89 year old Grace Cronce Rush died Friday in McMinnville. She was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin to Alger and Amelia Cronce.
Rush enlisted in the U.S. Navy “Waves” during World War II and served as a Petty Officer Second Class at Fleet Post Office San Francisco. She was a recipient of the World War II Victory Medal for her service as part of our country’s “Greatest Generation”. Following the war, she returned to Milwaukee until she joined Trans World Airlines in 1946. She was one of the first classes of TWA stewardesses who were not required to be registered nurses. Rush was based by TWA in Los Angeles, California where she met her future husband, H.J. “Dick” Rush, who was also a Navy veteran of World War II.
Grace and Dick were married in 1949 and moved to New Jersey where he was stationed as a flight crew member for Eastern Airlines. They transferred to Miami, Florida in 1951 where they made their home until they moved to Hendersonville in 1963. Rush was an active member of the Lutheran Church and was one of the founding members of Trinity Lutheran Church in Gallatin. Rush was also a member of the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church in McMinnville.
Rush is survived by her husband, Dick; her three children, Douglas of St. Louis, Missouri and his wife, Janette Lohman; Stevan of Naples, Florida; and Gregory of McMinnville and his wife Susan; and four grandchildren, Britney, Brie, William, and Melanie.
The funeral will be Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Gallatin. Burial will be in the Middle Tennessee Veterans Cemetery in Nashville. Visitation will be Monday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel and Tuesday from 9:00 a.m. until the service time at 10:00 a.m. at the church. The family requests that donations be made to the Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church at 4083 Yager Road, McMinnville 37110, in lieu of flowers.

78 year Claxteen Thwaitt Wall of Smithville died Thursday at Alive Hospice in Nashville. He was a Methodist and a retired employee of Century Electric where he worked for 38 years. He also served in the U.S. Air Force. The funeral will be Sunday at 2:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Michael Neal and Michael Hale will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Saturday from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Sunday from 11:00 a.m. until the service at 2:00 p.m. Wall was preceded in death by his parents, Elias Green and Maud Nola Delong Wall and a brother, Jack Wall. Survivors include his wife of 55 years, Kathleen Wall of Smithville. A son, Danny and wife Carolyn Wall of Mt. Juliet. Three grandchildren, Brandon Wall, Amanda Wall, and Courtney Wall. Four sisters, Bobbye and her husband Norris Harrison, Melba and husband Roy Lee Pedigo, Ann and husband Carl Lee Webb, and Lynn and husband Douglas Cantrell all of Smithville. Two sisters-in-law, Era Franks of Manchester and Joann and husband James Sandlin of McMinnville. One aunt, Ruth Redmon of Smithville. Step-mother, Joann Wall of Smithville and a host of nieces and nephews. The family asks that donations be made to the Keltonburg United Methodist Church, the American Cancer Society, or to the Charity of your Choice, in lieu of flowers. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

74 year old Betty Sue Mason of Smithville died Monday at the Park Ridge Medical Center. She was a retired factory worker and a member of the Church of God. The funeral will be Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Jason Nunley will officiate and burial will be in the Mt. View Cemetery in McMinnville. Visitation will be Wednesday from 2:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 10:00 a.m. until the time of the service at 1:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, James Franklin and Elliott Fisher Warren; a granddaughter, Stephanie Mason; and a great grandson, Colby Spencer Mason. Survivors include children, Shelia Lewis of Smithville, Terry and wife Barbara Mason, Michael and wife Sandra Mason, and Phillip Mason all of McMinnville. Special friend, Roger Young of Smithville and one brother, Jimmy and wife Jane Warren of McMinnville. Fourteen grandchildren and fifteen great grandchildren survive. The family asks that donations be made to DeKalb Funeral Chapel, in lieu of flowers, to help with funeral expenses.

