Oak Ridge Today

Obituary: James William Howard Jr.

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James Howard

James Howard

James William Howard Jr., 78, of Dyllis and formerly of Oak Ridge, passed away Tuesday, November 19, 2019, at his home.

He was born April 26, 1941, in Rockwood, Tennessee, the son of James William Howard Sr. and Sara Elizbeth Dennis Howard.

Mr. Howard was of the Baptist faith and a member of the Faith Masonic Lodge #756 and Order of the Eastern Star #390. He retired from the Oak Ridge Fire Department, where he was Chief Fire Inspector. After retirement, he purchased acreage in Dyllis and was in the process of building a homestead for he and his family. Working with his son, clearing land, creating a pond, and remodeling houses, which were moved from Oak Ridge, was a project he loved. He also enjoyed fishing in his free time.

In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by his grandson, Joseph William Howard Tunkel, and brother-in-law, Donald Wayne Gullett, whom he thought of as a true brother. [Read more…]

Obituary: Harriet Sirena Hawkins Cofer

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Harriet Sirena Hawkins Cofer

Harriet Sirena Hawkins Cofer

Harriet Sirena Hawkins Cofer, 91, of Oak Ridge, passed away Friday, August 24, 2018, at the Courtyards of Oak Ridge.

She was the fourth child of nine born to James Dillard Hawkins and Lillie Gentry Hawkins of Jackson County, Tennessee.

Mrs. Cofer was a faithful servant of the Lord and a Charter Member of Highland View Church of Christ. She loved flowers, hummingbirds, and antiques, and she was an excellent cook and accomplished seamstress. She was also a very talented porcelain painter.

In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her beloved husband, Harold DeWillis Cofer, in 2012. [Read more…]

Family of Hannah Morris has receiving of friends, celebration of life on Sunday

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Hannah Kopp Morris

Hannah Kopp Morris

The family of Hannah Kopp Morris, a 20-year-old Oak Ridger who died after an accident in Pennsylvania on Thursday, will have a receiving of friends and celebration of Hannah’s life in Oak Ridge on Sunday.

Morris was a junior at Allegheny College in Meadville, Pennsylvania. She was fatally injured when she was hit by a sport utility vehicle while crossing North Main street in Meadville at about 10:44 p.m. Thursday, according to the Meadville Tribune newspaper.

Morris, a neuroscience major, was taken to Meadville Medical Center for treatment, but was pronounced dead at 12:40 a.m. Friday, the newspaper reported. Her death was ruled accidental due to multiple blunt force trauma. [Read more…]

Frozen sprinkler pipes burst, flood buildings across Oak Ridge

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Oak Ridge Fire Department at Heritage Fellowship

The Oak Ridge Fire Department responds to a report of a frozen sprinkler system that burst at Heritage Fellowship on Tuesday afternoon.

Frozen sprinkler pipes burst and flooded buildings across Oak Ridge on Tuesday as a frigid arctic air mass lingered over parts of the central and eastern United States.

Oak Ridge firefighters said it’s likely there will be more calls on Wednesday as temperatures rise and frozen pipes thaw.

Late Tuesday afternoon, Oak Ridge Fire Department Chief Darryl Kerley provided a list of buildings where frozen sprinkler systems had burst. They included St. Mary’s School, the back side of the Staples building, a building at the Pine Ridge office complex, Centennial Village Apartments, a U.S. Department of Energy building on Laboratory Road, UBS Financial on East Tennessee Avenue, Weatherford Mortuary, Courtyards at Briarcliff, and Heritage Fellowship on North Illinois Avenue. [Read more…]

Funeral service Saturday for Oak Ridge soldier killed in Afghanistan

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SSG Christopher Michael Ward

SSG Christopher Michael Ward

A Saturday funeral has been scheduled for an Oak Ridge soldier killed in southern Afghanistan by a suicide car bomber last weekend.

The funeral for U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Michael Ward, 24, starts with a receiving of friends from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. at Weatherford Mortuary in Oak Ridge.

A celebration of Chris’ life will follow at 12 p.m. Family and friends will have a chance to share their stories and memories of Chris. Full military honors will be provided.

Following the services, the family will welcome friends to their home in Oak Ridge, the obituary said. In keeping with Chris’ wishes, his body will be cremated. [Read more…]