Verla “Cleo” Johnson

Verla “Cleo” Johnson, 86, of the Maple Grove Community, Allons, TN, passed away peacefully at Cookeville Regional Medical Center on Sunday, Dec. 16, 2012, with her family at her side.

Mrs. Johnson was born Oct. 28, 1926, in Clay County to Willis and Vautie Dennis Taylor.

She was a member of the Willow Grove Church of Christ.

She married Edward (Mack) Johnson Oct. 2, 1946, in Rossville, GA.

Mrs. Johnson worked in the garment industry in Livingston for many years. “Ma,” as she was known by her family and others, was an avid gardener, seamstress, quilter and cook. She leaves a legacy of kindness, compassion and love for all who crossed her path. No one left her home hungry or unwelcome, and every grandchild and great grandchild enjoyed their own special handmade quilt created with love by “Ma.”

Survivors: Daughters/sons-in-law Judy and John Kirkpatrick of Allons; and Janet and Richard McReynolds of Cookeville; daughter-in-law Betty Johnson of Allons; son-in-law Ken Newby of Cookeville.

Grandchildren: Gloria York (Steve) of Dayton; Melinda Kirkpatrick and John Kirkpatrick of Allons; Eddie Johnson (Kristy) of Cookeville; Billie Strong (Kevin) of Rickman; Alicia McReynolds, Rhyan McReynolds (Lindsay) of Cookeville; and Tracy Kruger and Karrie Pedigo (Bill) of Monroe.

Brothers: Jimmy Taylor (Lena) of Bedford, IN, and Donnie Taylor of Monroe.

Eighteen great grandchildren: Blake and Megan Hargis, Blane Peterman, Evann and Grayson Bryant, Samantha, Bubba and Homer York, Mikala, Kaylee, Jayden and Jayla Kirkpatrick, Kennedi, Kayden, Karaline Kruger, Jackson Pedigo, Elyza Strong and Levie and Mack McReynolds.

Preceded in death by: husband Edward Johnson; parents Willis and Vautie Taylor; son Jerry Johnson; daughter Jackie Newby; brother Noble Taylor; and sisters Lora Roam, Joyce Quackenbush and Jolene Hammons.

Pallbearers: Kevin Strong, Steven York Jr., Homer York, Bill Pedigo, Blake Hargis, Blane Peterman and Steve York.

Services were held at 11 a.m., Thursday, Dec. 20 from the chapel of Speck Funeral Home in Livingston. Burial followed in the Fellowship Cemetery in Allons. Bro. Kendrick Collins officiated.

David Nicholas Jowers

Landscaper

David Nicholas Jowers, 33, of Livingston passed away Dec. 12 at his home. Funeral services were held Dec. 17 at First Christian Church with Rev. Dee Wells officiating. Interment followed in the Good Hope Cemetery.

David Nicholas Jowers was born Oct. 2, 1979, in Shelby County, TN. He was a landscaper and a member of First Christian Church in Livingston.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents Henry Jowers and Gerlene Covington.

Surviving relatives include his parents Danny and Gail Jowers of Livingston; grandparents Arlis and Betty Huffer of Livingston; son Dallas Jowers of Chattanooga; sister and brother-in-law Sarah and Hunter Page of Sydney, Australia; and nephews Miller and Mason Page.

Serving as pallbearers were Jason “Worm” Brown, Jarmon Hicks, Brian Rogers, John Billings, Matt Bolton and Zak Burris. Honorary pallbearers were Steve Flowers, Darren Thomas, Jay Akin, Brian Pollack and David Akin.

Alice Carmel “Ma” Norris

Daycare Babysitter

Alice Carmel “Ma” Norris, 89, of Livingston passed away Dec. 19 at her home. Funeral services were held Dec. 22 from the chapel of Speck Funeral Home with Bro. David Beaty and Bro. John Copeland officiating. Interment followed in the Green Hill Cemetery.

Alice Carmel “Ma” Norris was born March 24, 1923, in Overton County. She was a babysitter at a daycare. She was also a member of First Baptist Church in Livingston.

She was preceded in death by her husband B.V. “Toby” Norris; parents William and Tina Threet Sells; son Jimmy Norris; and grandson David Scott Beaty.

Surviving relatives include her son James Robert Norris of Livingston; daughters Rassie Cantrell of Livingston and Janie Faye and Jimmy David Beaty of Alpine; daughter-in-law Mary Rose Norris; and six grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren.

Serving as pallbearers were David Cantrell, Toby Norris, Matt Ferrell, Rodney Padgett, William Sells and Greg Hargis.

Eldred Eugene McDonald

Auto-Body Repair

Eldred Eugene McDonald, 85, of Alpine passed away Dec. 19 at Overton County Nursing Home. Funeral services were held Dec. 21 from the chapel of Speck Funeral Home with Bro. John Cook officiating. Interment followed in the Dugan Smith Cemetery in Monroe.

Eldred Eugene McDonald was born Sept. 23, 1927, in Overton County. He worked in auto-body repair at Overton County Motor Company and was also a veteran of the U.S. Army during World War II. He was a member of West Fork Lodge #648 and the Eastern Star.

He was preceded in death by his parents Porter H. and Audie Mae Raines McDonald.

Surviving relatives include his very special friend Betty Hinton; special nephew Mike Atkins; special friends Danny and Betty Hill, Doug and Frances McDonald, David, Debbie, Dakota and Dylan McDonald, Paul and Pat Dishman, Mary Alice Robbins, Gentry Upchurch, Faye Hill and Hershel and Georgia Wilson.

Serving as pallbearers were Bob Masters, David, Dakota, Dylan and Doug McDonald, Gentry Upchurch and Danny Hill.

