Obituaries

• HARRIS-BOWERS-COOPER, Leilia Ruth,

age 94, went home to be with the Lord, March 8, 2015, after a long illness with Alzheimer’s. She was a long-time resident of Englewood, Etowah and most recently Knoxville. She was born on March 23, 1920, in Englewood, Tennessee, and was the youngest of 14 children. Ruth and her late husband, Lester Reed Bowers, were married 44 years and had two children. She remarried Rev. J. Burch Cooper, pastor of various churches in Knox, Blount and McMinn counties. They were married five years until his death. Ruth was an accomplished pianist and continued to play until the final years of her life. Love of music led Ruth to church music ministry. She held many leadership positions such as pianist, organist and choir director in the churches where she belonged. She spent five years at North Etowah Baptist Church directing a full graded choir program, preschool through adult and five years as director of pre-school and children’s Sunday School. Her love of children inspired her to complete her college education and at age 50 earned a BS degree in elementary education from Tennessee Wesleyan College in Athens, TN. She taught 12 years in the Etowah city Schools. She also loved working in her yard and cooking for her family. She was renowned for her Apple Stack Cake. Ruth was preceded in death by great-grandson, Jacob Ryan Arnold and is survived by her children, Sandra Dutton and husband, Douglas of Knoxville, TN; Stephen Bowers and wife, Linda of Bridgewater, VA; grandchildren, Julie Arnold and husband, Steve, of Knoxville, Brian Dutton and wife, Emily, of Seale, AL, Laura Wyant and husband, David, of Richmond, VA, and Reed Bowers and wife, Chelsea, of Lynchburg, VA. She is also survived by six great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.The family would like to express their heartfelt thanks to Little Creek Sanitarium in Knoxville for the 16 months of loving care they provided Ruth. The family will receive friends on March 10 from 12 to 2 p.m. at Bordwine Funeral Home in Etowah. A graveside service will follow at 3 p.m. at McMinn Memory Gardens with Rev. Steve Peek from First Baptist Concord, Knoxville, officiating. Bordwine Funeral Home of Etowah, TN is honored to serve the Bowers-Cooper family and invites you to sign and view the family guestbook at www.bordwinefuneralhome.com.

• REYNOLDS, Mrs. Helen Fields,

Funeral services for Mrs. Helen Fields Reynolds, 89, of Farragut, TN, will be held at 1 P.M. on Thursday, February 19, 2015, at Anderson-Upper Cumberland Fu-neral Home in Gainesboro, TN. Burial will follow in the Granville Cemetery in Granville, TN. The family will receive friends on Wednesday from 5 P.M. - 7 P.M., and Thursday from 12 Noon until time of services. She passed away on Monday, February 16, 2015, at Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville, TN. She was born December 24, 1925, in Jackson County, TN, to the late Paskal Fields and Lennie McBroom Fields. She was married to the late Arnold Reynolds. She was a retired school teacher, and a member of the Granville United Methodist Church. In addition to her husband and parents, she was preceded in death by a Brother: Dois Fields. Survivors include two Sons: Pat (Paula) Reynolds of Columbus, GA, and Mike (Barbara) Reynolds of Farragut, TN; three Grandchildren: James (Kaki) Reynolds of Knoxville, TN, John (Shannon) Reynolds of Columbus, GA, and David Reynolds of Ft. Worth, TX; a Great Grandchild: Emma Reynolds of Knoxville, TN; and two Nieces: Kaye Loftis of Bloomington Springs, TN, and Lisa Apple of Gainesboro, TN. The Rev. Jackie Wheeler will officiate at the services. Memorial donations may be made to: the Granville Museum or Granville United Methodist Church by contacting the funeral home.

• HELM, Grant Lee,

age 88, of Knoxville, entered his heavenly home on Sunday, January 4, 2015 from his home, surrounded by his family. Grant was of the Baptist faith. He was a loving and devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Grant enjoyed a successful 30 year career with TVA before retiring and continued in the nuclear field an additional 11 years. He is survived by his wife of 64 years, Virginia Thompson Helm; sons, Stephen Grant Helm and Gary Stewart Helm; daughters and spouses, Teresa Bruse (Richie), Denise Adams (Frederick); grandchildren, Sarah Helm Lucero (Kenny), Dale Helm, Cameron Bruse (Alex), Hayley Bruse, Zachary Adams and Matthew Adams; great-granddaughter, Alexis Lucero; brothers and spouses, Charles Helm (Ceci), Eddie Helm (Sue); sister, Marie Garcia; sister-in-law, Zelma Lea (Thompson) Arnold; several nieces and nephews. Family and friends will gather for Graveside Services at 1 p.m. Thursday, January 8, 2015 at Foster Cemetery in McMinn County. In honor of his military service as a World War II Army Sergeant, full military honors will be conferred. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to UT Medical Center Hospice Services, 2270 Sutherland Ave., Suite 101, Knoxville, Tennessee 37919-2326. Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike is serving the Helm family. www.clickfh.com

