Madison County, Alabama Obituary Collection 1998-1999 (From Various Funeral Homes)
Covering the towns of Big Cove, Brownsboro, Gurley, Hampton Cove, Harvest, Hazel Green,
Huntsville, Madison, Meridianville, New Hope, New Market, Normal, Owens Cross Roads,
Ryland, Toney, and Triana. Also many obits from nearby Athens (Limestone County).
Some of the funeral homes represented: Royal Funeral Home, Spry Funeral Home,
Valhalla Funeral Home, Laughlin Service Funeral Home, and Twickenham Funeral Home.
Note: These obituaries are NOT primary source. They are intended only to provide clues in
researching your family tree. Use the date at the top of each group of obituaries to determine
the date of death since this collection does not include specific dates, only the day of the week
that the death occurred. Use the handy 1998 or 1999 calendars to determine dates.
James R. Bray
James Richard Bray, 74, of Huntsville died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church with the Rev. Larry Dill and the Rev. Elsie Moss officiating.
Burial will be in Huntsville Memorial Gardens with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Bray was a native of Memphis, Tenn., and lived in Huntsville since 1958. He served in World War II as a paratrooper and was a graduate of the University of Tennessee.
Survivors include his wife, Gloria Conner Bray of Huntsville; two daughters, Betsy Salisburg of Owens Cross Roads and Gloria Hess of Madison; two sons, Richard Bray of Marietta, Ga., and David Bray of Huntsville; and nine grandchildren.
Visitation is today from 5 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Memorial donations may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church or Habitat For Humanity.
Ruby J. Chenault
DECATUR - Ruby Jane Chenault, 85, died Friday at her home. The funeral will be today at 3 p.m. at Speake Christian Fellowship Church with the Rev. Frances Proctor officiating.
Burial will be in Lebanon Cemetery at Peake with Peck Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include one daughter, Martha F. Sivley of Decatur; four brothers, Cleveland Smith of Danville, Guy Smith of Price ville, Burley Smith of Speake and Dathern Smith of Neel; five sisters, Ethel Brown, Moline Hampton, Lois Childers, Nellavine Glover and Madith Wright, all of Danville; and three grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
Haskell L. Compton
ALBERTVILLE - Haskell L. Compton, 72, of 2172 Rose Road died Saturday at a Birmingham hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Albertville Memorial Chapel Funeral Home.
Burial will be in the Union Grove Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Ila J. Compton; one daughter, Barbara Thomas of Trafford; one son, Jim Compton of Pinson; one sister, Doris Cobb of Birmingham; one brother, Kenneth Compton of Albertville; and four grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Jerry Lee Faulk
ATHENS - Jerry Lee Faulk, 55, of 1215 U.S. 31 South died Friday at a Jackson County nursing home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at McConnell Funeral Home with Kenneth Chambers and Phillip Babcock officiating.
Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery.
Mr. Faulk was a native of Limestone County and attended Bethel Church of Christ.
Survivors include four sisters, Laverne Emerson of Decatur, Nellie Dalton of Elwood, Ind., Betty Stewart of Tanner and Paulette Turner of Toney; four brothers, Phillip Faulk of Decatur, James Faulk of Silver Springs, Fla., Horace Faulk of Athens and John Faulk of Huntsville.
Annie M. Gates
TONEY - Annie Mae Gates, 85, died Friday at her home. The funeral will be today at 1:30 p.m. at Taylor-Ardmore Funeral Home with Bro. Chester Jones officiating.
Burial will be in Gatlin Cemetery.
Mrs. Gates was a member of Community Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie R. Gates, and a daughter, Mary Elizabeth Collins.
Survivors include three sons, Bobby Gates of Linares, Mexico, and Jessie Gates and Charles Gates, both of Ardmore; one daughter, Janell Bryant of Ardmore; two brothers, Silas Eckstein of Decatur and Fred Eckstein of Bethel; one sister, Leola Young of Toney; and 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Bill Gilliam Jr.
FLINTVILLE, Tenn. - Bill Gilliam Jr. of 174 Pendergrass Road died Friday at a Huntsville hospital. A graveside service will be today at 2:30 p.m. at Flintville Cemetery with the Rev. Phillip Cunningham officiating.
Mr. Gilliam was a sales representative for Akey Inc. and was a member of Elora Cumberland Presbytarian Church.
Survivors include his wife, Karen Sue Karch Gilliam of Flintville; two daughters, Holly Steelman and Kristin Teuett, both of Flintville; one son, William Scott Gilliam of Flintville; his father, William Hugh Gilliam Sr. of Flintville; his mother, Virginia Plylant Gilliam of Flintville; one sister, Peggy Hudson of Flintville; and three grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Charles H. Guttman
Charles Henry Guttman, 68, of Huntsville died Friday at a local nursing home. A graveside service will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Twickenham Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Carl Malm officiating.
Mr. Guttman was a native of Galveston, Texas, and was a resident of Huntsville since 1962. He was a retired NASA physicist and former owner of Golf Attic.
Survivors include his wife, Helga Guttman of Huntsville; one son, Col. Paul Guttman of Florida; two daughters, Patricia Milligan of Huntsville and Karen Walkley of Montgomery; one sister, Estelle Hertzberg of California; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Cancer Society or Hospice.
Irene Klutts
Irene Klutts, 80, of Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 11 a.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel.
