>From The LaFollette Press 29 May 2003 Ermine Edward Ayers, 80, Elsie Eldean Blalock, 70 of Elk Valley, Jeffrey Alan Chitwood. 41 of Newcomb Alonzo E. Collins, 84, (formerly of Elk Valley) Robert Richard Colvin, 65,of LaFollette, Mikey Dillon, 16, Jefferson City, formerly of LaFollette, Judith Feldman, 56, Pioneer, Virgil Fitzwater, 90, LaFollette, Robert A. (Bob) Hale, 73, LaFollette Maggie Lay, 73, Hwy 297 Elk Valley, Pioneer,Pat Edward McCoy, 35, Lake City, Bobby Miller, Roger Dale Monday, 49, of Speedwell, Naomi Sheckles Peel, 83, LaFollette , Nona D. Petrey, 57, Caryville, Willie Wayne Sweat, 82, formerly of LaFollette, ===================================== Ermine Edward Ayers, 80, died Wednesday May 21, surrounded by his loving family and a band of angels. On December 4, 1922, Ermine was born the seventh of eight children to James and Rutha Ayers in Campbell County. Ermine served our country in 1943 with the 155th Engineers of the U.S. Army. Upon his honorable discharge he worked in the coalmines of Tennessee. Ermine married his sweetheart, Dorothy Brassfield on December 28, 1946 in LaFollette. They moved to Leavenworth in 1947 and he was employed as an orchard worker. He later worked at the Peshastin Mill for 33 1/2 years, retiring in 1984. The Ayers have resided in Cashmere since 1978. Well known for his guitar playing, he began at age 16. Over the years he used this gift God gave him by playing in different church bands. He and his wife sang duets for church and funerals. Ermine was baptized in the late 1960's and was a member of the New Life Center and Pastor's council. He and Dorothy were voted seniors of the year in the 80's. Ermine was dearly loved by his family and they knew he loved them. His gentle, quiet nature proved to be the core of his home. He worked so hard to provide a safe and warm home. He could fix anything! As every family, we had our struggles, but through tough times we were made strong. You may have been a common man to some…no ticker-tape parades, no monuments built in your honor…but dad you are our hero! You loved God, loved your family and were strength to those who called you friend. Ermine spent the last seven years in Cashmere Convalescent Center. He had a stroke in his spine that left him paralyzed in his lower body. He didn't complain, and was an inspiration to many by the strength of his faith and character during this time. Thanks to the staff and management who gave Ermine such good care. The love you showed him meant so much to us. Comforting words spoken by Ermine during this illness: "If I don't see you here again, I'll see you up in heaven." When a Christian dies-you can't refer to their death as losing them. When you lose someone, you don't know where they are. Dad, we know you're in heaven-See you later! He is survived by his wife, Dorothy, Cashmere; two daughters, Ruth and Rev. Charles Perry, Chippewa Falls, WI, Joyce and Rev. Jim Miles, Bonne Terre, MO; two sons, Ron and Tammie Ayers, East Wenatchee, Rev. Clarence and Sharon Ayers, Tacoma; one sister, Ellar Baird, LaFollette; grandchildren, Dustin, Kimberly, Alex Perry, Cameron and Sierra Ayers, Bryan, David, Alison Ayers, Matthew, Michael, Joshua Miles; five great-grandchildren, Nathan, Brandon Ayers, Brytney Kuntz, Thatcher and James Miles. Funeral services were Tuesday, May 27 at New Life Center Church of God. Those who wish to make memorial donations to New Life Center Church of God. Telford's Chapel was in charge of the arrangements. May 29, 2003 LaFollette Press Elsie Eldean Blalock, 70 of Elk Valley, died Thursday May 22, 2003 at Methodist Medical Center in Oak Ridge. She is preceded in death by her parents, Archie and Minnie Moles; granddaughter, Mickie Trammel; brothers, Tyson and Toms Moles; sister, Creola Hensley and Opal Clark. Elsie is survived by her husband, Ed Blalock, Elk Valley; six sons, Doug Manis and wife Leisa, Sam Manis and wife Wilma, all of Elk Valley, David Blalock and wife Carrie, Clinton, Mark Blalock, Jacksboro, Brian Blalock, Dalton GA, Eddie Blalock and wife Teresa, Jacksboro; three daughters, Sabrina Walp, Elk Valley, Brenda Trammel and husband Paul, Teresa Gibson and husband Mickey, all of Elk Valley; 19 grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; two brothers, Buck Moles and Jim Moles, both of Byrdstown; three sisters, Olene Wilson, Clebedell Clark, Myrt Booher, both of Byrdstown; a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services were Sunday, May 25 at Harp Funeral Home Reverends Ronnie Thomas and James Adkins officiated. Burial was Monday May 26 at Valley View Cemetery. Harp Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. May 29, 2003 LaFollette Press Jeffrey Alan Chitwood. 