86 year old James Franklin Booth of Ohio and a longtime resident of the Jefferson Community died Saturday at Heritage Court in Hilliard, Ohio. He was a machinist with Ohio Blue Tip Matches and a member of the Mt. View The Baptist Church. The funeral will be Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Michael Hale will officiate and burial will be in the Jefferson Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 11:00 a.m. until the service at 1:00 p.m. Booth was preceded in death by his parents, Wallace Eugene and Ida Mae Pyles Booth and his wife, Lula Mae Booth. He is survived by children, Pam and husband Jerry Adkins of Galloway, Ohio; Frank and wife Joan Booth of Oxford, Michigan; and Mike Booth and Joyce of London, Ohio. Special dad to Dale Booth of Medina, Ohio. Grandchildren, Lori and husband Billy Delong, Julie and husband Ryan Jagoda, Joseph Booth, Courtney and husband Jessie Fawcet, Jeremy and wife Erica Adkins, Katie and husband Bill Durham, Suzanne Jones, Christy Morrow, Jamie Booth, Jody Booth, and Josh and Jason Satterfield. Six great grandchildren, Ashley Rarrick, Timmy Delong, Anna Jagoda, Jason Jagoda, James Fawcet, and Loraine Durham. A brother, Walter Booth of Kilbuck, Ohio. Sister-in-law, Wilma Judkins and brother-in-law Tommy Judkins of Smithville. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. The family asks that donations be made to the charity of your choice, in lieu of flowers.

60 year old Helen Ann Vance of Smithville died Saturday at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a Baptist and a machine operator at Walker Manufacturing. The funeral will be Monday at 2:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. B.J. Thomason will officiate and burial will be in the Ervin Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Monday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Tommy and Sudie Hicks Anderson; husband, Kenneth Vance; two sisters, Pat Wyatt and Lois Steward; two brothers, Lester Anderson and Sammy Anderson; and a nephew, Delmer Junior Anderson. She is survived by two sons, Michael Vance and Comer Vance of Smithville. Two sisters, Virginia and husband Alfred Ervin of Smithville and Linda and husband Jim Romines of Woodbury. Two brothers, Delmar Anderson of Sparta and Marc Anderson of Livingston. One granddaughter, Allison and husband Joe Edge of Smithville. Two great grandchildren, Makya Edge and Makinna Edge of Smithville along with several other nieces, nephews, and friends. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

72 year old Ruthie M. Page of Smithville died Saturday evening at DeKalb Community Hospital. She was a homemaker and a member of Indian Creek Baptist Church. The funeral will be Tuesday at 11:00 a.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Burial will be in Whorton Springs Cemetery. Visitation will be Monday from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Tuesday until time of service at 11:00 a.m. She was preceded in death by her parents Verbal and Reba Jones Hayes; and daughter Teresa Page. She is survived by her husband of 52 years, W.J. Page of Smithville; son, Glen and Cynthia Page, and daughter Cindy and Sam Chessor, all of Smyrna. Three grandchildren, Sara and Jacob Page, and Lindsey Chessor, all of Smyrna. Step-mother, Elene Hayes of Smithville. Three half brothers, Grady and Diane Taylor of Crossville, Paul and Wanda Taylor, and Ricky Taylor all of Smithville. Two half sisters, Margaret and Wendall Judkins, Freta and Sonny Whaley, all of Smithville. One step-brother, Carlton Miller of Smithville, and one step-sister, Carlene and Hughes Hearst of Georgia. Several other nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends survive. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

91 year old Louise Vandergriff of Watertown, died Thursday. Born in Dekalb County, she was the daughter of the late Charlie Robert Ellis and Annie Myrtle Yates Ellis. She was preceded in death by her husband, L.C. Vandergriff and by her brothers, Glen and J.C. Ellis. She was a member of the Watertown First United Methodist Church and retired after 30 years from Alexandria Workwear. She is survived by a niece, Betty (Gary) Mullican of Lebanon; nephew, Gene Vandergriff of Nashville; great nephew, Donald (Cynthia) Mullican of Lebanon; 2 great great nephews, Jonathan and Matthew Mullican; sisters-in-law, Effie Lee Ellis of Smithville and Flora Ellis of Murfreesboro; special friends and caregivers, Linda Stephens, Lisa Williamson and Judy Davis. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown. Rodger McCann will officiate. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. till 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. till the service time on Saturday. Burial will be at Salem Cemetery in Liberty. Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown is in charge of the arrangements.

91 year old Louise Vandergriff of Watertown, died Thursday. Born in Dekalb County, she was the daughter of the late Charlie Robert Ellis and Annie Myrtle Yates Ellis. She was preceded in death by her husband, L.C. Vandergriff and by her brothers, Glen and J.C. Ellis. She was a member of the Watertown First United Methodist Church and retired after 30 years from Alexandria Workwear. She is survived by a niece, Betty (Gary) Mullican of Lebanon; nephew, Gene Vandergriff of Nashville; great nephew, Donald (Cynthia) Mullican of Lebanon; 2 great great nephews, Jonathan and Matthew Mullican; sisters-in-law, Effie Lee Ellis of Smithville and Flora Ellis of Murfreesboro; special friends and caregivers, Linda Stephens, Lisa Williamson and Judy Davis. The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown. Rodger McCann will officiate. Visitation will be from 10 a.m. till 8 p.m. Friday and 10 a.m. till the service time on Saturday. Burial will be at Salem Cemetery in Liberty. Hunter Funeral Home in Watertown is in charge of the arrangements.

