Wynette Shrum, age 98, was born on December 29, 1925 to Elmer and Lima Brewer in Crossville, TN and passed away on December 30, 2023 at LifeCare in Crossville.

Wynette enjoyed quilting, doing word search puzzles, talking to people, cooking, and baking pies, but most of all she loved her church.

She is survived by her daughter-in-law Rita Burgess; grandson Benjamin; and a host of nieces and nephews.

Wynette was preceded in death by her parents Elmer Victor (Carmen) Brewer and Lima Newton Suggs; husband Eston Edward Shrum; son Billy Burgess; 3 brothers; and 4 sisters.

Services will be held on Thursday, January 4, 2024 at Vandever Baptist Church. Visitation will be from 12-2pm, with the service to follow at 2pm, Lewis “Skip” Abbott officiating. She will be laid to rest in Akins Cemetery immediately following the service.

Judy Orbesen, age 72, was born on March 14, 1951 to Harvey and Dorthy Gouge in Oliver Springs, TN and passed away on December 6, 2023 at her home in Crossville, TN.

Judy is survived by her daughters Robin and Angela Orbesen, both of Harriman; granddaughter Amanda Barry of Harriman; grandsons Ricky (Kayla) Barry of Harriman and Jerrod Orbesen on Crossville; brother Danny (Vickie) Gouge of Harriman; sister Brenda (Danny) Turner of Oliver Springs; son-in-law Daryl Smith; and a host of nieces, nephews, grandchildren, and great grandchildren.

She was preceded in death by her parents Harvey Cleveland Gouge Jr and Dorthy Ethel (Phillips) Gouge; ex-husband Michael Orbesen; daughter Sherry Smith; brother Clifford Hicks; sister-in-law Becky Hicks; and brother-in-law Lawrence Patterson.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, January 6, 2024 at Mt. Calvary Baptist Church (2811 Harriman Hwy, Harriman, TN 37748). Visitation will begin at 1:00pm with the service to follow at 2:00pm, Will Gouge officiating.

Estelle Darby, age 83, was born on June 11, 1940 to Edward and Yolanda Bonenfant in Nashua, NH and passed away on December 22, 2023 in Crossville, TN.

Estelle is survived by her husband Chester Thomas Darby Sr; step-children Samantha, Chester Jr, and Patrick Darby; sister Elaine Balcom; and sister-in-law Susan Stone.

She was preceded in death by her parents Edward and Yolanda (Bessette) Bonenfant; step-son Jeffrey Darby; and brothers Daniel and Raymond Bonenfant.

Services will be held on Wednesday, January 3, 2024 at St. Alphonsus Catholic Church. Visitation will be held from 10-11am, with the service to follow, Father Mark Schuster officiating. She will be laid to rest in Crossville City Cemetery immediately following the service.

“Pat” Patsy Diane Tanner, age 69, was born on December 13, 1954 to Oscar and Pauline McKelbey Miller in Sweetwater, TN and passed away on December 27, 2023 in her hometown of Crossville, TN. She worked most of her life in the Edgewood Restaurant, and after her mother’s passing she and her sister owned and continued working together in the family business.

She is survived by her husband- Rex Tanner; children- Christy Sherrill, Jerry Netherton, Jason and Darcy Tanner; sister- Brenda Nelson (Butch) and brother- Gordon Miller; grandchildren- Porsha, Michaela and Bobby; four great grandchildren; special nephews and nieces- Chris Miller, Michael Miller, Ricky Nelson and Tammy Freitag; and especially lifelong best friend and coworker- Kathy Lowe. She was preceded in death by her parents, one great grandchild and a niece- Connie Asberry.

The family will receive friends on Sunday, December 31, 2023, from 1:00 to 3:00 at Crossville Memorial Funeral Home with service to follow. The burial will be in Linary Cemetery with the pallbearers- Marcus Davis, Jerry Graham, Tom Isham, JJ Miller, Calvin Turner, and Ted Monday.

Rufus Martin, age 74, was born on March 9, 1949 to the late Rufus Earl and Zenobia Helen (Stone) Martin in Crossville, TN and passed away on December 21, 2023 at his home in Crossville.

A Graveside service will be held on Sunday, December 31, 2023 in Pomona Cemetery at 2:00pm.

Kerry Richard Dishman AKA “Hippie” of Sparta, TN was born on October 25, 1954 in Crossville, TN to Elmer and Maxine (Martin) Dishman.

