Dr. Stephen Harrington Stow
On June 30, 2021, Dr. Stephen Harrington Stow, age 80, walked through the gates and began asking God questions about how in the hell he got there. Steve was a graduate of Vanderbilt University and earned his MS and PhD degrees in geochemistry from Rice University. He worked for Continental Oil Company early in his career and then taught geology at the University of Alabama during the years of Coach “Bear” Bryant. In 1980, he moved to the Oak Ridge National Laboratory as head of the Geology Department and later became the Ethics director for the institution. Steve retired in 2005 after serving as director of the Oak Ridge Museum of Science and Energy.
As a longstanding member, he was treasurer of the National Geological Society of America and a member of the Knoxville Philatelic (Stamp Society). Steve served as ORNL’s Ombudsman and also was a Fellow of the Advancement of Science and Geological Society of America.
He was a nationally known authority on the Manhattan Project and occasionally wore a suit and hat from that era for his animated lectures on this subject. He was instrumental in documenting the history of ORNL, recording interviews with many of the notable scientists who had worked there.
Locally, Steve also served on several committees within the Farragut community, most notably as president of the Farragut Museum. He was instrumental in the production of the History of Farragut film, interviewing and recording of many persons involved in the formation of Farragut.
Steve is survived by his wife, Jeanie Chaney Stow; daughters, Lauren Simpson and Jennifer Stow; stepson, Matt Chaney (Jen); grandchildren, Regan, Piersen and Mac Simpson, and Juliana and Maggie Chaney; sister, Cynthia Yancey; and many lifelong friends.
Steve was one of a kind with a dry sense of humor ... he was famous for saying “When I get around to it ...,” although he never did. Everyone who met him loved him.
A Celebration of Life will be held in August at the new Farragut Community Center located at 239 Jamestowne Blvd. In lieu of flowers, please donate to the ORNL Science Museum, the Farragut Museum or the Lewy Body Dementia Society.
Maria Seyler Peach, age 81, of Knoxville passed away peacefully Wednesday evening, May 5, 2021, at Tennova Turkey Creek Medical Center.
Maria was a member of Union Cumberland Presbyterian Church. She was a prayer warrior, loved visiting those in need, had the gifts of hospitality and encouragement and was never too busy to stop whatever she was doing and help others.
Maria loved the beach, traveling and spending time with her husband, children, grandchildren and friends.
She was 100 percent devoted to serving the Lord and sharing the way to salvation and eternal life with Jesus, God the Father and our loved ones through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Maria was continually refreshed and renewed by reading scriptures, studying the Bible and worshipping the Lord in prayer and song. She was always sharing encouraging words and uplifting scriptures with her husband, children, grandchildren and friends.
Maria is preceded in death by her children’s father and friend, Richard H. Seyler Sr., and first grandson, Elijah Blue Seyler. She is survived by her husband, the Rev. John H. Peach; children, Harry Seyler and wife, Maria, Tracey Seyler, Deborah Seyler and Richard H. Seyler Jr. and wife, Heidi; seven grandchildren: Sabrina, Ricky, Jessica, Ryan, Jarid, Rachel and Alaina; six great-grandchildren; brothers, Thomas Wilson and Dennis McReynolds; and several nieces and nephews. Maria also considered Joe Hasselberger as her own.
The family received friends from 1:30 to 2:30 p.m., Sunday, May 16, at Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel. A Celebration of Life followed at 2:30 p.m., with her husband, the Rev. John H. Peach officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to build a children’s special needs playground at Virtue Church. Please send donations to Virtue Cumberland Presbyterian Church, 725 Virtue Road, Knoxville, TN 37934.
Stanley Stokey, 86, of Knoxville, a loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully April 24. Stan was born May 1, 1934, in Brooklyn. His parents were the late Cyril and Helen Stokey. A true man of God, he faithfully served his country, his community and his church.