70 year old James Bertland Blankenship, Jr. a Rock Island resident and Warren County native died Wednesday at St. Thomas Hospital, Nashville following an extended illness.
He was a retired employee of Century Electric, and son of the late James Bertland and Janie Lee Clendenon Blankenship, Sr. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brother, Edwin Blankenship and sister, Audine Dotson.
He is survived by son, Jim (Jennifer) Blankenship of Manchester, TN; daughter, Donna Sue Blankenship, McMinnville, TN; four grandchildren, Justin Hester, Murfreesboro, TN; Cody Blankenship, Rockvale, TN; Alec Villain and Adain Overall of McMinnville, TN; sister Mamie (Gene) Prater, McMinnville, TN. and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, January 27, 2013 in High’s Chapel. Burial will follow in the Webb Cemetery at Bluff Springs. Visitation will be 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday and 10:00 a.m. until time of service on Sunday.
High Funeral Home in McMinnville is in charge of the arrangements.

83 year old Lawrence B. Bean of Liberty died Monday. He was born in Washington, DC. His parents were the late Edwin Temple Bean, Sr. and Mary (a’Becket) Bean. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Osborne.
Survivors include his wife, Bonnie (Axley) Bean of Liberty; son, Lawrence B. Bean, Jr. (“Skip”) and wife Jill of Penobscot, ME; daughters, Cynthia Lee Bailey of Rochester, NY, and Pamela (husband Christopher Panfil) of Angola, NY; step-son, Christopher Brunetto of Seminole, FL; step-daughter, Angeline Brunetto Sprague, M.D. and husband Timothy Sprague of Christiana, TN; brothers, Edwin Temple Bean, Jr. (wife Susan) of Buffalo, NY, and Neil Bean (wife Patricia) of Wilmington, NC. He had five grandchildren: Katherine Lee Bailey, Silas Jude Panfil, Becket Alexander Panfil, Kendall Faith Sprague and Ethan Ray Sprague.
He was a member of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Lebanon, TN. He was involved in establishing the Carmel Center of Spirituality, a Catholic retreat center in Liberty (DeKalb County), TN.
Mr. Bean grew up as a young man in East Aurora, NY. He was a veteran of the U. S. Naval ROTC program while at Clarkson College, NY, where he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering. He was President of Conax Florida Corporation of St. Petersburg, FL, which produces life support systems for the U.S. Navy and Air Force. Mr. Bean was an avid reader and had worked as a Librarian in the Dowelltown and Liberty Library for 15 years.
Mr. Bean had requested that his body be cremated. Memorial Mass will be held on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 2 PM at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, 300 Tarver Ave., Lebanon, TN . In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Carmel Center, P.O. Box 117, Liberty, TN 37095.
Smith Funeral Home in Woodbury is in charge of the arrangements.