41 of Newcomb died Thursday May 22, 2003 at his home. He was preceded in death his grandfather, Homer Loudin; grandparents, George and Rachel Chitwood. He is survived by his wife, Karen Chitwood; parents, George Dewayne Chitwood and Freda Ruth Chitwood; grandmother, Thula Loudin, all of Newcomb; one brother, Eddie Chitwood and wife Betsey, Whitsman Air Force Base, Warrensburg, MI; one niece, Laura Souder and husband Ethan; one nephew, Andrew Chitwood. Funeral services were Sunday, May 25 at Harp Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Junior Dople officiated. Burial was in Douglas cemetery Harp Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. May 29, 2003 LaFollette Press Alonzo E. Collins, 84, Cincinnati, OH (formerly of Elk Valley) died Monday, May 19, 2003 at Mt. Crest Nursing Home in Cincinnati, OH. His son, Larry Collins, preceded him in death. He is survived by his wife, Doris Collins; one son, James (Jimmy) Collins; two daughters, Dessie Combs, Dorothy Hollensworth; one step-daughter, Eva Lockard; 12 grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren; two brothers, Lawton Collins, Junior Collins. Funeral services were Friday, May 23 at Harp Funeral Home Chapel. Rev. Durand Dixon officiated. Burial was in Valleyview Cemetery. Harp Funeral Home of Jellico was in charge of the arrangements. May 29, 2003 LaFollette Press Robert Richard Colvin, 65, 1514 Cove Pointe road, LaFollette, died Thursday, May 22, 2003 at the Oak Ridge Methodist Medical Center. He was a member of the Cedar Hill Baptist Church. He was a Yoke Fellow at the Cedar Hill Church. His grandchildren were his life. He was a member of RSES. He had mechanical skills, enjoyed camping, and his grandchildren were his life. He was preceded in death by his parents, Dewitt McBride and Mable Grace Threlkeld Colvin. Mr. Colvin is survived by his wife, Selma Jean Colvin, LaFollette; son and daughter-in-law, Rich and Kimberly Colvin, Pleasant Pariare, WI; daughter and son-in-law, Cyndy and Del Lassiter, Mt. Sterling, OH; grandchildren, Courtney and Ryan Fitz, Hunter and Makenzie Colvin and Lydia Lassiter; brother, Jack W. Colvin, Sarah, MS; sister Claire Badon, Franklin, and a host of other relatives and friends. Memorial services were Saturday, May 24, at the Cedar Hill Baptist Church. Rev. Ronnie Arnold officiated. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Cedar Hill Building. Fund or Library. Martin Wilson Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. May 29, 2003 LaFollette Press Mikey Dillon, 16, Jefferson City, formerly of LaFollette, died Monday May 19, 2003 and is now comforted by our Lord following a lifetime of pain and suffering. He was a student of Jefferson County High School. He is preceded in death by his grandfather; Gene Dillon. He is survived by his loving and devoted dad, Mike Dillon; grandmother, Betty Dillon; sister, Jessica Dillon; brother, Dalton Dillon; step-mother, Michelle Dillon; grandfather, Jon McCoy; mother, Kim Soucie and husband, Bill; sister, Shalene. Funeral services were Wednesday, May 21 at the Farrar Dandridge Chapel. Reverends Steve Bruce and Mike Sledge officiated. In lieu of flowers the family requested that memorial be made to Pediatric Cardiology Research, Attn: Dr. Thomas Doyle, VUMC, D-220 MCN, Nashville, TN 37232. Farrar Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. May 22, 2003 LaFollette Press Judith Feldman, 56, Pioneer, died Friday May 16, 2003 at her residence at 255 Terry Creek Lane. She was born January 16, 1947 at Long Island, NY. She is the daughter of the late Milton and Martha Beirstein Feldman. She is survived by her sister, Barbara Brody and husband, Richard, NY. Cox Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. May 29, 