Mrs. Klutts was formerly of Jonesboro, Ark., and a longtime member of Memorial Southern Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Lesley ONeal Klutts of Huntsville; three daughters, Lois Carson of Atlanta, and Joyce Klutts and Pat McCay, both of Huntsville; and six grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Jeanette B. Loomis
Mrs. Jeanette Bailey Loomis, 76, of Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 9:30 p.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with the Rev. Phil OKennedy officiating.
Burial will be in Valhalla Cemetery with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. Loomis was a registered nurse who graduated from Danbury (Conn.) Hospital. She served as a nurse in India and China during World War II and then in Huntsville and San Juan, Texas. She was a member of Holy Spirit Catholic Church.
Survivors include her husband, J. Mort Loomis, Jr.; two daughters, Joan Bell and Karen Crawford, both of Huntsville; three sons, Jay Loomis of Huntsville, Tom Loomis of Austin, Texas, and Rick Loomis of Nashville; one brother, Francis DiNapoli of Danbury; four grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be today at the funeral home from 5 to 7 p.m. with a prayer vigil at 6 p.m.
Irene Martin
DECATUR - Irene Martin, 73, died Friday at a Decatur hospital. A graveside service will be today at 2 p.m. at Crestwood Cemetery in Gadsden with Rev. Phillip Ellen officiating.
Crestwood Funeral home is in charge or burial.
Mrs. Martin was a member of Decatur Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Robert L. Martin; two daughters, Beverly Burfield of Trinity and Belinda Palmer of Decatur; one stepson, Bobby Martin of Atlanta; two brothers, Charles Thomas and Marvin Thomas, both of Gadsden; one sister, Evelyn Roberts of Gadsden; and seven grandchildren.
Lorene McKinney
FORT PAYNE - Lorene McKinney, 78, died Saturday at her home. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Liberty Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Charles Bryant and the Rev. Lee Earl Thompson officiating.
Burial will be in Adamsburg Cemetery with Rainsville Funeral Home in charge.
Mrs. McKinney was preceded in death by her husband, George Lee McKinney; and one son, Howard Edward McKinney.
Survivors include three daughters, Betty OShields of High Point, Ga., Katherine Keef of Rainsville and Jeanette Williams of Fort Payne; two sons, Charles McKinney and Rev. Larry McKinney, both of Fort Payne; two sisters, Lona Harrison and Willodean Dobbs, both of Fort Payne; one brother, Audis Evett of Fort Payne; and 16 grandchildren, 25 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren.
Margaret L. Parks
FAYETTEVILLE, Tenn. - Margaret Louise Parks, 85, of 804 Orchard Drive died at a local nursing home. The funeral will be Monday at 10 a.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with the Rev. Don Thomas and the Rev. Richard Hughes officiating.
Burial will be in Riverview Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Parks was a retired accountant and a member of Cumberland Presbytarian Church.
Survivors include one nephew, John Wayne Daves.
Manuale Reeves
HIGDON - Manuale Reeves, 77, died Friday at a Scottsboro hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar with the Rev. Jerry Waldon officiating.
Burial will be in Deer Head Cove Cemetery in Cartersville.
Mr. Reeves was preceded in death by one daughter, Edna Davis.
Survivors include his wife, Margaret Lee Davis; five daughters, Frances Pauline Westbrooks of Rosalie, Martha Jo Payton of Ider, Carolyn Faye Harris of Flat Rock, Elizabeth Jane Holland of Rossville, Ga., and Peggy Sue Underwood of Tiftonia, Ga.; four sons, Manuale Lee Reeves of Bridgeport, William Harold Reeves of Rosalie and Oscar Dewayne Reeves and Jerry Allen Reeves, both of Rossville; five sisters, Stella Smith of Trenton, Ga., Empress Durham of Slygo, Ga., and Elda Belle Pace, Jewell Durham and Beatrice Massengale, all of Chattanooga; two brothers, Jessie Reeves of Trenton and Edmond Reeves of Rising Fawn, Ga.; and 11 grandchildren.
Visitation will be today from 4:30 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Joyce Shafer
ARAB - Joyce Shafer, 53, of 814 6th St. N.E. died Saturday at her home. The funeral will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Arab.
Burial will be in Decatur City Cemetery with Gober Funeral Home of Arab in charge.
Survivors include her husband, Robert Shafer; two daughters, Emily Anna-Marie Gatlin and Olivia Lee Shafer, both of Auburn; three sisters, Eleanor Brown of North Carolina, Wynelle Ogletree and Ruth Gross, both of Arab; two brothers, Henry G. Thomas of Kansas and James K. Thomas of Arab; one half brother, Gilbert Thomas of Florida; one half sister, Agnes Gibson of Florida.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Stephen White
ATHENS, Tenn. - Stephen White, 42, died Friday. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Rainsville Funeral Home with the Rev. Billy Wallace officiating.
Burial will be in Glenwood Cemetery.
Survivors include his parents, Rusty and Jane White of Fort Payne; one sister, Elizabeth White of Fort Payne; and several aunts, uncles and cousins.
William G. Yack III
William George Yack III, 48, of Huntsville died Tuesday in Arlington, Texas. The funeral will be today at 1 p.m. at Spry Funeral Home.
Mr. Yack was a native of Washington, D.C., and lived in Madison County seven years. He was a member of Solar Masonic Lodge and Cahaba Shrine Temple.
Survivors include his wife, Catherine Yack of Huntsville; three sons, William George Yack IV, James Yack and Thomas Yack, all of Huntsville; three sisters, Alida Crowley of Hancock, N.Y., Alana Renz of Sebastian, Fla., and Cheryl Keelev of Palm Bay, Fla.
