William Frank Whited, age 65, of Rockwood, TN passed away Friday, October 20, 2023. He was the son of John and Betty Whited. Frank was preceded in death by his parents; his sister, Sylvia Delk of Jamestown, TN.
Survivers include his wife of 29 years- Joy Lynn Whited, children-William Eric Whited of Crossville, Matthew Lee McCulley (Christa) of Crossville, and Ashley Marie Hutson (Jaime) of Sparta; grandchildren- Makayla Reppert of Crossville, William Zachary Whited of Sparta, Jonathan Allen of Crossville, Isaiah McCulley of Crossville, Aaron McCulley of Crossville, Caleb McCulley of Crossville, Zane Rodriguez of Crossville, Dillon Hutson of Sparta and Audrey Hutson of Sparta, brother- Richard Whited (Sheri) of Dalton, GA, sisters- Ruth Cravens (Donnie) of Jamestown, Rachel Estes (Vince) of Jamestown, Laura Pedigo of Baxter, TN, and Linda Caudill of Muncie, IN, with several nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Frank enjoyed flying his drone and working outdoors. He loved spending time with his dog, Clint, who he took on rides with him. He also enjoyed kayaking, camping and doing mechanical work. Above everything else, Frank loved his family and enjoyed spending time with them.
Larry Blaylock passed away peacefully, with family at his side, on October 16, 2023 at the age of 65, after a long battle with cancer.
Larry was a lifelong resident of Crossville, TN.
As a licensed, registered blaster of explosives, Larry loved to Quarry, but fishing was his favorite pastime.
He is survived by his wife Linda; stepdaughter Colleen; mother Mabel Blaylock; brothers Gary and Darryl; sister Dianne Hood; loving in-laws Debra, Penny, Donnie, and Edward; nieces Jordan, Corey, and their families; and many longtime friends.
Larry’s father, Oliver Blaylock, passed away October 14, 2022.
At the request of the deceased, there will be no services.
William Cross, age 69, was born on June 28, 1954 to Cosby and Mary Cross in Monterey, TN and passed away on October 15, 2023 at his home in the Pleasant Hill Community.
William is survived by his wife of 52 years, Deborah L. Cross; children William Anthony (Sarah) Cross and Stephanie (Jesse) Brown; grandchildren Martin, Damian, Will, Eli, Alora, Kacie Jo, and Danielle; siblings Larry Cross and Jeff Cross; sister-in-law Betty Cross; brother-in-law Eddie Barnwell; numerous nieces & nephews and great nieces & nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents Cosby and Mary Lucy (Mahoney) Cross; brothers Jerry, Gary, Dennis, and Danny; and sister Janie.
A heartfelt thanks to Dr. Mark Hendrixson and staff, Hospice of Cumberland County doctors and staff, and to Buckeye Home Medical and staff.
Services will be held on Thursday, October 19, 2023 at Smith’s Chapel. Visitation will be from 12-2pm with the service to follow at 2pm, Tracy Blankenship officiating. Burial will be in Smith’s Chapel Cemetery immediately following the service.
Kenneth Smith, age 61, was born on November 6, 1961 to the late Marvin Franklin and Mildred Louella (Wyatt) Smith in Crossville, TN and passed away on October 12, 2023 in Chattanooga, TN.
Kenneth enjoyed hunting and fishing, but most of all, he loved caring for his farm animals.
He is survived by his wife of 12 years, LeAnn Smith; and his children Kevin Smith of Crossville, Felicia Smith of Cornersville, and Cody Keith of Grandview.
Services will be held on Monday, October 16, 2023 at Crossville Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 12-2pm CST, with the service to follow at 2pm CST, Pastor Randall Dye officiating. He will be laid to rest in Mount Sulphur Cemetery (Grandview) immediately following the service, Pastor Justin Dannel officiating.
Sharon Sisco, age 67, was born on July 25, 1956 to James and Ora Pugh in Crossville, TN. She passed away on October 5, 2023 in Crossville.
Sharon is survived by her daughter Victoria Pugh (Crossville, TN); grandchildren Kelsey and Kendra Pugh (both of Crossville, TN); 5 great grandchildren; brothers Michael (Marcella) Pugh (Wartrace, TN), Tracy Pugh (Crossville, TN), and Lloyd Pugh (Conroe, TX); and several nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by her husband Donald G. Sisco; parents James Harry and Ora Vella (Green) Pugh; brothers Charles Pugh and Gary Pugh; and sister Cleta Pugh.
The Graveside Memorial service will be held on Monday, October 16, 2023 in Rinnie Cemetery at 11:00am.
