Walter Edward Ford (Eddy)
Walter Edward Ford (Eddy), age 87, of Farragut, TN, passed to his eternal home October 6, 2026. He was born in Knoxville, TN to Walter Edward Ford, Jr. and Wilda Bernice Bevins Ford. Eddy graduated from Farragut High School in 1957 as class Valedictorian. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a Bachelor ‘s and Master’s degrees in Nuclear Engineering and later married his high school sweetheart, Linda June Laughlin. Eddy served two years in the U.S Army and was discharged as a First Lieutenant. He worked at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory for 33 years until retirement. He was an inactive member of Concord United Methodist Church.
The next part of his career was becoming an Alderman when the Town of Farragut was incorporated, in 1980. He served on that board with first Mayor Robert Leonard until Mayor Leonard retired. Eddy was elected and stepped into the office of Mayor of The Town of Farragut and served 16 years for a total of 29 years. Eddy was instrumental in making Campbell Station Park a reality and extending Campbell Station Road from Kingston Pike to Northshore Drive.
The National League of Cities provides small cities with opportunities to connect, share ideas, and learn from one another’s experiences and successful strategies for helping their communities thrive. Eddy was elected as President of the Small Cities group and took great pride in hosting a Small Cities event in the Town of Farragut. It certainly was one of his proudest moments to show cities across the United States how planning and cooperation can work together to create a successful, thriving, and beautiful community.
He is survived by his wife of 66 years, Linda June Laughlin Ford and cousins both in Knoxville and Virginia who were very special to him.
Thanks to the Rural Metro Fire Department for their help on several occasions and doctors, nurses and staff at Parkwest Medical Center for their kindness, care and compassion.
The family invites friends to Visitation at Click’s Funeral Home in Farragut, Monday, October 26, 2026, from 2 – 4 pm.
Donations in Eddy’s memory may be sent to the Concord United Methodist Church Building Fund.
A private graveside service will be held at the Masonic Cemetery in Concord, Tennessee at a later date.
Colin “Mike” Gates, retired Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force, left this earth to be reunited with his beloved wife, Joan, his sweetheart of 60 years. A man of remarkable intelligence, a generous heart, and an unwavering willingness to help others,
Mike lived a life dedicated to service, education, and family.
Mike was born on February 5, 1941, in Cadillac, Michigan, to Leroy and Alfreda Gates. On March 12, 1964, he entered the United States Air Force, beginning 20 years of service to his country and a path to meet his beloved. His military career included service in Vietnam, work as a loadmaster aboard the C-130 Hercules, and service as a drug and alcohol counselor. He was awarded 20 medals during his Air Force career and retired with the rank of Master Sergeant. He became a VOL for life in 1984, when he was awarded a Coca Cola Fellowship to the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.
Following his military service, Mike continued to make a difference through education, becoming a teacher at Sacred Heart Cathedral School and serving as adjunct faculty at Pellissippi State Community College. He was also an active member and officer of the Knights of Columbus at both the parish, state and national levels, as well as the Air Force Sergeants Association.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his beloved wife, Joan; and his son, Bob. He is survived and dearly missed by his daughter, Kari (Greg) Gates; daughter-in-law, Robin Gates; grandchildren, Kristle (Jason) Wilson, Dave Gates, Alaina (Colin) Hayes, Brett
Gates, and Angelina Lopez; and great-grandsons, Gavin Denison and Beau Hayes.
His family extends a special thank-you to the Murphy family and Albert Lopez for their kindness and assistance with Mike’s needs as his vision became impaired. Their care and support meant so much.
Visitation will be October 24, 2026, at 10 am with a funeral Mass at 11 am, at St John Neumann Catholic Church followed by internment in the columbarium with military and Knights of Columbus 4th degree honors.
Feel free to wear Air Force blue or UT orange for the Mass to celebrate his passions and a life well lived.
In accordance with Mike’s wishes, donations may be made to St. Joseph School in Knoxville in lieu of flowers.