2003 LaFollette Press Virgil Fitzwater, 90, LaFollette, died Friday May 23, 2003 at his home. He retired as a Final Adjuster from National Cash Register Corporation. He was a member of the Fundamental Missionary Baptist Church in LaFollette. He is preceded in death by his parents, Franklin Monroe and Telitha Rhodes Fitzwater; sister, Virgie Fitzwater Croikshank; brothers, Hoy, Bob, Ben and Howard Fitzwater. He is survived by his wife, Louise Hicks Fitzwater, LaFollette; daughters, Lois Fitzwater and husband, Forrest Miller, Payson AZ, and Shirley Hicks Dillmon, LaFollette; son, Gene Hicks and wife Marie, Gladwin, MI; brothers, Dale and wife Virginia Fitzwater, Indianapolis, IN, and Gene Hicks and wife Marie, Gladwin, MI; 16 grandchildren; 29 great- grandchildren and 15 great-great -grandchildren. Funeral services were Monday, May 26 at Fundamental Missionary Baptist Church, LaFollette. Rev. Larry Russell officiated. Interment was Tuesday, May 27 at Valley View Cemetery, Elk Valley. Cross Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. May 29, 2003 LaFollette Press Robert A. (Bob) Hale, 73, LaFollette died Sunday May 25, 2003 at the V.A. Medical Center in Johnson City. He was a U.S. Air Force Veteran of the Korean Conflict and was of the Baptist faith. He was preceded in death by his parents, Jesse and Nancy Hale; brothers, Elmer, Hubert and Monroe Hale. Mr. Hale is survived by his wife, Virginia Nelson Hale, LaFollette; sons, Rex Howard Hale, LaFollette, Bobbie Hale and wife, Debbie, Bryan Hale and wife, Sharron, Dandridge AR; stepson, Clifford (Kip) Miller and wife, Melanie, LaFollette; daughter Sandra Hale, New Mexico; stepdaughters, Gail Dean Paul and husband, Eugene, LaFollette, Jerri Starrett and husband, Michael, Jacksboro; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; brother, Silas Hale and wife, Hazel, OH; several other relatives and friends. Funeral services are Thursday May 29 at 1 p.m. at Walters Chapel. Rev. Mike Smith officiating. Interment will be at the Campbell Memorial Gardens with military honors at gravesite conducted by Campbell County Honor Guard. Walter Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. May 29, 2003 LaFollette Press Maggie Lay, 73, Hwy 297 Elk Valley, Pioneer, died Sunday May 25, 2003 at the U.T. Medical Center of Knoxville. Mrs. Lay was a member of the New Canaan Baptist Church. She enjoyed sewing, quilting, flowers, and bird watching. Her children were her life. She is preceded in death by her parents, Richard and Lana Miller; husband, Loren Lay; and son, Jerry Lester Lay. She is survived by her sons and daughters-in-law, Silas and Nancy Lay, Pioneer, Loren R. and Patricia Lay, Caryville; son Jesse David Lay, Maryville; daughters and sons-in-law, Brenda and Carl Hicks, Pioneer, Linda and Jim Whitaker, Jellico, Lisa and Jody Watlington, Deer Park, TX; daughter, Sandra Lester, Jacksboro; brothers, Joe Miller, Roger Miller, and Mike Miller, all of Pioneer Straight Fork Community, Tom Miller, Oneida, and Jim Miller of Knoxville; sisters, Vena Hinkle and Iris Angel, both of Newcomb, Lois Byrd, LaFollette, Betty Ayers and Wanda Lay, both of Pioneer; 22 grandchildren and eight great grandchildren; several nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends. Funeral services will be Thursday May 29 at 2 p.m. at New Canaan Baptist Church. Rev. James Adkins officiating. Interment will follow in Warren Memorial Gardens. Martin Wilson Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. May 29, 2003 LaFollette Press Pat Edward McCoy, 35, Lake City, died Sunday, May 18, 2003 at his residence. He was born June 29, 1967 in Anderson County. Pat is preceded in death by his father, Morris Wendell McCoy. He is survived by his mother, Nell McCoy; wife Michelle McCoy; son Joshua McCoy; brother, Eddie McCoy; all of Beech Grove; sisters Peggy McCoy, Beech Grove, Linda Robbins and husband Mike, Oak Grove; special mother-in-law, Imogene Weaver; nephews, Dillion Robbins, Michael Robbins, Matthew Cunningham; nieces, Chastity Powers, Madison Jones, Kayla Cunningham, Alesha Phipps, Lacey Daniels, Brittney Robbins. Visitation was May 21 at the Hatmaker Funeral Home with funeral services following. Reverends David Goins and Jeff