• BEATY, Edsel R.,

age 88 of Knoxville, TN, passed away peacefully early Thursday morning, November 27, 2014. Edsel was born and reared in Clinton County, in the city of Albany, Kentucky. He was the eldest of nine children of Oswald Denton Beaty and Lottie Sue Taylor Beaty. In 1944, at the age of 18, he began his service in the U.S. Army, where he served in General George S. Patton’s 51st Armored Infantry Battalion Division “C”, Fourth Armored Division. Following basic training Edsel was deployed on the Queen Elizabeth, eventually landing on Normany Beach. In January 1945, he fought in the “Battle of the Bulge,” and in April 1945, his 4th Armored Division discovered and liberated Buchenwald, one of the largest concentration camps near Weirmar, Germany. Edsel was discharged in 1946 and awarded a Bronze Star for his combat service with General Patton’s 4th Armored Division during World War II. After completing Barber School, Edsel worked in Albany, and eventually relocated to Detroit, Michigan where he became the Executive Barber for Ford Motor Company. During his career of 33 years, Edsel cut the hair of many famous people such as Ed Sullivan, Walt Disney and Texas Governor John Connelly. He was also the barber of all Ford executives including Henry Ford II, William Clay Ford, Benson Ford, Lee Iacoca and Robert McNamara, who became Secretary of Defense under President Kennedy. Married in 1947, Edsel and Sarah reared three children in the farm community on the outskirts of Detroit. There his children were afforded the opportunities to participate in 4-H by raising horses and showing horses around the country. After retirement from Ford Motor Company, Edsel and Sarah moved to Knoxville, Tennessee in 1987. In addition to his parents, Edsel was preceded in death by his son, Robert Edsel Beaty; sister, June Conlogue Watson and brother, Bennis Beaty. He is survived by his wife of 67 years, Sarah Parrigin Beaty; daughter and son-in-law, Shalimar and Mark Hurst; son, Brian Beaty; grandchildren, Adam and Sandi Beaty, Heather and Eric Staley, Alanna and John Chandler, Andrew and Melissa Beaty and Tyler Beaty; great-grandchildren, Jacob Beaty, Ethan and Evan Staley and Lily Ann Chandler; siblings and spouses, Martha Sue and Hughel Phillips, Jimmie Ruth and John Williams, all of Florida, O.D Jr. and Lillian Beaty, Lala and Walton Haddix, Jack Beaty, Joan and Danny Gross, all of Albany, Kentucky; several special nieces, nephews and friends. The family will receive friends from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, November 30, 2014 at Talbott Funeral Home in Albany, KY, followed by Funeral Services at 3 p.m. Rev. David Stearns will officiate. Interment will immediately follow at Maupin Cemetery in Albany with full military honors. Memorials may be made to the Wounded Warrior Project, P.O. Box 785517, Topeka, Kansas 66675. Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike is serving the Beaty family in Knoxville and Talbott Funeral Home in Albany, KY. www.clickfh.com

• KNAUER, Linda,

age 67 of Knoxville went to be with her Lord on Friday, November 28, 2014, surrounded by her loving family. Linda was a devoted wife, mother and grandmother. She was member of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church and actively involved in the Prayer and Women’s ministries. Prior to retirement, Linda was a mathematics professor at Pellissippi State. She enjoyed hiking, quilting, cooking, and traveling. Her greatest joy was spending time with her family. Linda was preceded in death by her parents, Thomas and Jeanette Giles, and brother, Thomas Giles. She is survived by her husband of 45 years, Joseph Knauer; son and daughter-in-law, Matthew and Natalie Knauer; grandchildren, Bennett and Addie Knauer; siblings and spouses, Ginger and Harley Ross, John and Linda Giles, James and Dorothy Giles, Sharon and Bob Disse, Sam and Cindy Giles and Cindy and Glen McCandless; as well as many nieces and nephews. A Celebration of Life will be held at 3 p.m. on Saturday, December 6th in the Chapel of Cedar Springs Presbyterian Church. Rev. Scott Jackson will officiate. The family will receive friends following the service until 5:30 p.m. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Young Life Windy Gap, 120 Coles Cove Road, Weaverville, NC 28787 (www.giving.younglife.org). Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike is serving the Knauer family. www.clickfh.com