Former Smithville Mayor and alderman Cecil Ray Burger passed away Wednesday night at NHC Healthcare Center. He was 89 years old.
Mr. Burger served the City of Smithville for more than forty five years, including sixteen years as mayor and six years as alderman
In twenty two years, Mr. Burger never lost an election, having first been elected mayor in 1990. He served eight terms, sixteen years in that office until 2006 when he chose instead to run for alderman. He ended his long career with the city on June 30 last year when his third term as alderman came to an end. Because of his health, Mr. Burger had chosen not to seek re-election to a fourth term.
Mr. Burger began his career with the city in 1966 as secretary-treasurer, which also meant overseeing the city’s public works operation and city employees. He served as city judge for the first couple of years as well. Burger retired from the secretary-treasurer position in 1989 but came out of retirement fifteen months later after being elected mayor in 1990.
During his time with the city as an employee and alderman Burger served under or with ten mayors starting with Othel Smith, John Bill Evins, Charles Gentry, Edward Frazier, Gary (Gus) Johnson, Hilton Conger, Waniford Cantrell, Dewey Love, Bruce Medley, and Taft Hendrixson.
The fifty two aldermen he served under or with as a city employee, mayor, and alderman from 1966 through 2012 include Jim O. Amonett, W.H. Smith, Sr., Eugene Webb, Freddy Colvert, Hobert Hendrixson, John Bill Evins, Bass Estes, Floyd Brown, Sr., Edward Frazier, Robert Alexander, Carter Braswell, Paschal Cantrell, Donnie Lewis, Alfred Parker, T.C. Atnip, Ray Johnson, Bob Smithson, Gary (Gus) Johnson, Tom Keith, Hilton Conger, Dr. Kenneth Twilla, Bill Maffett, Marsha Darah, Cordell Walker, Charles Trapp, Paul Hendrixson, Dr. Melvin Blevins, Elmus Johnson, David Redmon, Jim Eddins, Dewey Love, Bruce Medley, Elzie McBride, Charles Burchfield, Larry Wright, Jack Cantrell, Jerry Taylor, W.J. (Dub) White, Charles Olson, Bert Driver, Steve White, Paul Young, Brad Mullinax, Mark Loring, Jackie Rigsby, Aaron Meeks, Willie Thomas, Tonya Sullivan, Jerry Hutchins, Sr., Shawn Jacobs, Danny Washer, and Gayla Hendrix.
In an interview with WJLE last year, Mr. Burger said he appreciated all the support he had received during his career with the city. “The people have been good to me and I appreciate it very much. They supported me well,” said Burger.
“We (city) grew a right smart while I was mayor and we tried to serve the whole city. I don’t know of anything special (we did) only trying to do our work with everybody. I had a lot of good help. I appreciate my friends who have helped me out all these years. They helped me when I was mayor. I have plenty of friends. I’ve tried to treat them like I wanted to be treated,” said Burger.
Mr. Burger was a member of the Smithville First United Methodist Church and a construction worker.
The funeral will be Saturday at 3:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Dr. John Carpenter will officiate. Entombment will be at DeKalb Memorial Gardens Mausoleum. Visitation will be Friday from 6:00 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. and Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until the service at 3:00 p.m.
He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Willie Sowells Burger and his wife, Wilma Jo Burger.
Survivors include four children, David and wife Kyoko Burger of Japan, Gereda Burger of Massachusetts, Pamela and husband Danny Poss of Smithville, and Anthony and wife Tammie Burger of Smithville.
Five grandchildren, Nancy Burger, Simon and wife, Emi Burger, Erica Burger, Nicole Burger, and Zach Poss. A great grandson, Braxton. A sister, Sudie Vickers of Liberty. A sister-in-law, Mildred and husband Howard Harrell of Murfreesboro.
DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. The family asks that donations be made to the Smithville First United Methodist Church, in lieu of flowers.

70 year old James Bertland Blankenship, Jr. a Rock Island resident and Warren County native died Wednesday at St. Thomas Hospital, Nashville following an extended illness.
He was a retired employee of Century Electric, and son of the late James Bertland and Janie Lee Clendenon Blankenship, Sr. In addition to his parents, he was preceded in death by brother, Edwin Blankenship and sister, Audine Dotson.
He is survived by son, Jim (Jennifer) Blankenship of Manchester, TN; daughter, Donna Sue Blankenship, McMinnville, TN; four grandchildren, Justin Hester, Murfreesboro, TN; Cody Blankenship, Rockvale, TN; Alec Villain and Adain Overall of McMinnville, TN; sister Mamie (Gene) Prater, McMinnville, TN. and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m. Sunday, January 27, 2013 in High’s Chapel. Burial will follow in the Webb Cemetery at Bluff Springs. Visitation will be 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Saturday and 10:00 a.m. until time of service on Sunday.
High Funeral Home in McMinnville is in charge of the arrangements.

83 year old Lawrence B. Bean of Liberty died Monday. He was born in Washington, DC. His parents were the late Edwin Temple Bean, Sr. and Mary (a’Becket) Bean. He was also preceded in death by a sister, Mary Osborne.
Survivors include his wife, Bonnie (Axley) Bean of Liberty; son, Lawrence B. Bean, Jr. (“Skip”) and wife Jill of Penobscot, ME; daughters, Cynthia Lee Bailey of Rochester, NY, and Pamela (husband Christopher Panfil) of Angola, NY; step-son, Christopher Brunetto of Seminole, FL; step-daughter, Angeline Brunetto Sprague, M.D. and husband Timothy Sprague of Christiana, TN; brothers, Edwin Temple Bean, Jr. (wife Susan) of Buffalo, NY, and Neil Bean (wife Patricia) of Wilmington, NC. He had five grandchildren: Katherine Lee Bailey, Silas Jude Panfil, Becket Alexander Panfil, Kendall Faith Sprague and Ethan Ray Sprague.
He was a member of St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church in Lebanon, TN. He was involved in establishing the Carmel Center of Spirituality, a Catholic retreat center in Liberty (DeKalb County), TN.
Mr. Bean grew up as a young man in East Aurora, NY. He was a veteran of the U. S. Naval ROTC program while at Clarkson College, NY, where he obtained a Bachelors Degree in Civil Engineering. He was President of Conax Florida Corporation of St. Petersburg, FL, which produces life support systems for the U.S. Navy and Air Force. Mr. Bean was an avid reader and had worked as a Librarian in the Dowelltown and Liberty Library for 15 years.
Mr. Bean had requested that his body be cremated. Memorial Mass will be held on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at 2 PM at St. Frances Cabrini Catholic Church, 300 Tarver Ave., Lebanon, TN . In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Carmel Center, P.O. Box 117, Liberty, TN 37095.
Smith Funeral Home in Woodbury is in charge of the arrangements.