Mike will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered for his sharp mind, his enormous heart, dedication to his family, and the many lives he touched. There is comfort in knowing he is once again with his sweetheart.
Joyce Beasley Warnick McConnell, who was devoted to her family and known for her kindness to all and goodness in all circumstances, died on September 14, 2026, in Knoxville, Tennessee. She
was 93.
Joyce was a beloved wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, daughter, sister, aunt, and friend. She was a “people person” whose radiant smile enchanted children and welcomed adults. While she loved to “visit” with others, she talked less about herself and inquired more about the lives of the people she was with. That was just her nature.
Born in West Tennessee on Dec. 23, 1932, during the depths of the Great Depression, Joyce was the third oldest of eight children to Marvin and Bethel Beasley and grew up on their small farm in Henry County. It was a hardscrabble life, and she contributed daily by milking cows, churning butter, making biscuits, and caring for younger siblings.
At age 12, she began working at her uncle’s small grocery store in McKenzie, making $3
a day when she wasn’t at school. During her teenage years, she saved enough to buy her parents their first refrigerator, a bicycle for her younger brothers, and a used car for her family. Hard work and generosity were among her many virtues.
Joyce graduated with the Class of 1950 from McKenzie High School in Carroll County.
Her beautiful smile served her well, flashing it one day at a group of people walking into the Dixie Coffee Cup in McKenzie. Tommie Warnick, a young seminary student, thought Joyce was smiling just at him. He convinced “the girl with the smile” to go on a date, and they married on Aug. 23, 1954.
The couple had two children, Bruce and Marta, and created a warm and loving home for them as Tom pastored Cumberland Presbyterian churches in Bradford, Oak Ridge, and Murfreesboro.
In 1975, the family moved to Memphis after Tom was elected Stated Clerk of the General Assembly of the Cumberland Presbyterian denomination. For more than a decade, Joyce served as assistant manager of the denomination’s Christian education bookstore.
After 42 years of marriage, when Tom died, Joyce moved closer to family in Knoxville. In 1999, she married Don McConnell, a widower and retired Army chaplain and lieutenant colonel. Together, they enjoyed family life, RV trips, and a Peekapoo pup named Missy until Don’s death in 2021.
Joyce loved music and gardening and was active in church. Children were naturally drawn to her and, in addition to working as a preschool teacher for a time, she taught many children’s Sunday school classes through the years.
Joyce is survived by her children Bruce (Karen) Warnick, of Knoxville, and Marta (Bill) Aldrich, of Franklin; grandchildren Matthew (Juanita) Warnick, Courtney (Matthew) Lawson, Ben (Moriah) Warnick and Michael (Alison) Aldrich; stepchildren Roger (Lori) McConnell and Jeff (Emily) McConnell; four step-grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces and nephews.
In addition to losing her parents and husbands, she was preceded in death by six brothers: Robert, Allen, Wray, Morris, Phillip, and Kenneth Beasley, all of McKenzie; a sister, Sue Barker, of Lowell, Indiana; and stepdaughter Sara McConnell, of Richmond, Va.
Joyce’s funeral was set for 3 p.m. Eastern Time on Friday, Sept. 18, at the Farragut Chapel of Click Funeral Home in Knoxville, preceded by visitation at 2 p.m. The following day, a brief graveside service was held at 12 p.m. Central Time at Mt. Olivet Cemetery in McKenzie, Tennessee, where Joyce was buried beside her husband Tommie.
In lieu of flowers, the family welcomes memorials to Joyce’s favorite charity: the T.V. Warnick Endowment Fund to train ministers. (Make checks out to Board of Stewardship and write T.V. Warnick Endowment Fund on the memo line. Mail to the Cumberland Presbyterian Center, Board of Stewardship, 8207 Traditional Place, Cordova, TN 38016.)
“No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.”
