Oak Ridge Today

Obituary: Ruth Jenkins Friar

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Ruth Jenkins Friar

Ruth Jenkins Friar

Ruth Jenkins Friar, 89, passed away Wednesday, Feb. 12, 2014. She was a devoted daughter, sister, wife, and mother who loved her family and friends unconditionally. Her grace, her generous spirit, her courageous approach to life, and her tenacious loyalty were all testimony to her love of Christ and His teachings.

Born in Middlesboro, Ky., she was the daughter of the late Arlie and Vida De Marcus .Jenkins. Ruth grew up in Kentucky and remained a loyal Kentucky basketball fan throughout life.

In 1942, she graduated from Pruden High School as class valedictorian. Then, after graduating from Knoxville Business College, she worked as a secretary for the Clearfork Coal Company until she married Dan and began to raise her four children.

Moving to Oak Ridge in 1954, Ruth and her family joined Robertsville Baptist Church, where she remained a member for 60 years. During those years, she served in a variety of positions, including those of Sunday school teacher, training union teacher, vacation Bible school director, Bible study leader and WMU President. Additionally, she was a faithful member of the church choir for many years. [Read more…]

Obituary: Frances ‘Gail’ Cheatwood Crowley

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Frances Gail Cheatwood

Frances Gail Cheatwood

Frances “Gail” Cheatwood Crowley, age 70, of Clinton, passed away peacefully on Saturday, Feb. 8, 2014, at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville after a brief battle with cancer.

Gail loved her family fiercely. She enjoyed cooking for everyone, having picnics in the mountains, going to yard sales and bingo, playing cards, and watching Dancing with the Stars.

Gail was preceded in death by her parents, Sie and Helen Turner; husband, Harold Crowley; son, Gary Cheatwood; sisters, Mildred Bennett and Carol Melton; grandchildren, Matthew and Aaliyah; and nephew, Kenneth. [Read more…]

Obituary: James Southard

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James Southard, age 73, a resident of Clinton and formerly of Oliver Springs, passed away Friday, Feb. 14, 2014, at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge.

Mr. Southard was born Oct. 26, 1940, in Himyar, Ky. He and his family moved to Oliver Springs in 1953.

Following his high school graduation, he served his country in the U.S. Air Force. After completing his military service, he lived in Amarillo, Texas, and Buford, Ga., before moving back to Tennessee in 2002.

Mr. Southard was a retired residential builder and a member of the Community Baptist Church in Oliver Springs. [Read more…]

Obituary: Dolores Marlow

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Dolores Marlow, age 80, of Clinton, passed away on Tuesday, Feb. 4, 2014, at Mercy Medical Center in Knoxville.

Dolores was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Cordice and Sadie (Bunch) Lowe, and great-grandson, Eric Beach. [Read more…]

Obituary: Edward Turner Creech

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Edward Turner Creech

Edward Turner Creech

Edward Turner Creech, 90, of Oak Ridge passed away on Feb. 9, 2014.

Mr. Creech was born to parents Charles Blair Creech and Louise Joanna Jones Creech on April 8, 1923, in Harlan, Ky.

He was a veteran with the Air Corp. and played football in high school and in college. He received his bachelor degree in chemistry from Eastern Kentucky State University. He was a member of Sigma XI, Scientific Research Society of North Carolina, Oak Ridge Chapter, and the American Chemical Society.

Retiring from Lockheed Martin at the Y-12 facility in 1988, his expertise as a plant-wide trouble shooter and problem solver was well respected. [Read more…]

Obituary: Diana Lynne Stines

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Diana Lynne Neu Stines

Diana Lynne Neu Stines

Diana Lynne Stines, age 60, of Oliver Springs, passed away Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, at NHC Health Care Center.

She was born May 3, 1953, in Portsmouth, Ohio, the daughter of Carl V. and Phyllis Saunders Neu.

She was a graduate of Oak Ridge High School. Diana has worked at Oak Ridge Associated Universities for more than 30 years in the paymaster department.

She enjoyed working around her house and in her yard, with her special canine child, Cloe, keeping her company. Her greatest passion was spending time and participating in activities with her grandchildren. [Read more…]

Obituary: Harry Earl Thomas

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Harry Earl Thomas

Harry Earl Thomas

Harry Earl Thomas, age 93, of Oak Ridge, passed away, Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014, at Briarcliff Health Care Center.

He was born June 30, 1920, in Chattanooga, the son of William Nelson Thomas and Essie Mae Gates Thomas.

Mr. Thomas was a retired captain from the Oak Ridge Police Department, serving for 39 years. He began in 1944, entering into the Guard, which was a civilian police department controlled by the military.

He was a longtime member of Robertsville Baptist Church and a member of the Benevolent and Protective Order of the Elks #1684. As a pastime, he always enjoyed working in his yard. [Read more…]

Obituary: Danny Charles Williams Sr.

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Danny Charles Williams Sr.

Danny Charles Williams Sr.

Danny Charles Williams Sr., age 66, of Oak Ridge passed away Monday, Feb. 10, 2014, at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.

Danny was born May 26, 1947, in Knoxville, the son of Charles Ralph and Mary Louise Williams. He was employed for many years at K-25 in Oak Ridge and later by Cornerstone of Recovery in Louisville, Tenn. He enjoyed hunting, fishing, and being outdoors, and had a soft spot for many family pets over the years. [Read more…]

Obituary: Lucille Brown

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Lucille Brown

Lucille Brown

Lucille Brown, of Oak Ridge, passed away peacefully at the age of 99, on Sunday, Feb. 9, 2014.

She was born in Crenshaw, Miss., to Robert and Mary Jane Haynes. She received her B.S. degree from Delta State University in Cleveland, Miss., and her M.S. degree from the University of Tennessee. She taught school in Mississippi before moving to Oak Ridge in 1944 with her husband, Harold A. Stevens, who was with the training department at Carbide, K-25. He died in 1948.

She was preceded in death by her three sisters, Euple Gates, Vernece Methvin, and Bobby Hunter. Mrs. Brown taught school in Oak Ridge Schools from 1944-1977 and retired from Willow Brook Elementary School. She enjoyed painting, crafts, reading, bridge, and traveling. She was a member of the Retired Teachers Organization, Delta Kappa Gamma Teachers Sorority, and the Clinch Bend Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. She was a member of First United Methodist Church since 1946 and taught Sunday school for 15 years. She did volunteer work at the church until June 2013.

She married her college sweetheart, James Brown, in 1967. They enjoyed traveling for several years. Mr. Brown died in 1994. [Read more…]

Obituary: Eula Surber Crockett

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Eula Surber Crockett

Eula Surber Crockett

Eula Surber Crockett, age 93, of Oak Ridge, died Thursday, Feb. 6, 2014, at Briarcliff Health Care Center.

She was born Jan. 2, 1921, in Rose Hill, Va., the daughter of Dallard and Esther Killion Surber, who were farmers. She was next to the youngest of a family of six that included two daughters and four sons. She married Harry Crockett on Feb. 11, 1939, a schoolmate. She and her husband came to Oak Ridge in 1946 and always loved living here. Her husband passed away in 1983 after a heart attack.

Mrs. Crockett worked for JCPenney Co. in the drapery department, making drapes in the 1960s. She also worked for the Nettie Lee Shop in the 1980s doing alternations.

She was a member of the Oak Ridge Alliance Church. She enjoyed quilting and sewing and was a member of the Good Neighbor Club. [Read more…]