Obituaries
• COYNE, Robert F.,
March 25, 2015
entered into eternal peace March 21, 2015 in Knoxville, TN at the age of 79. He was born in Bridgeport, CT, and was the youngest son of father, John B. Coyne and mother Laurine J. Coyne. Bob, as he is known to his friends and family, was a good and loving husband to Katherine J. Coyne, deceased on September 3, 2003. Also preceding him in death was his older brother Bernard Coyne. He will continue to be remembered as a gracious, kind and loving father, grandfather, uncle, brother and friend to many in Knoxville, Ohio, Connecticut and Virginia. He served in the U.S. Army, 10th Battalion Headquarters at the end of the Korean conflict attaining the rank of sergeant. Starting his business career in Boston, MA at WBZ-TV, as a staff broadcast engineer, he worked in both radio and television. He accepted a new challenging position as one of the first engineers to help start up a new television station, WTOL-TV in Toledo, OH. After ten years in television, desiring a new career in sales, Bob accepted a sales position with Mainline Distributors as a regional sales manager for the RCA and Whirlpool Product Lines. Continuing to look for new sales challenges and growth, he accepted a regional sales position with the original Magnavox Co. where he was responsible for sales in parts of OH, MI and IN. In 1984, he was promoted to the Philips Consumer Electronics Co. corporate office in Knoxville, TN serving in the Sales and Product Training Department. Moving from national trainer, coordinator, and manager, to Director of Sales & Product Training Department, he retired in 1998 to become a full-time caretaker for his wife Kathie. After retirement, Bob devoted his time to caring for Kathie, but also found time to support the New Heart Society, a local organ transplant support group, and Parent Place, a ministry for supervised visitation of children, Division of Catholic Charities, where the children called him “Mr. Bob.” He was also active in the Knights of Columbus, serving as Grand Knight for a period. His experience as a caregiver prompted the creation of his seminar, “I’m a Caregiver, Now What Do I Do?” This seminar allowed him to present this unique subject to various churches and senior centers throughout the region. His greatest joy was seeing his two daughters, Christine Kimmey, Lambertville, MI, and Diane Burek, Roanoke, VA grow into wonderful, loving mothers and wives along with his four grandchildren, Nicholas and Evan Kimmey, Emily and Julia Burek along with sons-in-law Rick Kimmey and Paul Burek. He is also survived by his fiancé, Joan F. Brink, of Knoxville, TN, brother Edward Coyne, of Stratford, CT. Also, surviving is Bea Ryan of Sylvania, OH, sister of Kathie, and niece Terri Daniels of Atlanta, GA. A Funeral Mass will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday at All Saints Catholic Church Father Michael Woods Celebrant. The family will receive friends immediately following the Mass in the Church Parish Hall. Private interment will be in the East Tennessee State Veteran’s Cemetery. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Monastery of the Holy Spirit Retreat House, Attn; Father Tom Francis Building Fund, 2625 Highway 212SW, Conyers, GA 30094-4044. Click Funeral Home Middlebrook Chapel, 9020 Middlebrook Pike is serving the Coyne family. www.clickfh.com
• BOGGAN, Jeff Mitchener,
March 18, 2015
Major, U.S. Marine Corps, Retired, age 78, of Farragut, TN, died March 16, 2015 at his home. Jeff was born in Tupelo, MS, the only child of Jeff Mitchener Boggan, MD, and Louise Ward Boggan. In 1942, the family moved to Ragland, AL. Jeff attended schools in Ragland, the Baylor School in Chattanooga, and the Webb School in Bell Buckle, TN. He graduated from Mississippi State University in September of 1957 and immediately went on active duty in the Marine Corps. Later he spent many years working with the FBI, primarily in Chicago. Jeff was preceded in death by his parents. He is survived by his wife, Ann, of the home and daughter, Elizabeth, of Chickamauga, GA. Services will be private. The family would like to extend special thanks to Dr. Bruce Allsop and his assistant, Cherry; Dr. Richard Antonucci and the staff of Tennessee Cancer Specia-lists; and the staff of Avalon Hospice for their kind and compassionate care. Jeff’s wish was that memorial gifts be made to the Elephant Sanctuary in Tennessee, P.O. Box 393, Hohenwald, TN 38462. Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike is serving the Boggan family. www.clickfh.com
