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 was to be today at 1 p.m. at Trinity United Methodist Church with the Revs. Larry Dill and 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 had lived in Huntsville since 1958. He served in World War II as a paratrooper and was a graduate of the University of Tennessee. He was a retired mechanical engineer who had worked for NASA and Lockheed Martin.
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.
His body was to be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Memorial donations may be made to Trinity United Methodist Church or Habitat For Humanity.
Chattie Carlton
ABILENE, Texas - Chattie Carlton, 92, died Saturday at an Abilene nursing home. The funeral was today at 11 a.m. at Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene with the Rev. Scott Mayer officiating.
Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery in Funston, Texas, with Elliott-Hamil Funeral Home in Abilene in charge.
Survivors include one daughter, Cathey Campbell of Corpus Christi, Texas; one son, Kit Carlton of Huntsville, Ala.; and four grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to West Texas Rehabilitation Center, 4601 Hartford Road, Abilene, Texas 79605.
Susie M. Christian
Susie Mae Christian, 84, of Huntsville died Saturday at her home. The funeral was to be today at 3 p.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Goodlettsville, Tenn.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of burial.
Mrs. Christian was a native of Lauderdale County and had lived in Madison, Tenn., before moving to Huntsville in 1996. She was a member of the Christian Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Carolyn Christian Higdon of Huntsville and Kay Christian Rives of Clarksville, Tenn.; one son, Harold Paul Christian of Charlotte, N.C.; one sister, Carrie Wood of Ocala, Fla.; one brother, John Crosslin of Virginia; and 11 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren.
Marvin L. Collins
ELORA, Tenn. - Marvin Leon Collins, 71, of Mountain Road died Sunday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Gallant Funeral Home in Fayetteville, Tenn., with Jerry Schmidt officiating.
Burial will be McClure Cemetery.
Mr. Collins was a native of Lincoln County, Tenn., a member of Elora Church of God and a cabinet maker.
Survivors include one daughter, Sarah Schettler of Elora, and one grandson, Travis Schettler of Elora.
James E. Etter
James Edgar Etter, 46, of Huntsville died Sunday at his home. The memorial service will be Wednesday at 2 p.m. at All Saints Lutheran Church.
Burial will be in Oakwood Memorial Park in Chatsworth, Calif. Crawford Brothers Mortuary in California is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include one daughter, Allison Etter of Irvine, Calif; two sons, Ryan Etter and Kevin Etter, both of Irvine, Calif.; and his father, James Etter of Laguna Hills, Calif.
Lou F. Farmer
ARDMORE, Ala. - Lou F. Farmer, 91, Coggin Road died Saturday at a Fayetteville, Tenn., nursing home. The funeral will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Gallant Funeral Home chapel in Hazel Green with the Revs. Wayne Kimbrough and Austin Posey officiating.
Burial will be in Bethel Cemetery in Owens Cross Roads.
Mrs. Farmer was a native of Madison County, a retired spinner at Huntsville Manufacturing Co. and a member of Pleasant Home Baptist Church.
Survivors include three daughters, Betty J. Clark of Flintville, Tenn., Dorothy Nash of Hazel Green and Wyona J. Moon of Ardmore, Ala.; one son, Nolan J. Farmer of Laceys Spring; two sisters, Bea Honea of Owens Cross Roads and Ruth Craigh of Orlando, Fla.; and 14 grandchildren, 26 great-grandchildren and three great-great-grandchildren.
Visitation is today from 2 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Arthur E. Gulley
STEVENSON - Arthur Elon Gulley, 72, died Friday at his home. The funeral was Sunday at Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson with the Revs. John Gamble and Roy Venable officiating.
Burial was in Pinehaven Memorial Gardens in Hollywood.
Mr. Gulley was preceded in death by a daughter, Joy Gulley, and a son, Charles Eugene Gulley.