• SMELCER, JR., John “Johnny” Miles,

age 82 of Lenoir City, passed away 3 a.m. Monday, October 27, 2014 at Parkwest Hospital after a long illness. He was born June 16, 1932 and raised in Pigeon Forge. Johnny was a graduate of Sevier County High School in 1952 and was known as Junior. Mr. Smelcer, along with his wife Carolyn Fain Smelcer, were owners of King of Sports, Inc. and operated Valley Honda Motorcycle dealership in Knoxville and Airport Honda Automobile dealership in Alcoa beginning in 1961. He was a member of First Baptist Church, Pigeon Forge. Johnny and Carolyn traveled extensively, having won 5 trips to Japan from Honda Motorcycle, but made their home in the Knoxville and Lenoir City area. They were members of Dixie Traveliers and were also members of FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association). Mr. Smelcer was preceded in death by his father, John Smelcer and mother, Grace Martin Smelcer Clabo; step-father, Charlie Clabo; father and mother-in-law, Vernon Aubrey Fain and Ruth LaFollette Fain; the LaFollette and the Fain family; aunts, Jennie Martin Ownby, Myrtle Martin Marshall; uncles, Glen, Wiley, Frank and Robert Martin; cousins, Joe Martin, Edna Mize; brothers-in-law, Ronnie Fain and Fred Doc McCarter. Survivors include his: Loving and devoted Wife of 57 years, Carolyn Fain Smelcer Step-mother, Dorothy Kopp Fain Sisters-in-law, LaVerne Fain McCarter, Janice Fain Ailey and husband, Rob Uncles, Marvin Fain and wife, Joy, A.D. and Norman Martin Nephews, Nicky McCarter and wife, Cindy, Brian Fain and wife, Anna, Chad Fain Great-niece, Isabel Fain Twin great-nieces, Alexis and Skye McCarter Great-nephews, Jack and Luke Fain Cousins, Marion Cooper Aders, Betty Webb, Margaret Christopher, Glenda Catlett, Sue Duncan, Jack Martin; also many more nieces, nephews and cousins. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the The American Parkinson Disease Association, Inc., APDA Middle Tennessee Chapter, 2300 Patterson Street, Nashville, TN 37203. The family will receive friends 12 noon – 2 PM Saturday with funeral service to follow at 2 PM at First Baptist Church, Pigeon Forge with Rev. Wayne Cook officiating. Interment will follow in Pigeon Forge Baptist Cemetery with Allen Webb, Chuck Perciful, Chad Fain, Brian Fain, Nicky McCarter and Rob Ailey serving as pallbearers. Arrangements by Atchley Funeral Home, Sevierville. (www.atchleyfuneralhome.com)

• OLSON, Daniel Carl (Dan),

age 54, passed away on Wednesday morning, October 1, 2014 from brain cancer. Dan was born on March 21, 1960 in Conrad, Montana, to the late Philip and Evelyn (Wa-rtdal) Olson. He grew up in Sioux Fa-lls, South Dakota and graduated from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa and No-rthern Illinois University in De-Kalb, Illinois. Dan dedicated his career to local government, serving in many city management positions in Illinois, Iowa, and finally Farragut TN where he was employed as Town Manager for 14 years. He was involved in Lions Club in Iowa and the Rotary Club in Farragut. He is survived by his bride of 29 years, Patrice, and their children, Peter and Maggie; sister, Lynne (Mike) Hemen of Ft. Calhoun, Nebraska; brother, Ken (Judy) Olson of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; brother, Glenn (Melissa) Olson of West Hartford, Con-necticut; many nieces and nephews. Special thanks to Caris Heal-thcare, most especially Beth Gar-ron and Kevin Warwick. A Cele-bration of Dan’s Life will be held from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, Octo-ber 9th at Milestones Event Center, 11909 Kingston Pike in Farragut. In lieu of flowers, contributions may be made to The Olson Educational Fund. Checks made payable to Patrice Olson, c/o ORNL Federal Credit Union, 11405 Municipal Center Drive, Farragut, TN 37934. Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike is serving the Olson family. www.clickfh.com

• JOHNSON, Linda Carolyn Puck,

age 69, of Farragut passed away August 1, 2014. Linda was a loving and devoted mother and grandmother. She proudly served 17 years in the U.S. Coast Guard Reserve. Linda was a graduate of the University of Tennessee where she earned a Bachelor of Education. She worked with the Tennessee Department of Children’s Services. Linda volunteered for 20 years with the town of Farragut’s Visual Resource Review Board. She was preceded in death by her parents, Alfred and Agnes Puck. Linda is survived by her daughters and sons-in-law, Karyn and Andy Cole, Jennifer and Jerry Collins and Kimberly and Jim Hollis; adopted children, Courtney Johnson and David Johnson; grandchildren, Jake and Alex Kate Cole, Zach and Chase Collins, Jack and Lily Hollis; brothers, Jerry Peck, Richard Peck, Larry Peck and wife, Ann; cousin, Joan Berry and several close friends. The family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, August 5, 2014 in the Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Young Williams Animal Shelter. Click Funeral Home Farragut Chapel, 11915 Kingston Pike is serving the family of Linda P. Johnson. www.clickfh.com