Patsy Linginfelter Barker, age 86, of Dunlap, TN passed away September 14, 2026 peacefully at her home surrounded by family. She was born on November 6, 1939 in Concord, TN. She was a 1957 graduate of Farragut High School, attended Bethel College in McKenzie and the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. She taught at Sequatchie County High School. Patsy was a loving wife, mother, grandmother, and great-grand mother. She was a faithful member of Chapel Hill Methodist Church for 67 years. She loved to sing, cook, travel and spoil her grandchildren. She is preceded in death by her parents, Vernon and Evelyn Linginfelter; brother, V.W. Linginfelter.
She is survived by her husband of 67 years, Glenn Barker; her children, Glenda (Don) Mabry, of Lenoir City, Greg (Ester) Barker and John Barker, of Dunlap; grandchildren, Caleb (Taylor) Mabry, of Lenoir City, Hannah (Caleb) Ownby, of Farragut, Gaither, (Jillian) Barker, of Dunlap, Jeremiah (Savana) Barker, of Cleveland, Christian Payne, of Chattanooga, and Channing Barker, of Dunlap; great-grand children, Ellison, Lillian, Jonah Mabry, of Lenoir City, Mabry and Evelyn Ownby, of Farragut; nieces and nephews, Ann Hale, Charlie and Allen Barker, Sarah Hampton, Jeff and Ray Linginfelter and their families; also survived by sister-in-law, Ann Linginfelter. The family wants to express their sincere gratitude to the very special care givers, Michelle Amburgey, Marylu Brown and Lynn Harmon for all their love and support, as well as Dr. Dibrell and the staff at Erlanger Bledsoe Hospital.
Services were held Friday, September 18 at 1:00 p.m. CDT Chapel Hill Methodist Family Life Center with Rev. Jared Wood and Rev. Tom Tucker officiating. Grandsons and nephews served as pallbearers. Burial was in Chapel Hill Cemetery. Online condolences can be made at www.reedfamilyfh.com. In lieu of flowers the family requests memorial contributions be made to Chapel Hill Methodist Church Building Fund, 5606 East Valley Rd, Dunlap, TN 37327. Arrangements by Standefer-Reed Funeral Home, 50 May Rd, Dunlap, TN. The family received friends Thursday, September 17 at the funeral home 3:00-8:00 p.m. CDT and Friday 11:00-1:00 p.m. CDT at Chapel Hill Methodist Family Life Center.
Elroy (Roy) Francis Schweitzer, a loving husband, father and grandfather, passed away peacefully on August 8, 2026, at the age of 89.
He was born on October 22, 1936, in Milwaukee, WI to the late Theodore and Muriel Schweitzer (Rausch). He was the devoted and loving husband of Barbara Schweitzer, with whom he shared 43 wonderful years of marriage. As a father, he was a constant source of strength, wisdom and love to his daughter, Danielle.
Roy attended Marquette University High School and Marquette University, where he studied mechanical and structural engineering. He began his 42-year career at Bucyrus Erie in 1955 as a drafting apprentice. Over the next 20 years, he worked as a design, product and development engineer, and obtained his Professional Engineer License in 1972. He became Vice President of Engineering for Bucyrus Erie, and later Bucyrus International, in 1988. Roy spent the majority of his career designing large equipment for the mining industry in the US, South Africa and Australia, including his “first baby,” the Bucyrus 2570W Dragline. Following his departure from Bucyrus in the mid-1990s, Roy continued his work as a consultant to the mining industry.
Outside of work, Roy could almost always be found on a golf course, in various men’s leagues, and later with his wife in the Avalon Community in Lenoir City, TN, where they moved in 2000 to enjoy their retirement years. He was a lifelong Green Bay Packers fan, and he and Barb were part of the inaugural group to form the Knoxville Packer Backers Club, getting together every week during the season to watch games.