Hawkins officiated. Interment was Thursday, May 22 at the Oak Grove Cemetery, Lake City. Hatmaker Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangement. May 29, 2003 LaFollette Press Bobby Miller, wife of the late Luther R. Miller died Friday, May 23, 2003 at her residence. Mrs. Miller was a retired hairdresser and a devoted mother and loving grandmother; she traveled extensively for 27 years with her husband during his military career. She had been a resident of Augusta, GA for almost 40 years. She is survived by her two daughters, Karla Yearwood, Marietta, Jill Wagner Maddox, Augusta; one son, Donald R. Miller, Olympia, WA; one sister, Christine Leach, Kevil KY; grandchildren, Brian Yearwood, Krista Roper, Ryan Wagner, Steven Miller and five great grandchildren. Funeral services were Sunday, May 25 at the chapel of Platts Funeral Home. Rev. John Watley officiated. Interment was in the Bellevue Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were, Brian Yearwood, Ryan Wagner, Don Miller, Rick Roper, Phillip Maddox, Louis (Hap) Harris Jr. Platt Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. May 29, 2003 LaFollette Press Roger Dale Monday, 49, of 4286 Old Middlesboro Hwy. Speedwell died Saturday, May 24, 2003 at his home. Mr. Monday was a member of the Speedwell Academy Baptist Church. He was a veteran of the U.S. Army Viet Nam War. A member of the I B E W Local Brotherhood Electrical 760 in Knoxville. He was an electrician with TVA and also worked for Martin Merritta for 15 years in Oak Ridge. He was preceded in death by his parents, Newman and Mary Leach Monday. Mr. Monday is survived by several cousins and a host of relatives and friends. Funeral services were Tuesday, May 27 at Martin Wilson Chapel. Burial was in the Beeler Cemetery, Speedwell. Rev. Bill Braden officiated. Martin Wilson Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. May 29, 2003 LaFollette Press Naomi Sheckles Peel, 83, LaFollette died Tuesday, May 21 at her home. She was a member of Pleasant Ridge Baptist Church. She is preceded in death by her husband, Harold Peel; sisters, Zola Lawson, Anna Bolinger, Sarah Sheckles and Betty Towe; brothers, Milt Sheckles, Curtis Sheckles and James Sheckles. Her survivors are sisters, Rosetta Hembree and Ina White, both of LaFollette, Nettie LaPach, NJ; several nieces and nephews and great nieces and great nephews. Funeral services were Saturday, May 24 at Cross Funeral Home. Rev. Paul Hembree officiated. Interment was at Peabody Cemetery. Cross Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. May 29, 2003 LaFollette Press Nona D. Petrey, 57, Caryville, died Saturday May 24, 2003 at her home. She was of the Baptist faith. Mrs. Petrey is preceded in death by her mother, Alma Cummings Ward. She is survived by her husband, Eugene Petrey, Caryville; sons, Robert Nelson, Jr., Sweetwater, and James Johnson, Carleton, MI, Tony and wife Jill Petrey, Columbia KY, Trevor Petrey, Johnson City; daughters, Rhonda Wilkerson, Caryville, and Monica Hughes, LaFollette, Teresa Petrey, Claiborne County, Jill Petrey, Cumberland, KY; father, David Ward, Caryville; brothers, Lynn Ward, Jacksboro and Ben Ward, LaFollette; sister, Linda Watts, AL; nine grandchildren. Funeral services were Monday, May 26 at Cross Funeral Home. Rev. Orville Petrey officiated. Interment was Tuesday, May 27 at Cumberland View Cemetery. Cross Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. May 29, 2003 LaFollette Press Willie Wayne Sweat, 82, Knoxville, formerly of LaFollette, died Thursday, May 22, 2003 at Fort Sanders Park West Medical Center. She was a member of First Cumberland Presbyterian Church, Knoxville. Her husband Harland Sweat precedes her in death. She is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Anne and Gary Summitt, FL; grandchildren, Geoffrey, Matthew and Benjamin; sister, Bill McWilliams, Atlanta, GA. Graveside service and interment was Sunday May 25 at Woodlawn Cemetery. Rev. J. David Hester officiated. Cross Funeral Home was in charge of the arrangements. May 29, 2003 LaFollette Press ===================================================== 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. =====================================================