Stan served his country in the Army during the Korean War, as well as the Merchant Marines. During the time with the Merchant Marine he developed a love of travel that he kept throughout his life. He later graduated from Vanderbilt University with a masters degree in City Planning.
Stan dedicated his life’s work through serving the community. He made the region a better place to work, live and raise a family for more than 30 years as a City Planner with Tennessee Valley Authority. He developed a ride-share and express-bus system for TVA during his tenure. He was a member of President Jimmy Carter’s Transportation Task Force and attended both President Carter’s and President Bill Clinton’s Inaugurations.
Stan truly had a servant’s heart. He served his church in many capacities. He was a Trustee for Cokesbury United Methodist Church. He turned retirement into a passion to serve others through Manna House, the church food pantry. There was no child left without Stan registering them for Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, the non-profit free book-gifting program providing much-needed books to children. He was happiest when serving others.
Stan is survived by his wife, Diana; children, Paul Stokey and wife, Michele, Edward Stokey and wife, Cheryl, Dennis Sprous, Douglas Sprous, Darla DeRosa and husband, Michael; along with a host of adored grandchildren. The family would like to thank Michael DeRosa for the love and encouragement he shared with Stan in his later years. Stan lives on in the gifts of humility, true kindness and warmth given freely to all he came in contact with.
Consider a gift to Cokesbury UMC in Stan’s memory. Condolences can be left at https://www.dogwoodcremations.com/stanley-stokey. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date with burial at the Veterans Cemetery.
Cynthia Ann “Cindy” McDeavitt, age 67, of Farragut, Tennessee, passed away on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, at her home surrounded by her family.
Cindy was born in Versailles, Missouri, on June 13, 1953, to James F. Curtman and Doll Baby (Dolly) Whitten. She officially retired from Gables & Gates Realtors on Jan. 1, 2021, after 10 years of service. Cindy was an active member of Random Acts of Flowers; various local quilting guilds; our local AMVETS; the Knoxville Humane Society; and our local area Habitat for Humanity.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her brother, Steven Curtman.
Cindy is survived by her husband of 44 years, Dennis P. McDeavitt, PE; her children, Ryan McDeavitt of Knoxville, and James McDeavitt and wife, Dr. Patricia McDeavitt, of Charleston, South Carolina; and daughter, Katie (McDeavitt) Kouri and husband, Dale Kouri, of Knoxville; and her precious grandson, Dylan Kouri; her brother, Robert Curtman; and brother-in-law, Randall McDeavitt of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
A Celebration of Life for Cindy will be held at a later date this year, which has yet to be determined.
In lieu of flowers, please feel free to make memorial donations for ovarian cancer in care of the American Cancer Society or any of the aforementioned charitable organizations important to Cindy.
Mary Ruth Gray Williams, age 96, of Farragut went peacefully to be with our Lord on Thursday afternoon, April 15, 2021, at her home in Lenoir City.
Mary Ruth was a member of Creighton Memorial Baptist Church, a charter member of First Baptist Church Concord and served many positions with her church family. Mary Ruth Gray married Dick on Feb. 20, 1944. She was an Administrative assistant at Oak Ridge National Laboratory for many years and later was secretary to the Music Ministry at Concord Baptist. Mary Ruth found her greatest joy loving her family, but her first love was her Lord Jesus Christ. She was an expert knitter, loved to crochet and enjoyed traveling with family.
She is preceded in death by her husband of 71 years, Dick (Emmett Wesley) Williams; son, David Wesley Williams; parents, Clarence Gray and Ethel Amos Gray; brother, Bill Gray; and sister, Margaret Gray Blackburn.
Mary Ruth is survived by her daughter, Linda Williams Loy; granddaughter, Kerry Loy Winter and her husband, David; and great-grandson, Jackson; grandchildren, Lori (Denton) Williams Lesslie, Kip Williams and their mother, Cheryl; great-grandchildren, Will and Hollie Lesslie; nieces, Beverly Williams Stypula and Lisa (Jeff) Blackburn Ogle; and nephews, Michael (Rachel) Gray, Ron (Barbara) Gray, Steve (Patsy) Williams and Ronnie Williams.
