Obituaries

Billy Roy Lassiter

67 year old Billy Roy Lassiter of the Wayside Community of McMinnville died Tuesday at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville of a brief illness. He was born in Chattanooga and founded Lassiter's Auto Repair & Sales, Inc. in 1967. Lassiter was also a member of Friendship The Baptist Church, Warren Masonic Lodge No. 125, a 32nd Degree Scottish Rite Mason, and a Shriner.. Lassiter was preceded in death by his parents Alton and Reba Simerly Lassiter, a son Jeff Lassiter, and a sister Nancy Allen.

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T.J. "T. Buck" Farler

84 year old T.J. "T. Buck" Farler of Dowelltown died Wednesday at NHC Healthcare Center in Smithville. He was a farmer. The funeral will be Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Royce Martin will officiate and burial will be in the Snow Hill Baptist Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, John B. and Minnie Moore Farler; brothers, William Jess Farler and James Edward Farler. Survivors include a sister-in-law, Inez Farler of Dowelltown. A nephew, Jerry and wife Teresa Farler of Alabama. Nieces, Regenia and husband Jerry Pack of McMinnville, and Ramona and husband Dan Fuson of Dowelltown. Great nieces, Cherie Page, Inez Bryant, and Katherine Farler. Great nephews, Keith Farler, Adam Farler, Jerry Farler, Jr., and James Pack; and special cousins, Willie Jim Cripps, Brighham Ayres, and Joe Ayres.

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Helen Darlene Caldwell

51 year old Helen Darlene Caldwell of Smithville died Monday at Vanderbilt Medical Center in Nashville. She was a member of the Banks Cumberland Presbyterian Church. The funeral will be Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Michael Hale will officiate and burial will be in the Banks Cumberland Presbyterian Church cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 2:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her father, George Lee Vanatta and a step-daughter, Stephanie West. Survivors include her children, Jacqueline Franklin and companion Charles Pack of Smithville and Buddy Austin and wife Rachel Vanatta of Morrison, Vilot and husband Brandon Tucker of Smithville, and mother, Flonnie Caldwell Vanatta of Smithville. Three step-children, Jason West of Brush Creek, Travis West of Crossville, and Shauna West of Brush Creek.

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Carl Wade Carter

48 year old Carl Wade Carter of Smithville died Monday at DeKalb Community Hospital. He was a railroad worker, diesel mechanic, and a member of the Azel Christian Church in Azel, Texas. The funeral will be Friday at 1:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Burial will be in the Jefferson Cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Friday from 9:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. Carter is survived by his wife, Cynthia Carter of Smithville. Children, Joshua Carter of Smithville, Aletha Carter of Arkansas, Kyle Carter, and Dustin Hale both of Azel, Texas. Grandchildren, Kyla and Bradley. His mother, Marie Carter of Azel, Texas. His father, Don Wrigley. A sister, Sherry Carter of Azel, Texas. A brother, Bobby Carter of Texas. His mother-in-law and father-in-law, Marie and Jimmy Luna. The family asks that donations be made, in lieu of flowers, to DeKalb Funeral Chapel to help with funeral expenses.

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Vestrell Arnold

73 year old Vestrell Arnold of Dowelltown died Sunday at Centennial Medical Center. He was retired from Ross Gear and a member of the Old Fashion Free Will Baptist Church. The funeral will be Tuesday at 4:00 p.m. at Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Dillard Johnson will officiate and burial will follow in the Bonham Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 2:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 4:00 p.m. Arnold was preceded in death by his parents, Troy and Eunie Williams Arnold; a son, Jeff Arnold; two sisters, Dora Lawson and Margaret Arnold; and a brother, Clayton Arnold. Survivors include his wife Marie Culwell Arnold of Dowelltown. A daughter, Peggy and husband Marty Merriman of Dowelltown. Four sons, Jerry Bain of Temperance Hall; Larry Bain, Sr. of Smithville; David, Sr. and wife Priscilla Bain of Smithville; and Ronnie and wife Pat Arnold of Smithville. Sixteen grandchildren, fifteen great grandchildren.