Alma Lou Ann Webb Talley

Homemaker And Factory Worker

Alma Lou Ann Webb Talley, 85, of Rickman passed away Dec. 19 at her daughter’s home. Funeral services were held Dec. 22 from the chapel of Speck Funeral Home with Bro. Robert Boles officiating. Interment followed in the Eckel Cemetery.

Alma Lou Ann Webb Talley was born Feb. 10, 1927, in Overton County. She was a homemaker and also a factory worker at Livingston Shirt Factory. She was also a member of Church of Christ, a seamstress and gardener.

She was preceded in death by her husband Willie Otis Talley; parents James Mayford and Maude Lack Webb; sisters Mattie Speck, Sybil, Ola Mae Haney, Delane Harris and Sue Nell Oakley; brothers Jasper, Haskell, Eddie, Leck and Junior Webb; step-grandchildren Monica Beasley and Loren Brown; and two great grandchildren.

Surviving relatives include her son Philip and Ann Talley of Rickman; daughters Charlotte and Larry Kenneth Brown of Rickman, Betty A. and Larry M. Roberts of Cookeville and Roberta and Roger Beasley of Lancing, TN; grandchildren Tommy and Annis Garrett of Smyrna, Angela and Roger Whited of Cookeville and Toby Beasley of Lancing; several step-grandchildren; and several great grandchildren.

Serving as pallbearers were her nephews.

James Raymond Moss

Factory Worker

James Raymond Moss, 66, of Livingston passed away Dec. 16 at Livingston Regional Hospital. No funeral services were scheduled. Speck Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

James Raymond Moss was born Oct. 6, 1946, in Jackson County. He was a factory worker at an aluminum foundry. He was also a member of Church of Christ.

He was preceded in death by his parents Willie Jefferson and Mozelle Crabtree Moss; sisters Edna Frances Moss Chaffin, Muriel Moss Coffman, Stella Moss and Connie Moss Hamlet; and brothers Thomas Esco Moss and Gurstel Moss.

Surviving relatives include his wife Barbara Moss of Livingston; daughter Felicia Moss; brothers Birl and Helen Moss of Rickman, Joe and Judy Moss of Livingston, and Glenn Moss of Cookeville; sisters Mildred and C. Hammock of Livingston, Sally and Mayford Geesling of Hilham and Carol and Bud Allen of Hilham; and several nieces and nephews.

Max Hinshaw

Correctional Officer At Overton County Sheriff’s Dept.

Max Hinshaw, 74, of Monroe passed away Dec. 20 at Cookeville Regional Hospital. No funeral services were scheduled. Speck Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Max Hinshaw was born Aug. 18, 1938, in Arcadia, IN. He was a correctional officer with the Overton County Sheriff’s Dept.

He was preceded in death by his parents H. Ross and Nellie G. Goff Hinshaw; brothers Don and Jerry Hinshaw; and granddaughter Branna Hinshaw.

Surviving relatives include his wife Edith Hinshaw of Monroe; sons Ross and Shelia Hinshaw of Anderson, IN, and Dan and Libby Hinshaw of Arcadia, IN; daughter Annette and Norman Clark of Celina; brothers Dale and Shirley Hinshaw of Indiana, and Reece and Darlene Hinshaw; three grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.

Christopher Jason Hoffman

Christopher Jason Hoffman, 32, passed away Dec. 10 at his residence in Murfreesboro. Funeral services were held Dec. 15 from the chapel of Hall Funeral Home in Livingston with Bro. Bobby Floyd officiating. Interment followed in the Phillips Cemetery in the Anderson Community of Monterey.

Christopher Jason Hoffman was born June 16, 1980, in Nashville to David Wayne Hoffmann and Diana (Looper) Hoffman.

He was preceded in death by his brother William A. Watts; sister Jane Ann Watts; grandmother Judith Ann Bowman; and uncles Larry Looper, Ricky Looper and Michael Looper.

Surviving relatives include his mother Diana Hoffman of Murfreesboro; grandfather Austin Looper of Crawford; aunts Angela Blair of Nashville and Lisa Brewer of Murfreesboro; uncles Bobby Looper, Timmy Looper and Jesse Looper, all of Monterey; and several other family and friends.

Serving as pallbearers were Allen Potts, Bobby Looper, Jamie Looper, Robert Blair, Dwane Taylor and Ben Larkins.

Charles E. Ledbetter

Charles E. Ledbetter, 64, of Livingston passed away Dec. 21 at Masters Healthcare. Funeral services were held Dec. 23 from the chapel of Hall Funeral Home with Bro. Craig Green and Bro. Bobby Gore officiating. Interment followed in the Ledbetter Family Cemetery in Livingston.

Charles E. Ledbetter was born Nov. 7, 1948, in Cookeville. He was a business owner of Ledbetter Heating & Cooling throughout his life, as well as an employee of Norrod Builders for over 17 years. He was active in the 1970’s and 1980’s at the Livingston City Ballpark.

He was preceded in death by his father Harry Royee Ledbetter; mother Mable Carr Ledbetter Dishman; and brother Danny Ledbetter.

Surviving relatives include his wife Colene Ledbetter; son Greg Ledbetter; daughter Kim Stonecipher and husband Mitchell; grandchildren Megan Stonecipher, Amber Stonecipher, Matt Ledbetter and Katherine Ledbetter; stepfather Ray Dishman; stepsister Judy Kinder; uncle Ted Ledbetter; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Serving as pallbearers were David Garrett, Steve Ledbetter, Scott McCormick, Josh Crawford, Matt Ledbetter and Royce Ledbetter. Honorary pallbearers were Danny Smith, Phillip McCormick, Johnny Brown, Johnny Hunter, Terry Dillon, Barry Sells, Kenneth Copeland and Don Copeland.