From the Oak Ridger 10 Oct 2005 Irene Robinson Coker, 86, a resident of Oliver Springs, passed away Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005, at her home. Mrs. Coker was born Oct. 6, 1919, in Verda, Ky., to the late Clyde J. Robinson and Nora Chandler Robinson. She attended elementary school in Cary, Ky., and later attended Rosedale School in Anderson County. She married Verldon Coker (the love of her life) on May 1, 1937. They moved to Oliver Springs in 1943, opening an Esso Service station which they operated for 20 years. They also operated Coker Bus Lines, which brought workers to Oak Ridge during World War II. Mrs. Coker was involved in many church and community activities. She was an active member of Oliver Springs First Baptist Church where she had been a member for 59 years. She was also a choir member, Sunday school teacher, member of the WMU and instrumental in helping to start the Happy Timers. She was initiated into the Order of Eastern Star, Oliver Springs Chapter No. 211, on May 6, 1946. She held many offices while serving the Eastern Star. She served as Marshall in 1946 and 1952, Secretary in 1947-1948 and 1950, and also as Worthy Matron in 1949. Mrs. Coker was also honored with a lifetime membership to the National PTA for all her years of service with the Roane County School System. Mrs. Coker was preceded in death by her husband of 68 years, Verldon Edward Coker; by her parents, Clyde J. Robinson and Nora E. Chandler Robinson; granddaughter, Cathy Brown; by a sister, Laura Lea Vann; by a son-in-law, Vann Kelly and by a brother-in-law, Fred Phillips. She is survived by her daughter, Verldean Kelly of Oliver Springs; son, Eddie Coker and wife, Linda of Oliver Springs; grandchildren, Karen and Wes Kirkland of Powell, Cindy and Dan Davis of Andersonville, Scott and Cindy Coker of Oliver Springs, Eric Coker of Oliver Springs, Mike and Debbie Kelly of Rockwood, Cindy and Roger Bendure of LaVergne, Darlene and Steve Collins of Oliver Springs, Jeff and Sandy Kelly of Oliver Springs, Mitchell Kelly of Oak Ridge, Ronnie and Suzanne Poole of Oliver Springs, Mike Brown and wife Karen of Knoxville; great-grandchildren, Wesley Kirkland of Powell, Rodney, Lewis, and Zachery Coker of Oliver Springs, Kristie and Taylor Kelly of Rockwood, Allison and Madison Bendure of LaVergne, Kelly Collins of Oliver Springs, Phillip and Kristin Kelly of Oliver Springs, Shannon and Morgan Poole of Oliver Springs, and Mary Catherine and Rachel Brown of Knoxville; sister, Verna Phillips of Oliver Springs; sister-in-law, Pearl Phillips and family of Devonia; nieces and nephews, Bobbie Leach of Andersonville, Ronnie Leach of Devonia, Jerry Vann of Oliver Springs, Elaine Schubert of Oliver Springs, and Sheryl Hale of Knoxville. The family will receive friends Monday, Oct. 10, 2005, between the hours of 5 and 8 p.m. at Sharp Funeral Home with funeral service following at 8 p.m. in the funeral home chapel with the Rev. Robbie Leach, the Rev. Jim Baumgardner and the Rev. Barry Ariaz officiating. Burial and graveside service will be held Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005, at 10 a.m. at Anderson Memorial Gardens. In lieu of flowers, the family asked for memorials to be made to Oliver Springs First Baptist Church Television Ministries, P.O. Box 601, Oliver Springs, TN 37840. Sharp Funeral Home in Oliver Springs is in charge of all the arrangements. Elmer Ray Johnson, 56, a resident of Oak Ridge, passed away Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005, at Baptist Hospital of East Tennessee in Knoxville. Mr. Johnson was born January 24, 1949, in Pikeville, Ky. Mr. Johnson was the owner and operator of Auto and Truck Specialist in Kingston. He had previously owned and operated several auto repair businesses. He was a U.S. Marine Corps veteran. His hobby was riding his Harley Davidson motorcycle. Mr. Johnson was preceded in death by two grandchildren, Jessica and Zachary Stephenson. Survivors include his daughters, Sherry Franklin and husband Tony of Oak Ridge, Dawn Stephenson and husband Paul of Oliver Springs; son, Jake Johnson and wife Gena of Knoxville; grandchildren, Rachel and Miranda Franklin of Oak Ridge, Eddie Soles, Alexa Soles and Jesse Cooper of Oliver Springs; and special friends, the Lemons family of Oak Ridge. Graveside services will be held Monday, Oct. 10, 2005, at 11 a.m. at Oak Ridge Memorial Park. Sharp Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. Lillian Russell Niemeier, 88, of Oak Ridge, died on Oct. 7, 2005, at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge. She was born in Gaylesville, Ala., on Oct. 29, 1916, to parents Julian and Ollie Golightly Russell. Mrs. Niemeier was a teacher with the Oak Ridge School System, member of First Christian Church, and was a veteran with the U.S. Army. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles C. Niemeier, who died Aug. 16, 1985. Survivors include her sons, Charles Niemeier Jr. and wife, Kimberly Moretto Niemeier of Huntsville, Ala., Sam Robert Niemeier and wife, Olina Ann Niemeier of Cave Spring, Ga.; half brother, Bob Angel of Cave Spring, Ga., and his children, Kent Angel of Auburn, Ala., and Kaye Angel Dyer of Centre, Ala.; step-grandson, Jeremy Murdock of Birmingham, Ala., and step-granddaughter, Laura Jones of Atlanta, Ga. The funeral service will be held in the chapel of Weatherford Mortuary on Tuesday, Oct. 11, 2005, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Jack Russell officiating. Interment will be at Oak Ridge Memorial Park. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to First Christian Church Building Fund, 116 E. Division Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37830. The family will receive friends on Tuesday from 1 to 2 p.m. at Weatherford Mortuary. An online guest book may be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com. Mary Elizabeth Harrell Suddarth, 101, of Oliver Springs, died Oct. 7, 2005. She was born Nov. 14, 1903, in Thomaston, Ga., to parents John Nicholas Harrell and Julia Lee Brannon Harrell. She grew up and received her education in Thomaston, and she took a business course in Atlanta, Ga. She worked and continued to live in Atlanta where she met her husband, James Price Suddarth, and the two were married Dec. 11, 1929. They lived in Atlanta until 1930 when they moved to Gallatin, Tenn., her husband's hometown. They joined his brother-in-law in a grocery business. In 1939 a daughter, Patricia Louise, was born. Mary and her husband were both active in church and civic affairs until his death in 1955, and until her retirement in 1982 in a variety of positions with the city of Gallatin and the Chamber of Commerce. At the time of her retirement she was recognized by the city of Gallatin and the Chamber of Commerce for her contributions. She continued to be active in these areas until she left Gallatin in 1987 to join her daughter and her family in Oak Ridge. In 1989 she moved with her daughter and her husband to their farm in Oliver Springs where she resided until the time of her death. During her time in East Tennessee, she met and enjoyed the company of many new friends and shared with them her love of crafts and reading. She enjoyed activities with her family. She was an expert knitter and was well-known for her beautifully-crafted knitted garments. She is survived by her daughter Patricia and her husband George W. Brandon of Oliver Springs, and also by three grandchildren, Carol Elizabeth (Beth) Nickle and her husband Lee of Oak Ridge, James Price Brandon and his wife Suzanne of Laurel, Md., and George Michael Brandon and his wife Monica of Knoxville. She also is survived by four great-grandchildren; Sarah Patricia Nickle and Brandon Lee Nickle of Oak Ridge, and Jacob Price Brandon and Caleb Price Brandon of Laurel, Md. She is also survived by a sister Louise Suddarth (she and her sisters married Suddarth brothers); her nephew, James Harrell Suddarth and his wife Linda and their three children Rachel Louise, Jonathan Leon, and Margaret Ann Suddarth, all of Gallatin. A graveside service was held at Crestview Memorial Park in Gallatin, Tenn., on Sunday, Oct. 9, 2005, at 3 p.m. CST with the Rev. David Schreiner officiating. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Caris Hospice, 9051 Executive Park Drive, Suite 401, Knoxville, TN 37923. An online register book is available at www.martinoakridgefuneralhome.com. Martin Oak Ridge Funeral Home and Newby Funeral Home in Gallatin are in charge of arrangements. Rebecca Kathleen "Teen" Watson, 87, a longtime resident of Oak Ridge, since 1946, died Saturday, Oct. 8, 2005. She became a member of Robertsville Baptist Church upon moving to Oak Ridge. She was preceded in death by her husband, Orville Watson; parents, Gus and Rachael Davis; and sisters, Mae Phelps, Verna Davis, and Georgia Clark. Survivors include her daughter, Nancy Watson Cooper, and granddaughter, Ainsley Suzanne Cooper. The family wishes to thank all their friends for their support, and Dr. Lee Carden and staff at the Oak Ridge Cancer Center; also the Adventa Hospice Staff; and the staff of St. Mary's Hospice. Nancy and Ainsley Cooper will receive friends to celebrate the life of their beloved mother and grandmother on Monday, Oct. 10, from 6 to 8 p.m. at Weatherford Mortuary with the service following at 8 p.m. in the chapel. Dr. Michael Prince will be officiating. The graveside service will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 11, at 11 a.m. at Oak Ridge Memorial Park. The family requests that memorials be in the form of donations to the Robertsville Baptist Church "Moving Forward Fund," 251 Robertsville Road, Oak Ridge, TN 37380. An online guest book may be signed at www.weatherfordmortuary.com. =========================================== SUPPORT OUR TROOPS---FLY THE FLAG "Genealogy is like playing hide and seek. They hide I seek!!! www.byrge.com/genealogy/ Searching: BYRGE/BUNCH/DAUGHERTY/DUNCAN/KENNEDY/ PATTERSON/PHILLIPS/SEIBER/TACKETT/WARD