The family will receive friends from 12 to 1 p.m., Saturday, April 24, at First Baptist Concord Chapel, with a Celebration of Life Service to follow at 1 p.m., with Chaplain Herb Hinsch and Fulton Hartzog officiating. Interment will follow at Pleasant Forest Cemetery with Steve Williams, Michael Gray, Jeff Ogle and Fulton Hartzog serving as pall bearers.
The Williams family would like to thank the wonderful team at Covenant Hospice for their loving care of Mary Ruth. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Mission of Hope, missionofhope.org or to First Baptist Church Concord Prayer Ministry, 11704 Kingston Pike, Farragut, TN 37934. Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike, serves the Williams family.
Caroline Hubbard Woodring, 89, formerly of Farragut, died Dec. 16, 2020, of COVID-19 pneumonia at Parkwest Medical Center. She was a resident of Elmcroft Assisted Living with her husband, Diedrich Francis (Dick) Woodring.
Born on April 15, 1931, in Tampa, Florida, to Dr. Roscoe Conkling Hubbard and Pearl Harrison Hubbard, Caroline grew up in Bushnell, Florida, with five sisters (Ann, Ruth, Elizabeth, Lela and Margaret) and two brothers (Eugene and William). Along with her twin sister, Margaret, Caroline was the high school co-valedictorian.
She married Dick, an aeronautical engineer, on June 19, 1955, in Bushnell, and they lived in Hollywood, California, and Marietta, Georgia, for a short time, and in Huntsville, Alabama, for 17 years before moving to Farragut in 1975. Dick and Caroline had first met as neighborhood children in Tampa before their families moved to different cities, later meeting again as young adults in Gainesville, Florida.
In Huntsville, Caroline volunteered in her children’s schools and was office manager for the city schools system main office. In December 1991, she retired as office manager of Cumberland Securities, an investment banking firm in Knoxville. Caroline was active and held several offices in gardening organizations, including Green Thumb Garden Club in Huntsville and Village Green Garden Club in Farragut. She had been treasurer of the Knox County Council of Garden Clubs and chairman of its annual Spring Garden Festival at Franklin Square.
She also had been on the Board of Governors of Ivan Racheff House and Gardens, headquarters of the Tennessee Federation of Garden Clubs.
At home, Caroline and Dick enjoyed flower gardening and landscaping, and their yard was sometimes a camera site on a Dogwood Trail. For many years, they adorned the entrances of the Village Green subdivision with seasonal decorations and planted and maintained flowers, shrubs and trees there.
Caroline was a member of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church and the Sojourner and Emmaus Sunday school classes. She was interested in her family’s history and conducted genealogical research in other states. After retiring, she and Dick traveled frequently and particularly enjoyed visiting family throughout the South.
In addition to her husband, Caroline is survived by three children, Marsha W. Marsh of Knoxville, Diedra (Dede) Woodring of Atlanta, Georgia, and Harry C. Woodring of Marietta; three grandchildren, Claire Woodring Burtle of Marietta, George H. Woodring of Atlanta and Amanda Caroline Marsh of Kingston; one great-grandson, James Burtle of Marietta; twin sister, Margaret Van De Graaf of Austin, Texas; son-in-law, Thomas (Tom) Marsh; daughter-in-law, Brenda Feeney Woodring; grandson-in-law, Thomas Burtle; brother-in-law, William (Bill) Van De Graaf; and many nieces and nephews.
A memorial service will be held at Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church at a later date when it is safe to gather. Memorial contributions may be made to Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church, 9132 Kingston Pike, Knoxville, TN 37923, or to Ivan Racheff House and Gardens, P.O. Box 50185, Knoxville, TN 37950-0185.
Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel is handling the arrangements.
Marie Joyce Richardson (age 70) passed away at home with her husband by her side on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021. She was born on Sept. 29, 1950, in Dayton, Tennessee. She graduated from Meigs County High School in 1968 and earned her undergraduate degree in education and Masters in English from the University of Tennessee in 1976. She continued with post-graduate work just short of earning her doctorate degree in English.
Her career spanned more than 35 years in the Knox County and Blount County school systems, receiving recognition and numerous accolades for her dedication to educating the youth. After retirement, she continued teaching at Pellissippi State Community College until 2012.
Marie was one of a kind with a unique and spirited personality, which her students absolutely loved. Her fun-loving nature captured their hearts and embellished their desire to learn.
She often was described as a tremendously passionate teacher who truly cared about every student, taking great pride in seeing each of them reach their highest potential. She was an avid animal lover who also loved to cook and garden in her spare time. She was an active member of the Knoxville Chapter of the GWFC Ossoli Circle and loved her charity work dearly.
Marie was preceded in death by her parents, Harvey Lester Moon and Margaret Henderson Moon of Decatur; her beloved son, Jason Phillip Lunn, of Knoxville, and her stepdaughter, Kimberly Richardson Lunn of Dixon, Tennessee.
She is survived by her husband, J. Ken Richardson, of Knoxville; daughter, Denise Lunn Mayberry (Richard Mayberry) of Hoover, Alabama; and her stepson, Bryn Richardson (Tara Duncan Richardson) of Knoxville. Marie also is survived by her grandchildren, all of which she absolutely adored: Colton Lunn of Dickson, Richard Mayberry III and Jackson Mayberry of Hoover, Beau Richardson and Hailey Richardson of Knoxville; her sister, Betty Hickman of Decatur; and her beloved pets, Tiger, Double Stuff, Cougar Kitties and Bogey Doggie.
A private ceremony was held at Click Funeral Home, Farragut, on Feb. 22. Memorial gifts in honor of Marie may be made to Young Williams Animal Shelter, c/o 3201 Division St., Knoxville, TN 37919.
The Rev. Jack L. Redmond, 82, of Lenoir City, Tennessee, passed away Jan. 25, 2021.
He was a member of RIO Central Church in Maryville, Tennessee. He graduated from Farragut High School, University of Tennessee and Tennessee Tech with an Advanced Ed.S degree. Jack served in the U.S. Navy for eight years, with two years active duty on the U.S.S. Robinson as a yeoman’s mate. He served as a senior pastor of three churches and was an elementary school music teacher for more than 20 years.
Jack was preceded in death by his parents, George L. and Vola Wheeler Redmond; and brothers, Tom Wheeler, Charles Wheeler and Robert Redmond, all from Lenoir City.
Survivors include his wife of 62 years, Suzanne Clevenger Redmond; daughter, Janette Redmond Walker and her husband, Chuck, of Knoxville, Tennessee; daughter, Melody Redmond Cotner of Lenoir City and son, Wendell Redmond and his wife, Jinni of Lenoir City.
Survivors also include grandsons, Grant Redmond and wife, Tiffany of Maryville, Chesney Redmond and wife, Lexie of Maryville and Elijah Redmond of Lenoir City; great-granddaughters, Mayla and Audrey; sister, Edith Jackson and husband, Dean of Knoxville; brother, Charlie T. Redmond and wife, Emmy of Maryville; and several nieces and nephews.
Family and friends gathered at 11 a.m., Saturday, Jan. 30, 2021, for graveside services at Dixie Lee Baptist Cemetery, 14650 Old Stage Road, Lenoir City, with the Rev. Tommy Roberts officiating.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to RIO Central Missions, 370 South Long Hollow Road, Maryville, Tennessee 37801. Click Funeral Home, 109 Walnut St. in Lenoir City, was in charge of arrangements www.clickfuneralhome.com/.