• HARRIS-BOWERS-COOPER, Leilia Ruth,
March 11, 2015
age 94, went home to be with the Lord, March 8, 2015, after a long illness with Alzheimer’s. She was a long-time resident of Englewood, Etowah and most recently Knoxville. She was born on March 23, 1920, in Englewood, Tennessee, and was the youngest of 14 children. Ruth and her late husband, Lester Reed Bowers, were married 44 years and had two children. She remarried Rev. J. Burch Cooper, pastor of various churches in Knox, Blount and McMinn counties. They were married five years until his death. Ruth was an accomplished pianist and continued to play until the final years of her life. Love of music led Ruth to church music ministry. She held many leadership positions such as pianist, organist and choir director in the churches where she belonged. She spent five years at North Etowah Baptist Church directing a full graded choir program, preschool through adult and five years as director of pre-school and children’s Sunday School. Her love of children inspired her to complete her college education and at age 50 earned a BS degree in elementary education from Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, TN. She taught 12 years in the Etowah city Schools. She also loved working in her yard and cooking for her family. She was renowned for her Apple Stack Cake. Ruth was preceded in death by great-grandson, Jacob Ryan Arnold and is survived by her children, Sandra Dutton and husband, Douglas of Knoxville, TN; Stephen Bowers and wife, Linda of Bridgewater, VA; grandchildren, Julie Arnold and husband, Steve, of Knoxville, Brian Dutton and wife, Emily, of Seale, AL, Laura Wyant and husband, David, of Richmond, VA, and Reed Bowers and wife, Chelsea, of Lynchburg, VA. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Little Creek Sanitarium in Knoxville for the 16 months of loving care they provided Ruth. The family will receive friends on March 10 from 12 to 2 p.m. at Bordwine Funeral Home in Etowah. A graveside service will follow at 3 p.m. at McMinn Memory Gardens with Rev. Steve Peek from First Baptist Concord, Knoxville, officiating. Bordwine Funeral Home of Etowah, TN is honored to serve the Bowers-Cooper family and invites you to sign and view the family guestbook at www.bordwinefuneralhome.com.
• REYNOLDS, Mrs. Helen Fields,
February 25, 2015
Funeral services for Mrs. Helen Fields Reynolds, 89, of Farragut, TN, will be held at 1 P.M. on Thursday, February 19, 2015, at Anderson-Upper Cumberland Fu-neral Home in Gainesboro, TN. Burial will follow in the Granville Cemetery in Granville, TN. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 5 P.M. - 7 P.M., and Thursday from 12 Noon until time of services. She passed away on Monday, February 16, 2015, at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. She was born December 24, 1925, in Jackson County, TN, to the late Paskal Fields and Lennie McBroom Fields. She was married to the late Arnold Reynolds. She was a retired school teacher, and a member of the Granville United Methodist Church. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a Brother: Dois Fields. Survivors include two Sons: Pat (Paula) Reynolds of Columbus, GA, and Mike (Barbara) Reynolds of Farragut, TN; three Grandchildren: James (Kaki) Reynolds of Knoxville, TN, John (Shannon) Reynolds of Columbus, GA, and David Reynolds of Ft. Worth, TX; a Great Grandchild: Emma Reynolds of Knoxville, TN; and two Nieces: Kaye Loftis of Bloomington Springs, TN, and Lisa Apple of Gainesboro, TN. The Rev. Jackie Wheeler will officiate at the services. Memorial donations may be made to: the Granville Museum or Granville United Methodist Church by contacting the funeral home.