Funeral Services for 77 year old Barbara Masters will be held on Tuesday at 1:00 p.m. from the chapel of Cookeville Funeral Home with burial in the Whorton Springs Cemetery. Paul Fox and Mike Webb will officiate. The family will receive friends at the funeral home on Monday from 4:00 – 8:00 p.m. and on Tuesday, from 9:00 am until time of the service. Masters died on Saturday at her residence. She was born in Putnam County to the late Jimmy Lee and Mildred Montgomery McBroom. Masters was a member of the Bloomington Springs Church of Christ.
She is survived by five sons and daughters-in-law: Jimmy Jones and Kathleen of Michigan, John and Myra Jones of Gainesboro, Jerold and Maria Jones of Bloomington Springs, Joel and Laura Jones of Sparta, and a step-son: Mike Masters of Michigan, three daughters and a son-in-law: Janis Stout and Janine and David Adams all of Bloomington Springs, and a step-daughter: Sue Muccioli of Texas; ten grandchildren: Jason G. Jones, Julie Ann Johnson, Jeffery Jones, James Jones, Nina Paul, Brian Harris, Tiffany Harris, Megan Adams, Melissa Masters, and Camille Molmar, eleven great-grandchildren: Mason Fisher Jones, Gabriel Brook Jones, Jacob Aaron Johnson, Alisa Faye Johnson, Breanna Leanne Jones, Elijah Calvin Jones, Jackson L. Harris, Daniel Paul, Jr., David Addison Paul and Leah Arlette Paul.
She was preceded in death by her parents and husbands: James Jones and Albert Masters, son-in-law: Randy Stout and father and mother-in-law: Sid and Betty Jones.
Cookeville Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

75 year old Samuel Oscar Kennedy, Jr. of Smithville died Thursday at Centennial Medical Center in Nashville. He was a Catholic, a truck driver, and owner/operator of Central Transport. A memorial service will be Saturday, December 8 at 2:00 p.m. at Saint Gregory Catholic Church. No service or visitation wil be held at the funeral home. He was preceded in death by his parents, Samuel, Sr. and Annie Lee Kennedy; two sisters, Louise and Barbie Kennedy; and a son, James Alan Kennedy. Surivors include his wife of 55 years, Mary Kennedy of Smithville. Two sons, John F. and wife Jaclyn Kennedy of Blue Ash, Ohio and Samuel L. and wife Shelia Kennedy of Walling. Six grandchildren, James and Thomas Kennedy both of Lansing, Michigan, Tina and husband Jeremy Kennedy-Sauer of Sparta, Michael Newton of Georgia, and Athena and Cameron Kennedy both of Blue Ash, Ohio. One sister, Edna Pietrzyk of Virginia and several nieces and nephews survive. The family asks that donations please be made to the St. Gregory Catholic Church building fund, the Nashville Rescue Mission or the St. Jude Children’s Hospital, in lieu of flowers. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

72 year old Martha Jean Parsley Thomason of Short Mountain Highway, Woodbury died Wednesday at Vanderbilt Hospital from injuries in a DeKalb County auto accident. She was a member of the Sunny Hills Baptist Church and a housewife. The funeral will be Sunday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Woodbury Funeral Home. John Jones will officiate and burial will be in the Blues Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be Saturday from 10:00 a.m. until 9:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her husband, Jonah Thomason; her parents, Jessie and Lydia Walker Parsley; and her sister, Betty Jo Cope. Survivors include a son and daughter-in-law, David and Sybil Gunter of McMinnville. Two grandchildren, Amy Campbell and Shane Gunter both of Warren County. Two great grandchildren, Tristen Gunter and Leila Gunter. Brothers, Jackie Parsley of Georgia and Jessie Parsley, Jr. of Woodbury. Sisters, Ruth Brown of Woodbury, Shirley Neal of Kentucky, and Peggy Young of New Hampshire. Woodbury Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

76 year old George E. Clayton of Dowelltown died Friday at Cookeville Regional Medical Center. He was a construction worker. A memorial service will be Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Stewart O’rell will officiate. Visitation will be Wednesday from 4:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m.at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Helen McDonald Clayton; a son, George B. Clayton; and a brother, Russell Clayton. Survivors include his wife, Marjorie Clayton of Dowelltown. Children, Diana and husband Tadziu Sokol of Massachusetts, Valarie and husband Dennis Leasure of Smithville, Jonathan Teed and Bill Kirkhuff of New Jersey, Jody Jones of Smithville, and Jeremy Clayton of Dowelltown. Daughter-in-law, Dawn Clayton of Smithville.Grandchildren, Carrie Cantrell, Tammy Weaver, Eric Bujnevicie, Nick Bond, Jake Bond, and Hollie Parker. Eleven great grandchildren. Two sisters, Shirley DeHart and Jane Clayton. Step-brother, Jimmy Clayton. Several nieces and nephews survive. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements. The family asks that donations be made to DeKalb Funeral Chapel to help with funeral expenses, in lieu of flowers.