Survivors include his wife, Dean Gulley; two daughters, Mary Katherine Hill of Lawrenceburg, Tenn., and Deborah Kay Guerra of Decatur; seven sons, Robert Joseph Gulley of Meridian, Miss., Jerry Wayne Gulley of Leoma, Tenn., Richard Aaron Gulley of Nashville, Christopher Brian Gulley of Stevenson and Arthur E. Gulley Jr., George Kenneth Gulley and Michael Anthony Gulley, all of Lawrenceburg; three sisters, Lena Mae Ray of Rogersville, Vernice Brown of Leoma and Janie Lee Poss of Athens; and several grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Lem A. Hancock
SECTION - Lem Arvel ''Slim Hancock, 81, died Thursday at a Scottsboro hospital. The funeral was Sunday at the Sand Mountain Funeral Home in Rainsville with the Revs. Ray Barrett, R.L. Tyler and Melvin W. Dawson officiating.
Burial was in Macedonia Primitive Baptist Cemetery.
Survivors include his wife, Elsie Hancock; one daughter, Wanda Evans of Section; two sons, Marcell Hancock of Hanceville and Rayford Hancock of Section; one brother, Word Hancock of Section; and 10 grandchildren and 24 great-grandchildren.
Melvin A. Haven
Melvin Andrew Haven, 79, of Huntsville died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Tuesday at 10 a.m. at Twickenham Funeral Home South Chapel with the Rev. Phil OKennedy officiating.
Burial will be in Twickenham Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Haven was a native of Fitchburg, Mass., and had moved to Huntsville 10 years ago from California. He was a Northeastern University graduate and a retired aerospace engineer. He was a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church.
Survivors include his wife, Marie Haven of Huntsville; three sons, Melvin Haven II of Stuart, Fla., Lt. Col. John S. Haven II of Montgomery and Mark A. Haven of Huntsville; three daughters, Blanche Mangion of Moorepark, Calif., Penny Meyers of Grand Prairie, Texas, and Lisa Jordan of Huntsville; and six grandchildren.
Visitation is today from 7 to 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Dwight Hope
HENAGAR - Dwight Hope, 60, died Thursday at his home. The funeral was Sunday at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar with the Rev. Don Barnett officiating.
Burial was in Henagar Cemetery.
Survivors include a daughter, Vanda Hutchins of Carolina Beach, N.C.; a son, Dwight Manship of South Carolina; his mother, Daisy Hope of Henagar; and two grandchildren.
Jeanette B. Loomis
Jeanette Bailey Loomis, 76, of Huntsville died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral was today at 9:30 a.m. at Holy Spirit Catholic Church with the Rev. Phil OKennedy officiating.
Burial was 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.
Memorial donations may be made to American Cancer Society.
Spencer E. Moore
STEVENSON - Spencer E. Moore, 26, died Dec. 13 at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral was Saturday at Morning Star Baptist Church with the Rev. Randy Jacks officiating.
Burial was in Stevenson Community Cemetery with Rudder Funeral Home in Stevenson in charge.
Survivors include one daughter, Britney Moore of Stevenson; two sons, Spencer Moore III and Daris Moore, both of Stevenson; his parents, James and Minnie Matthews of Stevenson; three sisters, Stacy Matthews of Stevenson and Tammy Appleton and Brenda Fennell, both of Scottsboro; one brother, Michael Humphrey of Scottsboro; and his grandparents, John H. and Bernice Moore of Hollywood and Eddie Lee and Josephine Moore of Scottsboro.
Erma I. Mussett
Erma I. Mussett, 82, of Huntsville died Sunday at her home. Laughlin Service Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Survivors include one daughter, Sharon A. Walker of Alexandria, Va.; and three grandchildren, Deborah Walker of Jacksonville, Fla., Jeff Walker of Morgan City, La., and Keith Walker of Atlanta, Ga.
Memorial donations may be made to Covenant Presbyterian Church Helping Hands or Hospice Family Care.
Julius Ray Sr.
MADISON - Julius "Shorty" Ray Sr., 73, died Sunday at a local hospital. The memorial service will be Tuesday at 5 p.m. at Laughlin Service Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Paul Alexander officiating.