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Bobby Donald "Donnie" James

69 year old Bobby Donald "Donnie" James of Smithville died Friday night in North Carolina. He was a member of the First United Methodist Church. The funeral will be Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Terry Little and John Purdue will officiate and burial will be in the Mount Holly Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, Homer and Media Certain James and a brother, Joe Allen James. Survivors include his wife, Faye West James of Smithville. Three sons, Jeffery Don James, Timothy Kevin and wife Robin James, and Westley and wife Carole James. A daughter, Amy Alicia James and husband Dr. Kevin Rhody. Six grandchildren, Kristen Leigh, Grant Alexander, Adam Christian, and Hannah Elizabeth James, Alexander James, and Rachel Ann Rhody all of Smithville. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

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Lovell R. Knowles

74 year old Lovell R. Knowles of Belmont, Louisiana died Friday at Christus Schumpert Highland in Shreveport, Louisiana. He was born in Smithville. A funeral service will be Monday at 2:00 p.m. at the Old Pisgah Baptist Church. Johnny Garrett, Leon Manshack, and Kevin Taylor will officiate and burial will be in the Belmont Cemetery in Belmont, Louisiana. The family will receive friends Sunday at 6:00 p.m. at the Old Pisgah Baptist Church. He is survived by his wife, Carolyn Knowles of Belmont, Louisiana; a son, Marty Knowles and wife Elaine of Malayasia; daughters, Donna Oxley and husband Tim of Belmont, Louisiana, Kim Burkett and husband Lynn of Converse, Louisiana and Callie Gregory and husband Blake of Pleasant Hill, Louisiana; sisters, Joyce Large of White Pine, Tennessee and Lois Davis, Betty Atnip, Ruth Hobbs, and Ruby Adcock all of Smithville. Special daughters-in-law, Vickie and Malou. Eleven grandchildren.

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Thomas Nixon Cripps

86 year old Thomas Nixon Cripps of Hendersonville died Tuesday. He served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and received the Bronze Star for the Battles of Iwo Jima and Okinawa. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Old Hickory for over 50 years. He was also retired from Dupont after more than 35 years of service. A graveside service will be Thursday at 11:30 a.m. at the Sycamore Cemetery in DeKalb County. Richard Williams and Donald Owens will officiate.

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Robert O'Neal Farish

97 year old Robert O'Neal Farish died Monday at the Webb House Retirement Center. He was born in Neshoba County, Mississippi.

Farish was retired from Louisville Public Schools as Director of Maintenance. He was also the former owner of Robert O. Farish Plumbing & Electric which was a Plumbing, Electrical, and Air Conditioning Firm. He also owned and operated a retail appliance store.

After retirement, he started a photography business, and he photographed in excess of 850 weddings.

He was preceded in death by his parents, George Miller Farish & Lura E. Hickman Farish of Noxapater, Mississippi, one sister Ruth Farish Wilson of Lewisburg, Tennessee; and his grandson, Robert Tyler Miller Farish of Owasso, Oklahoma.

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Brenda Faye Cripps

64 year old Brenda Faye Cripps of Smithville died Monday at Baptist Hospital in Nashville. She was a retired factory worker and a member of the The Baptist Tabernacle Church. The funeral will be Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Virgil Hibdon, Jr. and Garry McBride will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Tuesday from 5:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m.; Wednesday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m.; and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 1:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Omar and Ethel Reeder Chapman; and a brother, Eugene Chapman. Survivors include her husband, Gene Cripps; a daughter, Michelle and husband David Burklow; a son, Patrick and wife Amy Cripps; Two grandchildren, Callie and Zoe Potter Cripps; and a sister, Linda and her husband Boyd Trapp all of Smithville. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.