89 year old Hobert Hawker of Liberty died Tuesday at DeKalb Community Hospital. He was a member of the Pisgah United Methodist Church, a U.S. Army veteran, a member of the American Legion, and he was a carpenter, painter, and farmer. The funeral will be Thursday at 1:00 p.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Matt Long will officiate and burial will be in the Pisgah Cemetery. Visitation will be Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Thursday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 1:00 p.m. He was preceded in death by his parents, William Paty and Versie Bratten Hawker; his wife, Rose Hawker; two brothers, Bratten and Junior Hawker; and two sisters, Clara Williams and Omar Allen. Survivors include children, Jeffrey Hawker and Sherry Smith both of Dowelltown. Granddaughter, Megan Hawker of Dowelltown. A sister, Thelma Townsley of Smithville. Nieces, Loretta Malone and Wanda Hawker. Nephews, Grant Williams, Larry Hawker, Danny Hawker, Bobby Yates, and Randy Hawker. DeKalb Funeral Chapel is in charge of the arrangements.

89 year old Wilma Lucille Wall of Smithville died Sunday at the residence of her daughter. She was a homemaker and a member of the State Street United Methodist Church in Kentucky. The funeral will be Wednesday at 1:00 p.m. at the Chapel of Love-Cantrell Funeral Home. Don Davidson will officiate and burial will be in DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Tuesday from 2:00 p.m. until 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 11:00 a.m. until the service at 1:00 p.m. She was preceded in death by her parents, Hobert and Eva Mai Robinson Curtis and husband, Bob Wall. Survivors include a son, Jim and wife Julia Wall, and a daughter, Jan Alexander all of Smithville. Three grandchildren, John and wife Heather Wall of Kentucky, Jenny and husband Doug Lynch of Florida, and Daniel Alexander of Virginia. Three great grandchildren, Chase and Cole Wall of Kentucky and Sarah Lynch of Florida. A sister, Bobbie Barnett of Georgia. Two sisters-in-law, Ruth Redmon and JoAnn Wall both of Smithville. Many nieces and nephews also survive. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements. In addition to flowers, donations may be made to the Lighthouse Christian Camp, the Real Life Community Church, the State Street United Methodist Church in Kentucky, or to the David Wayne Alexander Scholarship Fund. Love-Cantrell Funeral Home is in charge of the arrangements.

76 year old David Miller Cantrell, a native of Smithville and resident of Smithville and Michigan, died Thursday at the Beaumont Hospital in Grosse Pointe, Michigan of complications from lymphoma.
Cantrell was married to Virginia Cantrell, who is also a native of Smithville. He retired in 1994 from Unisys Corporation (formerly Burroughs Corporation) in Detroit where he worked as a Sergeant of Security since the 1970’s. Known for his geniality and charm, David was a well-liked character on Detroit’s east side and suburbs. Since his retirement, he worked out regularly at Bally’s in St. Clair Shores, and spent summers in Smithville, where he raised cattle and hay with his brother, Kenneth Cantrell. Until his illness, he was active and productive.
David was a master class pistol shot. Teacher and mentor to a number of shooters, his expert advice on matters related to firearms was highly regarded and often sought out. He read widely on these subjects and collected an extensive library. He was a life member of the National Rifle Association of America.
In addition to his wife of 58 years, Virginia, David is survived by his son, David Anthony Cantrell; daughter, Cindy Lynne Cantrell and her husband, Brian Anse Patrick; daughter, Monica Burks; grandchildren, Cosmo, Catherine and Ben; brothers, Kenneth and Zane.
A fine, fine man, to the last David Cantrell was a gentleman. He never complained during his illness and he fought until death took him.
The funeral will be Wednesday at 11:00 a.m. at DeKalb Funeral Chapel. Michael Hale will officiate and burial will be at DeKalb Memorial Gardens. Visitation will be Tuesday from 4:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. and Wednesday from 9:00 a.m. until the service at 11:00 a.m.