• HELM, Grant Lee,
January 7, 2015
age 88, of Knoxville, entered his heavenly home on Sunday, January 4, 2015 from his home, surrounded by his family. Grant was of the Baptist faith. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Grant enjoyed a successful 30 year career with TVA before retiring and continued in the nuclear field an additional 11 years. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Virginia Thompson Helm; sons, Stephen Grant Helm and Gary Stewart Helm; daughters and spouses, Teresa Bruse (Richie), Denise Adams (Frederick); grandchildren, Sarah Helm Lucero (Kenny), Dale Helm, Cameron Bruse (Alex), Hayley Bruse, Zachary Adams and Matthew Adams; great-granddaughter, Alexis Lucero; brothers and spouses, Charles Helm (Ceci), Eddie Helm (Sue); sister, Marie Garcia; sister-in-law, Zelma Lea (Thompson) Arnold; several nieces and nephews. Family and friends will gather for Graveside Services at 1 p.m. Thursday, January 8, 2015 at Foster Cemetery in McMinn County. In honor of his military service as a World War II Army Sergeant, full military honors will be conferred. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to UT Medical Center Hospice Services, 2270 Sutherland Ave., Suite 101, Knoxville, Tennessee 37919-2326. Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike is serving the Helm family. www.clickfh.com
• BEATY, Edsel R.,
December 3, 2014
age 88 of Knoxville, TN, passed away peacefully early Thursday morning, November 27, 2014. Edsel was born and reared in Clinton County, in the city of Albany, Kentucky. He was the eldest of nine children of Oswald Denton Beaty and Lottie Sue Taylor Beaty. In 1944, at the age of 18, he began his service in the U.S. Army, where he served in General George S. Patton’s 51st Armored Infantry Battalion Division “C”, Fourth Armored Division. Following basic training Edsel was deployed on the Queen Elizabeth, eventually landing on Normany Beach. In January 1945, he fought in the “Battle of the Bulge,” and in April 1945, his 4th Armored Division discovered and liberated Buchenwald, one of the largest concentration camps near Weirmar, Germany. Edsel was discharged in 1946 and awarded a Bronze Star for his combat service with General Patton’s 4th Armored Division during World War II. After completing Barber School, Edsel worked in Albany, and eventually relocated to Detroit, Michigan where he became the Executive Barber for Ford Motor Company. During his career of 33 years, Edsel cut the hair of many famous people such as Ed Sullivan, Walt Disney and Texas Governor John Connelly. He was also the barber of all Ford executives including Henry Ford II, William Clay Ford, Benson Ford, Lee Iacoca and Robert McNamara, who became Secretary of Defense under President Kennedy. Married in 1947, Edsel and Sarah reared three children in the farm community on the outskirts of Detroit. There his children were afforded the opportunities to participate in 4-H by raising horses and showing horses around the country. After retirement from Ford Motor Company, Edsel and Sarah moved to Knoxville, Tennessee in 1987. In addition to his parents, Edsel was preceded in death by his son, Robert Edsel Beaty; sister, June Conlogue Watson and brother, Bennis Beaty. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Sarah Parrigin Beaty; daughter and son-in-law, Shalimar and Mark Hurst; son, Brian Beaty; grandchildren, Adam and Sandi Beaty, Heather and Eric Staley, Alanna and John Chandler, Andrew and Melissa Beaty and Tyler Beaty; great-grandchildren, Jacob Beaty, Ethan and Evan Staley and Lily Ann Chandler; siblings and spouses, Martha Sue and Hughel Phillips, Jimmie Ruth and John Williams, all of Florida, O.D Jr. and Lillian Beaty, Lala and Walton Haddix, Jack Beaty, Joan and Danny Gross, all of Albany, Kentucky; several special nieces, nephews and friends. The family will receive friends from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, November 30, 2014 at Talbott Funeral Home in Albany, KY, followed by Funeral Services at 3 p.m. Rev. David Stearns will officiate. Interment will immediately follow at Maupin Cemetery in Albany with full military honors. Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 785517, Topeka, Kansas 66675. Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike is serving the Beaty family in Knoxville and Talbott Funeral Home in Albany, KY. www.clickfh.com