Ralph Walden Blevins, age 82, of Crossville, went to be with the Lord on October 5, 2023. He was born July 5, 1941 to the late Walden Ervin and Callie Katherine (Walker) Blevins. He Is survived by his two daughters; Kris King (Rush), of Knoxville, TN; and Kim Barnett (John), of Thomson, GA. He is also survived by his sisters; Margie Kaylor, Faye Hall, and Joyce Ceraolo as well as his granddaughters Callie Ann Barnett, Anna Fulmer, Ashley Woods, Jaclyn Evans and Audrey McAlpine and great grandchildren Belle Fulmer, Emma Lou Fulmer, Lucas Woods, Shea Mills and Grace McAlpine. Ralph is also survived by many nieces and nephews with special mention of Ronnie Farley who was like a son to him and special family friend Debbie Tollett who took such wonderful care of him in his last year.
Ralph was proceeded in death by his loving wife, Betty Jo “Joy” (née Garrison) Blevins, of almost 60 years. He was also proceeded in death by his brothers Russel Blevins, Herbert Blevins and Charles Blevins and his sisters Bessie Janow, Ruby Goodwin, Ethel Mize, Annie Gravett and Barbara Jean Blevins.
Ralph joined the Marine Corp when he was 17 where he soon became a member of the elite Marine Recon unit. He quickly distinguished himself as a sharpshooter which was in part due to growing up hunting rabbits and squirrels to help feed his family. He served his country with distinction and honor. He seldom spoke of the life changing events he experienced but on rare occasions recounted the dark days of being a leader during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He met and married the love of his life on July 18, 1961 and they raised two daughters to respect God, country and family.
Ralph joined TVA as a groundman trainee and eventually became the Superintendent of TVA Power Construction, helping make sure that electricity was available to Tennessee and the surrounding states. He was an avid fisherman and he went crappy fishing and camping with his family every chance he had. He loved his dogs and eventually he found a terrier he named Scooter from the Crossville Humane Society who loved to fish as much as Ralph did. They were inseparable until Scooter’s last day.
Ralph always had a great sense of humor even though sometimes he tried to hide it, but the twinkle in his eyes always gave him away. He had a story for every situation and lots of entertaining anecdotes with which to entertain everyone. He did so many things to help others in need over the years but would never let anyone tell it. He said he tried to help others because he remembered how hard it had been for his mom growing up as he was only 7 when his dad died. He just wanted to make life a little easier and brighter for those in need. One time a young couple bought a lawnmower from him. He didn’t make any money on it but when he saw their sweet little girl, he gave them part of the money back after making her parents promise to buy her some new clothes for school. That’s just who he was. He was a tough Marine on the outside, but a teddy bear on the inside. He will be greatly missed.
There with be a graveside service with military honors conducted by Crossville Memorial Funeral Home on Sunday, Oct. 8, 2023, at 2:00pm cst at the City Cemetery. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, any donations be made either to the Crossville Humane Society or to UT Medical Center Comfort Care / Hospice.
Fred Tollett, age 87, was born on April 13, 1936 to the late Fred and Stella (Hassler) Tollett in Crossville, TN. He passed away on October 5, 2023 at his home in Crossville, TN. He did a variety of jobs working for the state of TN. He enjoyed hunting and fishing, but his greatest joy was having a houseful of family with food cooking in the kitchen.
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He is survived by his children- Danny Tollett and Rebecca Bowles (Michael); grandchildren- Daniel James Tollett (Jessica), Jonny Tollett (Shelby), and Desiree Tollett; great grandchildren- Braden, Braxton, Briley, Easton, Axel, Lealand, Langston, Lowen, and Lorna; extended family- Zach, Jenna, Taylor, Zachary, Madison, Gracie, and Grant DeMars. He is preceded in death by his parents, wife- Freda, 4 brothers and 2 sisters.
Services will be held on Monday, October 9, 2023 at Crossville Memorial Funeral Home. Visitation will be from 12-2pm with the service to follow at 2pm, Thom & Don Hassler officiating. He will be laid to rest in Big Lick Cemetery immediately following the service.
Janet Ruth Homan, born near Convoy, OH on January, 15, 1942, daughter of Earl and Inas Mace, passed away on October, 2, 2023. When she was in the second grade her family moved into a remodeled, partial log cabin in Spencerville, OH. Jan grew up on the family farm in Spencerville and graduated from Spencerville High School in 1960. She attended Bowling Green State University and graduated with a degree in Speech Therapy. She was happily and luckily married to Richard Homan in July of 1965. She said it was love at first sight. She worked as a speech therapist first in Dayton, OH and later near Hornell & Rochester, NY. She left the education field after developing type 1 diabetes in 1968. Jan and Dick were blessed with their only child Ruth Noel Homan in 1967.
