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.
William F. Beierle
William Frank Beierle, 78, of Huntsville died Saturday. The memorial service will be Tuesday at 4 p.m. at Covenant Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Hal Oakley officiating.
Burial will be in Hollywood Memorial Park in Union, N.J., with Laughlin Service Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Beierle was a University of Alabama graduate. He was a deacon and trustee at the church and was a retired industrial engineer for the Army Corps of Engineers.
Survivors include three daughters, Kathleen Beierle Obra of Cypress, Calif., Deborah Beierle Dunlap of Hillsboro, Texas, and Cheryl Beierle Browning of Hollywood, Fla.; one son, Robert Beierle Browning of Diamond Bar, Calif.; and four grandchildren and one great-grandson.
Memorial donations may be made to the church at 301 Drake Ave. S.E. in Huntsville, 35802.
Mary L. Clay
MADISON - Mary Lee Clay, 73, of 248 Ervi Lane died Thursday. The funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at New Hope Cumberland Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Terry Ragland officiating.
Burial will be in New Hope Cemetery in Limestone with Royal Funeral Home in charge.
Survivors include one daughter, Marrietta Clay of Madison; one son, James Lee Clay of Madison; five sisters, Barbara Griffith, Monique Hobbs, Lillie Hobbs, Darlene Hobbs and Susie Hobbs, all of New Orleans; four brothers, Dennis Hobbs, James Hobbs Jr., Alvin Hobbs and Lionel Hobbs, all of New Orleans; and eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Her body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Frederick H. Cole
Frederick Harry Cole, 68, of 3441 Jeff Road died Friday. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Toney United Methodist Church with the Rev. Eric Brown, the Rev. Doug Hemphill, the Rev. Diana Hough, the Rev. Jeff Havens and the Rev. George Jones officiating. Burial will be in Huntsville Memory Gardens with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Cole was a former United Methodist pastor and a Navy veteran. He retired in 1987 as deputy director of the Readiness Directorate at the U.S. Army Missile Command. He earned the Department of the Army "Meritorious Civil Service Award" in 1977 and a masters of science in management degree from Southeastern Institute of Technology.
Survivors include his wife, Bevery Keenan Cole of Huntsville; one son, Dennis G. Cole of Toney; two daughters, Debbie C. Shumate of Toney and Denise R. Raby of Huntsville; two sisters, Caroline Turner of West Palm Beach, Fla., and Madeline Murphy of Vero Beach, Fla.; one brother, Neal Cole of Orlando, Fla.; and seven grandchildren.
Memorial donations may be made to the church or the American Cancer Society.
Visitation will be today from 7 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Wendy Dake
ATHENS - Wendy Michelle Moss Dake, 31, of 13425 Marks Drive died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Monday at 2 p.m. at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Bros. Danny McMullins and Donald Terry officiating.
Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.
Mrs. Dake was a member of First Union Baptist Church and attended Truth Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband, Allan Dake of Athens; one son, Blake Allison of Athens; one stepdaughter, Kerrie Dake of Athens; her parents, Danny and Diane Moss of Athens; one sister, Beth Clem of Athens; grandparents, Nell Gladys Raney Stewart of Elkmont and Wade Stewart of Elkmont; and two nephews.
Memorial donations may be made to the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Association.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Joseph M. Gentle
Joseph Melvin Gentle, 64, of Huntsville died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral will be Tuesday at 11 a.m. at East Huntsville Baptist Church with the Rev. Don Woodward officiating.
Burial will be in Taylor Cemetery with Spry Funeral Home in charge.
Mr. Gentle was a lifelong Huntsville resident and worked for the U.S. Postal Service for 32 years.
Survivors include his wife, Bettie Gentle of Huntsville; one son, Micky Gentle of Huntsville; one brother, Leonard Gentle of Huntsville; five sisters, Edna Jones and Stella Buffaloe, both of Huntsville, Frances Neeley of Scottbsoro, Katherine Parton of Bessemer and Christine Costin of Menifree, Calif.; and several other relatives.
His body will be at the church one hour before the funeral.
Visitation will be Monday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
W.F. Keel
MURFREESBORO, Tenn. - W.F. Keel, 84, of Woodcraft Drive died Friday at his home. The funeral will be Monday at 10:30 a.m. at Woodfin Memorial Chapel with Bro. Paul Gray Cooper officiating.
Burial will be in Coleman Cemetery.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Mildred Bogle Keel.
Survivors include one son, Thomas Keel of Orwigsburg, Pa.; and two sisters, Juanita Durham of Huntsville and Jewell Kimbler of Klickitat, Wash.
Visitation will be today at 3 p.m. at Woodfin Memorial Chapel.
George T. Kirby
DANVILLE - George Thomas Kirby, 68, of 448 Sharpley Road died Saturday at his home. The funeral will be Monday at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home with the Rev. Joey Coots officiating.
Burial will be in Johnson Chapel Cemetery.
Mr. Kirby was a member of Hopewell Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife, Wilma Inez Kirby of Danville; two sons, Thomas Lamar Kirby of Hartselle and Lewis Edward Kirby Eddy of Hillsboro; three daughters, Sandra Gail Kirby Milam of Hartselle, Sue Ann Kirby Chapman of Birmingham and Wanda Faye Kirby Patterson of Hartselle; one brother, Joe Kirby of Arab; two sisters, Faye Kirby Bradford of Falkville and Ruth Kirby Martin of Hartselle; and 11 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Visitation will be today from 6 to 9 p.m. at the funeral home.
Scottie E. McWhorter
BOAZ - Scottie E. McWhorter, 24, died Thursday in Mountainboro. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Albertville Funeral Home chapel with the Rev. Melvin McWhorter officiating.
Burial will be in Martling Cemetery.
Survivors include three sons, Zackry Alixander Woods, Dakota Blake McWhorter and Scottie Drake McWhorter; his parents, Mary Jo Honea of Boaz and Amos D. McWhorter of Guntersville; and one sister, Penny Jo McWhorter of Georgia Mountain, Ala.
Floyd T. Patterson
ALBERTVILLE - Floyd Taylor Patterson, 73, of 1103 South Broad St. died Friday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 3 p.m. at Adams Funeral Home in Albertville.
Burial will be in Marshall Memorial Garden.
Survivors include one daughter, Polly Patterson of Albertville; one son, Pete Patterson of Albertville; four sisters, Margie Evers and Doris Dixon, both of Albertville, Jean Williams of Guntersville and Dema Morgan of Boaz; three brothers, Fred Patterson of Boaz, M.F. Patterson of Attalla and Mike Patterson of Albertville; and one grandchild.
Rebecca A. Presnell
ATHENS - Rebecca Ann Presnell, 69, of 16799 Buckskin Drive died Saturday at a local hospital. The funeral will be today at 2:30 p.m. at McConnell Funeral Home with Dan Binkley officiating.
Burial will be in Limestone Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Presnell was a native of Giles County, Tenn., and was a member of Marion Street Church of Christ.
Survivors include her husband, Leo Presnell Sr.; three daughters, Patti Carter of Hazel Green, Penny Gibson of Huntsville and Pam Hicks of Athens; one stepson, Leo Presnell Jr. of Athens; one sister, Christine Elkins of Athens; and seven grandchildren.
Grace Upton
ARAB - Grace Upton, 91, of Arab died Friday at a local nursing home. The funeral will be today at 2 p.m. at Carr Funeral Home in Guntersville.
Burial will be in Marshall Memorial Garden.