• KNAUER, Linda,
December 3, 2014
age 67 of Knoxville went to be with her Lord on Friday, November 28, 2014, surrounded by her loving family. Linda was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was member of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church and actively involved in the Prayer and Women’s ministries. Prior to retirement, Linda was a mathematics professor at Pellissippi State. She enjoyed hiking, quilting, cooking, and traveling. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family. Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Jeanette Giles, and brother, Thomas Giles. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Joseph Knauer; son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Natalie Knauer; grandchildren, Bennett and Addie Knauer; siblings and spouses, Ginger and Harley Ross, John and Linda Giles, James and Dorothy Giles, Sharon and Bob Disse, Sam and Cindy Giles and Cindy and Glen McCandless; as well as many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 6th in the Chapel of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church. Rev. Scott Jackson will officiate. The family will receive friends following the service until 5:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Young Life Windy Gap, 120 Coles Cove Road, Weaverville, NC 28787 (www.giving.younglife.org). Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike is serving the Knauer family. www.clickfh.com
• SMELCER, JR., John “Johnny” Miles,
November 5, 2014
age 82 of Lenoir City, passed away 3 a.m. Monday, October 27, 2014 at Parkwest Hospital after a long illness. He was born June 16, 1932 and raised in Pigeon Forge. Johnny was a graduate of Sevier County High School in 1952 and was known as Junior. Mr. Smelcer, along with his wife Carolyn Fain Smelcer, were owners of King of Sports, Inc. and operated Valley Honda Motorcycle dealership in Knoxville and Airport Honda Automobile dealership in Alcoa beginning in 1961. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Pigeon Forge. Johnny and Carolyn traveled extensively, having won 5 trips to Japan from Honda Motorcycle, but made their home in the Knoxville and Lenoir City area. They were members of Dixie Traveliers and were also members of FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association). Mr. Smelcer was preceded in death by his father, John Smelcer and mother, Grace Martin Smelcer Clabo; step-father, Charlie Clabo; father and mother-in-law, Vernon Aubrey Fain and Ruth LaFollette Fain; the LaFollette and the Fain family; aunts, Jennie Martin Ownby, Myrtle Martin Marshall; uncles, Glen, Wiley, Frank and Robert Martin; cousins, Joe Martin, Edna Mize; brothers-in-law, Ronnie Fain and Fred Doc McCarter. Survivors include his: Loving and devoted Wife of 57 years, Carolyn Fain Smelcer Step-mother, Dorothy Kopp Fain Sisters-in-law, LaVerne Fain McCarter, Janice Fain Ailey and husband, Rob Uncles, Marvin Fain and wife, Joy, A.D. and Norman Martin Nephews, Nicky McCarter and wife, Cindy, Brian Fain and wife, Anna, Chad Fain Great-niece, Isabel Fain Twin great-nieces, Alexis and Skye McCarter Great-nephews, Jack and Luke Fain Cousins, Marion Cooper Aders, Betty Webb, Margaret Christopher, Glenda Catlett, Sue Duncan, Jack Martin; also many more nieces, nephews and cousins. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the The American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc., APDA Middle Tennessee Chapter, 2300 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203. The family will receive friends 12 noon – 2 PM Saturday with funeral service to follow at 2 PM at First Baptist Church, Pigeon Forge with Rev. Wayne Cook officiating. Interment will follow in Pigeon Forge Baptist Cemetery with Allen Webb, Chuck Perciful, Chad Fain, Brian Fain, Nicky McCarter and Rob Ailey serving as pallbearers. Arrangements by Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville. (www.atchleyfuneralhome.com)