Mr. Ray was retired from NASA as a precision metal model maker. He was preceded in death by a son, James Henry Smith.
Survivors include his wife, Mary Ray of Madison; five sons, Julius E. Ray Jr. and Rodney Smith, both of Madison, Steve F. Ray of Huntsville, Kelly J. Ray of Virginia Beach, Va., and Houston Smith of Frankewing, Tenn.; three daughters, Patty Turner of Athens, Kathy Paredes of Chattanooga, Tenn., and Elizabeth Whorton of Birmingham; one brother, Steve Sutton of Georgetown, S.C.; one sister, Frances Shirery of Huntsville; and 13 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Visitation will be Tuesday from 4 to 5 p.m. at the funeral home.
Memorial donations may be made to American Cancer Society.
Joyce T. Shafer
ARAB - Joyce Thomas Shafer, 53, of 814 6th St. died Saturday at her home. The funeral will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. in the First Baptist Church of Arab.
Burial will be in the Decatur City Cemetery with Arab Memorial Chapel Funeral Home 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.
Marvin K. Smith
HENAGAR - Marvin Kenith Smith, 37, died Thursday at a Chattanooga hospital. The funeral was Sunday at Kerby Funeral Home in Henagar with the Rev. James Norman officiating.
Burial was in Friendship Cemetery in Pisgah.
Survivors include one daughter, Christy Marie Smith of Lake, Mich.; his mother, Mary Ruth Payne of Henagar; four sisters, Stella Ruth Horne and Brenda Kaye Wiggins, both of Henagar, Tina Cox of Virginia Beach, Va., and Gladys Breemin of Chicago; and five brothers, William Glenn Smith of Sylvania, Leemis Payne of Henagar, Jerry Dewayne Smith of Lanette and LeRoy Smith and Levi William Smith, both of Ringgold, Ga.
Shelby J. Swinford
KELSO, Tenn. - Shelby Joyce Swinford, 40, of 17 Teal Hollow Drive died Sunday at a Lewisburg hospital. The funeral will be Tuesday at 1 p.m. at Higgins Funeral Home with the Rev. Bobby Bates officiating.
Burial will be in Gatlin Cemetery.
Mrs. Swinford was a housewife and a member of Heritage Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Ralph Swinford of Kelso; one daughter, Tiffany Swinford of Fayetteville; her mother, Ruth Hobb of Fayetteville; one sister, Sandra Jones of Fayetteville; one brother, Doyle Griffin of Stegar, Ill.; and one grandchild.
Bernhard R. Tessmann
Bernhard Robert Tessmann, 86, of Huntsville died Saturday at a local nursing home. Spry Funeral Home will announce funeral arrangements.
Mr. Tessmann was a native of Zingst, Germany, and had lived in Huntsville for 48 years. He was a member of Wenher von Brauns original team and had served many years as deputy director of the test laboratory at Marshall Space Flight Center.
Survivors include several nieces and nephews.
John H. Whisenant
UNION GROVE - John Henry Whisenant, 75, died Sunday at a Huntsville hospital. The funeral will be a graveside service today at 3 p.m. at Brocks Chapel Cemetery with Bro. Ralph Oliver officiating.
Gober Funeral Home of Arab is in charge of arrangements.
Survivors include two brothers, Wiley Whisenant of Union Grove and McKinley Whisenant of Morgan City; and two sisters, Lillian Waldrop of Albertville and Bobbie Chandler of Birmingham.
Timothy Williamson
BOAZ - Timothy Paul Williamson, 47, of 9194 Alabama 168 died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 11 a.m. at Carr Funeral Home of Boaz.
Burial will be in the Hillcrest Cemetery.
Survivors include one son, Timothy Ray Williamson of California; one daughter, Shauna Williamson of Califoria; his mother, Ruby Williamson of Boaz; one brother, David Lee Williamson of Mississippi; two sisters, Barbara Ann Taylor of Florida and Linda Barksdale of Morgan City; and one grandchild.