Besides her parents, she was preceded in death by two sisters Kathy Wojcik and Beth Branstetter. Additionally, Jan is survived by her dear sisters Romaine Whetstone of Van Wert, OH and Earlene Rhodes of Plain City, OH and many loved nieces and nephews.
Jan fought gallantly and diligently to control her diabetes for 56 years. That did not keep her from enjoying walking the paths around Fairfield Glade, reading biographies and uplifting stories. She was a lover of old comedies, musicals and attending plays at the Cumberland County Playhouse. She especially loved sharing stories and spending time at family reunions whenever they could get together. She was a faithful member of Fairfield Glade Community Church where she joyfully sang in the choir for many years. She loved visiting Dollywood and the Smokey Mountains and other national parks. She was a loving, caring wife, mother, sister, aunt, neighbor and friend and will be missed by many in her Fairfield Glade community.
In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to the American Diabetes in her name.
Boyd Cox, age 76, was born on March 2, 1947 to Link and Mildred Cox in Cumberland County, TN and passed away on September 27, 2023.
Boyd is survived by his wife Margaret Elaine (Flatt) Cox; sons Jeffrey Link (Karen) Cox and Gregory Boyd (Heidi) Cox; grandchildren Justin Link (Ashley) Cox, Boyd Ashton (Brittney) Cox, Nicholas Brandon (Jackie) Cox, Lauren Ashley Nicole Cox and fiance’ Lester Williams, and Hayden Nathaniel Cox; great grandchildren Olivia Lane Cox, Devante’ Lyrick Cox, Margot Link Cox, and Willow Ashton Rose Cox.
He was preceded in death by his parents Link and Mildred Kate (Hamby) Cox; brothers Kenneth Cox, Grant Cox, and Glenn Cox; sister Katie Fern Curtis; and granddaughter Mackenzie Elaine Cox.
There will be a Graveside service, following his cremation, on Monday, October 2, 2023 in Fredonia Cemetery at 2pm, Craig Ward officiating.
Crossville, TN – Normalu Hamilton Brooks, born September 17, 1932, Moultrie County, Illinois, to Frank and Wanda Mitchell, passed away on September 21, 2023 at the age of 91. Normalu grew up on the family farm in Findlay, Illinois, graduated from Findlay High School and attended Burnham School of Nursing in Champaign, IL. She married Richard W (Dick) Hamilton in September of 1951 and worked as a nurse at Oliver Supply Company in Shelbyville, IL until becoming a mother. Normalu loved being a mother and involved her 4 cherished children in gardening, farming, reading, sewing, and enjoying music. She was an active member of the Findlay United Methodist Church her entire life. In the 1960’s, Normalu became an advocate for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services, fostering 13 infants and children, as well as providing parenting and household management support to families in need. Upon retiring, she and Dick enjoyed RVing with their beloved pet dogs, traveling to all 48 of the lower United States. Normalu documented her life with 60 photo albums that will be treasured by her family.
Normalu was predeceased by her parents, husband, sister, Winona Mitchell Massey Benedetti, son, Richard Hamilton, Jr, his wife, Bene Svitavsky, two granddaughters, Katie and Sara Hamilton, and her second husband, Bill Brooks. She is survived by her son, Blake (Karen) Hamilton of Tampa, FL; daughter, Jill (Jim) Hamilton Crain Lutz of Crossville, TN; son, Stanton Hamilton of Los Angeles, CA; 4 very beloved grandchildren, Megan (Peter Račko) Crain of Vienna Austria; Allison (James Stoia) Crain, of Bloomington, IL; Laine (Blaine) Hamilton McCurrin of Cambridge, England; Mitchell Crain of Nashville, TN; 2 very beloved great-grandchildren, Oskar and Gideon Račko, sisters-in-law, Doris Thompson and Mary (Mick) Matlock of Shelbyville, IL; and many dear nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends who will always remember her orange cookies.
Interment will be alongside her husband, Dick, at the Findlay Cemetery at a later date.
Normalu’s family is very thankful for the supportive, compassionate care from the staff of Wyndridge Health and Rehabilitation Center and Caris Hospice in Crossville, TN.
In memory of her life, donations may be sent to Findlay United Methodist Church, PO Box 423, Findlay, IL 62534 or made online to Child Protection Network of Bloomington, IL. mcleancpn.org/give