Roy was a man of quiet wisdom, one who would analyze every situation and create solutions before others even realized there was a problem to be addressed. He thought quadratic equations were an amusing way to pass the time but could make anyone laugh with his dry wit and sarcasm. His love for his family, his sincerity, keen insight and gentle guidance will be missed by all who knew him.
He is survived by his daughter Danielle (Schweitzer) Lawrence, son-in-law Kyle Lawrence, grandchildren Lily and Hudson Lawrence; brother, Ronald Schweitzer (Diane), as well as other loving family and friends. He is reunited in death with his loving wife Barb.
The funeral will be held at St. Thomas the Apostle Catholic Church in Lenoir City, TN, on Friday, September 11, 2026. Visitation will begin at 10:00am, with the funeral mass immediately following at 11:00am.
Edward “Ed” Anthony Richard Juhascik, born on March 2, 1945, in Pittsburgh, PA, passed away in Knoxville, TN, with his loving sister, Elaine Oliver, by his side. Ed attended North Catholic High School in Pittsburgh, PA, and Duquesne University, studying history. He served in the Air Force and later worked for the Pennsylvania Welfare Department for 40 years. Ed loved practicing his Catholic Faith in both Pittsburgh and Knoxville, where he moved to be close to his sister and family. He loved his country, serving and loving the underprivileged. Ed was a sports enthusiast through and through; he especially loved any Pittsburgh teams. Go Steelers! He loved to travel, read, listen to live music, drive his Mustang, and spend time with his family eating delicious steaks. Ed had a sharp mind and quick wit, able to see the humor in life and spread laughter throughout. He always had words of encouragement, appreciating the beauty in his close friends and family.
Ed was preceded in death by his parents, Anthony and Emily Juhascik; his brother, Anthony; brother-in-law, Custodio Oliver; and dear friend, Joyce Ray.
Ed is survived by his sister, Elaine Oliver; nephews and niece, including Mark (Kathleen) Oliver, Jennifer (Mike) Spadafora, and Jeremy (Ann) Oliver; and great-nieces and nephews, including Charlie, Matt (Jessica), Nick and Ben Oliver, Mara, Anthony, Lucas Spadafora, and JJ and John Oliver.
The family received friends on Saturday, August 1, 2026, from 10:30 AM to 11:00 AM at St. John Neumann Catholic Church, 633 St. John Ct., Farragut, TN 37934. A Mass of Christian Burial followed at 11:00 AM.
A graveside service will be held at 10:00 AM on Monday, August 3, 2026, at Christ Our Redeemer Catholic Northside Cemetery, 204 Cemetery Ln., Pittsburgh, PA 15237.
In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests that memorial donations be made to the charity of your choice. Ed would have wanted his memory honored by supporting a cause that is meaningful to you.
Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel is honored to serve the Juhascik family.
Mary Elaine (Hargis) Pryse of Knoxville, Tennessee passed away peacefully on July 25, 2026 surrounded by loving family. Mary was born June 22, 1927 in Cleveland, Tennessee, the daughter of Louis and Nona Hargis. She graduated from Virginia Intermont College in Bristol, Virginia.
In 1949 she married the love of her life, Dr. Thomas D. Pryse, a beloved and accomplished orthodontist in Knoxville. They were married nearly 71 years before Tom passed away in 2020; their love story set the standard for what marriage should look like. Mary and Tom had three children (Tandy, Thomas, Jr, and Tegwyn), eight grandchildren, and 13 great-grandchildren of whom they were very proud.
Mary loved cheering on her children, grandchildren and greats at their various activities, especially horse shows. She also enjoyed traveling the world with Tom through the International College of Dentists. One of her favorite activities was sitting on her farmhouse porch with Tom at toddy time looking for John’s Mountain in the distance.
She was a regular at bridge club, garden club, and a member of St John’s Episcopal Church, Knoxville, Tennessee.
“Nano,” as she was affectionately known by her grandchildren, had a true servant’s heart and spent her time caring for her many loved ones. She was strong, smart, loving, sassy, generous, and really funny. She will be greatly missed by all who knew her.