Kerry was a “Jack-of-all-trades” keeping busy with working in a paint and body shop, carpentry, working in field stone, and landscaping. He was an avid arrowhead collector whose biggest thrill was walking a freshly plowed field searching for the prize arrowhead.

He was a believer and of the Baptist faith. He was a compassionate, tender soul, and slow to anger.

He is survived by one son, Richard, and grandson Khallie Dishman of Crossville. He also leaves behind four sisters, Yvonne, Deborah, Vicky, and Jennifer.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Stuart Dishman and Thomas Whittle; nephews Grant Bullock and Dustin Whittle; maternal grandparents Rexford and Emma (Barnes) Martin; paternal grandparents Henry and Bertha (Crabtree) Dishman.

Services will be held on Saturday, December 30, 2023 at Crossville Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 11a-12p, with the service to follow at 12pm, Pastor William Bonee officiating. He will be laid to rest in Creston Cemetery.

Pallbearers include Joshua Dishman, Lester Cole #2, Garrett Bullock, Shaun Sherrill, Judd Lewis, and Scott Wells.

Beachel Hall, age 61, was born on September 17, 1962 to the late Howard and Anna Lou (Henry) Hall in Crossville, TN and passed away on December 22, 2023 in Cookeville, TN.

Services will be held on Thursday, December 28, 2023 at Crossville Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 12-2pm, with the service to follow at 2pm. He will be laid to rest in Slate Springs Cemetery immediately following the service.

Robert Fitch, age 71, was born on June 22, 1952 to Jack and Pat (Green) Fitch in Port Huron, MI and passed away peacefully on December 21, 2023 at his home in Crossville, TN, with his wife Beverly, and sister, Pam, by his side.

He is survived by his wife of 18 years, Beverly Fitch; children Nicole (Brian) Armeni of Sterling Heights, MI, Aron (Jessica) Brock of Louisville, KY, and Renee (Jim) Baker of Louisville, KY; 6 grandchildren; and 1 great granddaughter.

Robert was preceded in death by his parents Jack (Annie) Fitch and Pat (George) Bowan; sister Nicee Sherrill; and brother Billy Fitch.

The family sends a special Thank You to Hospice of Cumberland County for their care and support, especially Gabe.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Hospice of Cumberland County.

Richard Lee Mersereau, age 55, of Crossville, went home to be with the Lord on Tuesday December 19, 2023. He was born May 25, 1968 in Stafford, CT. Over the years he was growing up he lived with his family in Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New Jersey, Virginia, Florida, Kansas, California, and for the last twelve years in Crossville, Tennessee. He was a graduate of Mission Bay High School in San Diego, CA, and of National University. He worked as an elementary school teacher for the Los Angeles school district.

Richard was preceded in death by his grandparents, Russell and Joyce Mersereau; his mother, Linda Mersereau; and his sister, Tracy Mersereau. He is survived by his father James, and brothers Thomas and Adam.

Richard was a member of Oak Hill Baptist Church in Crossville. A memorial service will be held for him at Oak Hill Baptist Church on Saturday, January 6, 2023. Visitation will be held from 9-10am, with the service to follow at 10am. In lieu of flowers the family suggests donations in Richard’s honor to the Oak Hill Baptist Church benevolence fund. This is a special fund maintained by the church to provide humanitarian relief to people in need, and it was a cause that was important to Richard.

Ray Cooper, age 82, was born on December 4, 1941 in Crossville, TN and passed away on December 18, 2023 in Crossville.

Ray was a loving husband, father, and grandfather. He loved the outdoors and spending time hunting and fishing.

He is survived by his wife of 41 years, Ethel (Boles) Cooper; children Ronald, Clyde, and Kevin Davenport all of Crossville, Allen (Renee) Cooper Jr of Sparta, and Sue Cooper of Calhoun, GA; along with many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Ray was preceded in death by his parents and his son Robert Steven Cooper.

Services will be held at Crossville Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be on Friday, December 22, 2023 from 6-8pm. The service will be on Saturday, December 23, 2023 at 1pm, Brother Dale Braun officiating. He will be laid to rest in Davis Cemetery immediately following the service.

Pallbearers include: James Davenport, Ray Ray Cooper, Brandon Dery, Billy Seffron, DJ Witt, and Chucky Cooper.