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Subject: Obits From The Oak Ridger 10 Oct 2005
Date: Mon, 10 Oct 2005 15:33:51 EDT


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.
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