Mary was preceded in death by her parents, Louis and Nona Hargis; her sister, Joyce Hargis Hudson Carter; her husband, Thomas D. Pryse; and her son, Thomas D. Pryse, Jr.
She is survived by her loving daughters Tandy Lacy (Richard), Tegwyn Pryse; grandchildren Mary Helen Posch (Timothy), John Thomas Lacy, Jake Lacy (Emily), Thomas “Trey” D. Pryse, III, Tyson Pryse, Jessica Frazier (Rusty), Danielle Pryse, Elizabeth Carver; great-grandchildren Maggie Miller (Peyton), Dylan Posch, Mari Blair Lacy, Hunter Kate Lacy, Hattie Lacy, Forrest Lacy, Mary Isabel Frazier, Annie Frazier, Boston Boggess, Piper Boggess, Blaze Boggess, Lucy Fowler, Cooper Carver; and many nieces and nephews that she loved as her own.
Receiving of Family and Friends was held at Berry Highland Memorial Funeral Home on Sunday, August 2, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. A funeral service followed at 4:00 p.m. with livestream available at https://Berry-Highland-Memorial.livecontrol.tv/a1c44377.
Graveside Services were held at Berry Highland Memorial Cemetery at Whispering Waters Pavilion on Monday, August 3, 2026, at 11:00 am.
It is with both heavy hearts and fond memories that we announce the passing of Robert E. Bowman, a cherished father, grandfather, and friend, who passed on June 24, 2026, at the age of 87. Born on April 6, 1939, in Philadelphia, PA, Robert lived a life filled with the joy of family and friendship, hard work and adventure.
Robert, affectionately known as Bob, was the son of Horace Merrill Bowman and Dorothy Violet Sturtz. He grew up alongside his sister Nancy, who predeceased him. Bob shared an enduring love story with his wife, Mary Jane Willis, whom he married in 1960. Together, they built a life rich with friendships and travel until Mary Jane’s passing in 2019. Their union blessed them with two loving children, Robert Bowman Jr., married to Khristi Bowman, and Deborah Cornett, married to Gary Cornett. His legacy continues through his three grandchildren Madison, Mollie and Nate, who brought immense joy to his life.
Bob’s educational journey began at Valley Forge Military Academy, where he graduated high school in 1957. He went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tri-State University in 1964. His commitment to service was reflected in his time with the U.S. Army, where he served from 1960 to 1962, stationed in Asmara, Ethiopia.
For many years, Bob applied his talents in engineering sales, specializing in commercial HVAC. In his later years, he found great fulfillment as a driver for Enterprise, a position he held with pride for 15 years until his final days. His congenial nature and friendly demeanor earned him many friends at Enterprise, as well as at the YMCA and the Villages of Farragut, where he was known for always having a kind word and an infectious smile.
Bob and Mary Jane were both active members of the Farragut Presbyterian Church for many decades. There they found a community that enriched their lives. Bob was also devoted to visiting his children and grandchildren in the Nashville area, where family gatherings were filled with warmth and laughter. He was a man of deep faith and a true patriot.
Bob’s life will be celebrated on August 1, 2026, at 10 AM at Farragut Presbyterian Church, located at 209 Jamestown Blvd, Farragut, TN 37934. Visitation is at 10 AM and the service is at 11 AM. A reception will follow in the church narthex. Family, friends, and all who knew him are invited to gather in remembrance of a life well-lived and a man well-loved.
The family wishes to extend their heartfelt gratitude to Amedisys Hospice Knoxville, Arosa Care Management Knoxville, and The Villages of Farragut for the compassionate care provided to Bob during his final days. Your kindness and support meant more than words can express.
As we say goodbye to Bob, we remember an outgoing and fun gentleman whose life was a testament to kindness, encouragement and enduring friendship. His memory lives on in the hearts of all who knew him.
