Oak Ridge Today

Obituary: Blanche Whitfield Gaither

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Blanche Whitfield Gaither

Blanche Whitfield Gaither

Blanche Whitfield Gaither, formerly of Oak Ridge, died early Saturday morning Jan. 25, at home in Knoxville.

Born Jan. 28, 1915, in Belmont, Miss., Blanche would have been 99 years old on Tuesday. Her parents were Arthur David Whitfield and Bertha White Whitfield. She attended school in Belmont and at age 16 was valedictorian of her high school graduating class.

Blanche and Charles Burgess Gaither, were married Sept. 26, 1936, and lived in Fulton, Miss., and Sylacauga, Ala., during World War II. They moved to Oak Ridge in 1944, when Charles came to work in the Operations Division at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. [Read more…]

Obituary: Jacqueline ‘Jackie’ Snyder Ball

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Lifelong Educator Jacqueline Snyder Ball

Lifelong Educator

Jacqueline “Jackie” Snyder Ball passed away late Wednesday evening surrounded by her family: son Jason, daughter Michaela Miller, older brother Dennis Snyder, and husband Jim. In addition, she is survived by Charles Miller, husband of Michaela, grandsons Griffin and Solomon Miller, and numerous nieces and nephews, and grand and great-grand nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her sister Mavis, and her parents Henry and Lucy Snyder.

Jackie was born in Winston-Salem, N.C., on May 4, 1932, where she grew up as a member of Advent Moravian Church. She graduated from Appalachian State Teachers College (now Appalachian State University), and after a brief period teaching in North Carolina, moved to Oak Ridge in 1957 to teach in the Oak Ridge School system, first as an English teacher and then for years as a librarian at Jefferson Junior High School. After retirement from the Oak Ridge School system in 1994, she taught for several years as an adjunct instructor in the University of Tennessee Graduate School of Library Science. [Read more…]

Obituary: John Roy Kirkpatrick

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John Roy Kirkpatrick

John Roy Kirkpatrick

John Roy Kirkpatrick, age 69, of the Solway community, died Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014 from injuries received in an automobile accident.

He was born June 20, 1944, in Big Spring, Texas, the son of John Bernard Kirkpatrick and Mary Ruth Rasco Kirkpatrick.

Dr. Kirkpatrick graduated from Rice University with a PhD in nuclear engineering. He was employed at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory.

Dr. Kirkpatrick was active with a local hiking club and the local wine society. He was a member of Kern Memorial United Methodist Church, where he sang in the choir. One of his greatest joys was spending time with his grandchildren. [Read more…]

Obituary: Jean Parton Messamore

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Jean Parton Messamore, age 62, of Clinton, passed away on Friday, Jan. 24, 2014, at her home.

She was a member of Clinton Church of God and had been a Sunday school teacher.

Jean was preceded in death by her father, Clyde Parton; mother, Doris Moore; and her grandmother, Ellen Loveday, whom she was very close to. [Read more…]

Obituary: Peggy Ann Underwood

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Peggy Ann Underwood

Peggy Ann Underwood

Peggy Ann Underwood, age 62, a resident of Harriman, passed away Wednesday, Jan. 22, 2014, at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge.

Peggy was born Sept. 24, 1951, in Roane County. She was a lifelong resident of this area.

She worked at Berkline Inc. and Roane Hosiery as a seamstress and most recently in the food service business as a restaurant manager.

Mrs. Underwood was a loving wife, mother, and grandmother who enjoyed cooking, taking care of family, crafts, shopping, and fishing. [Read more…]

Obituary: Betty Lorene Davis

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Betty Lorene Davis

Betty Lorene Davis

Betty Lorene Davis, age 84, a resident of Clinton and formerly of Oliver Springs, passed away Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge.

Betty was born Sept. 6, 1929, in Williamsburg, Ky. At an early age, the family moved to the Fork Mountain community in Anderson County. Following her marriage, she and her late husband moved to the upper camp of Windrock mountain. She later moved to Windrock Road in Oliver Springs, where she lived most of her life.

Before her retirement, she was employed in the food service business at the Village Restaurant in Oak Ridge for several years.

She was a loving mother, grandmother, and great-grandmother, and a member of the Fork Mountain Baptist Church, on New River. [Read more…]

Obituary: Janet Sue Cox

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Janet Sue Cox, 63, of Clinton, passed away on Thursday, Jan. 23, 2014, at Tennova Hospital in Knoxville.

She was born in Clintwood, Va., on Jan. 24, 1950, the daughter of Lester and Betty K. Branham. Janet graduated from Clinton High School with the Class of 1968. In her spare time, she enjoyed cooking, taking cruises, and spending time with her friends, family, and grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her beloved mother, Betty K. Branham. [Read more…]

Obituary: Daniel Thomas Burnett

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Daniel Thomas Burnett, age 55, of Oliver Springs passed away on Dec. 20, 2013, at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge.

He was of the Baptist faith and loved the outdoors, especially enjoying fishing.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ira and Lillie Mae Burnett. [Read more…]

Obituary: Monroe Crawford Davis

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Monroe Crawford Davis

Monroe Crawford Davis

Monroe Crawford Davis, age 93, of Oak Ridge, died Sunday, Jan. 19, 2014, at Briarcliff Health Care Center.

He was born March 16, 1920, in Lexington, Miss., the son of Dennis and Percy Thomas Davis.

Mr. Davis retired after 32 years of service from Union Carbide Nuclear Corporation, where he worked at the Y-12 plant in the maintenance department.

Mr. Davis was an avid car enthusiast, always admiring the designs, the mechanics, and the drive. [Read more…]

Obituary: Gregory Irons

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Gregory Irons

Gregory Irons

Gregory Irons, age 61, of Oak Ridge, passed away peacefully on Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014, surrounded by family and friends.

He was born March 19, 1952, in East St. Louis, Ill., to the late Eddie D. Irons and Verdya Mae Avery Irons.

Mr. Irons served in the United States Army and was a veteran of the Vietnam War. He worked at Y-12 for several years. He was a member of the St. Rest Church in Guys, Tenn. He relocated to Oak Ridge in 1981. [Read more…]