theodore “Ted” Shapiro

Theodore “Ted” Shapiro, age 91, died at Methodist Medical Center on Monday, March 17, 2014.

Ted was born in 1923 to Philip and Sadie Shapiro and grew up in Brookline, Mass. After graduation from Brookline High School he obtained a B.A. in Chemistry from Boston University in 1944.

Immediately after graduation, he accepted a job with Union Carbide Chemical Corporation (UCCC) as part of a recruiting effort for technical staff at Columbia University for the Manhattan Project. He was then selected as the only person from UCCC to go to DuPont in Wilmington, Del., and learn about the applications of fluorocarbons.

In April 1945, he was then asked to transfer to Oak Ridge, where, at the age of twenty-one, he participated in the start-up and production of the world’s first Gaseous Diffusion Plant for uranium enrichment. [Read more…]

Obituary: Cecil Lynette Seeber

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Cecil Lynette Seeber, age 59, a resident of Lake City and formerly of Oliver Springs, passed away Thursday, March 13, 2014, at the Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville.

Mrs. Seeber was born May 25, 1954, in Oliver Springs. She lived in Lexington, Ky., from 1978 until 1995. She moved back to Oliver Springs in 1995 and continued living in Oliver Springs until her move to Lake City in 2011.

Lynette graduated from Oliver Springs High School in 1972 and Tennessee Tech in 1976. She was employed as a librarian at the Briceville Public Library for 17 years, retiring in 2012.

She was a loving mother and grandmother who enjoyed spending time with her family. She also enjoyed reading, knitting and sewing. [Read more…]

Obituary: Loretta Smith Hopwood

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Loretta Smith Hopwood, dedicated Christian mother, grandmother, sister and friendly neighbor, went to be with her Savior on March 17, surrounded by loved ones in Oak Ridge.

She was born on Aug. 21, 1922, in Pathfork, Ky., the daughter of Bradley and Elizabeth “Lizzie” Smith Hunley.

Mrs. Hopwood was a faithful member of Central Baptist Church, where she taught Sunday School for many years.

She was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, F. T. Hopwood; and brothers, Kenneth Smith, Paul Hunley, Mitchell Hunley, and Tucker Smith. [Read more…]

Obituary: Charles A. ‘Charlie’ Gifford

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Charles A. Gifford

Charles A. Gifford

Charles A. “Charlie” Gifford, age 94, of Oliver Springs, passed away Saturday, March 22, at his home.

He was a World War II veteran, serving our country in the U.S. Army. He earned the Purple Heart and four Bronze Stars and was a sharp shooter during the war. Later he worked for Oak Ridge National Laboratory, where he retired after 30-plus years of service.

He loved working in his yard, traveling, and camping. He was an avid University of Tennessee fan and especially enjoyed watching the Lady Vols. He loved his special companion, his dog “Jack.” A kind and caring man, Charlie quietly helped anyone in need and was loved by all.

He was preceded in death by his parents, William and Annie (Keith) Gifford, and his loving and deeply loved wife, Anne Gifford. [Read more…]