Obituaries week of Oct. 6
Catherine Ann Dunaway Sims
Hartselle
Catherine Ann Dunaway Sims peacefully passed away at her childhood home at the blessed age of 83 Sept. 25.
She was born in Albertville Sept. 10, 1938, to John Pettus and Eula Katherine Bush Dunaway. She was preceded in death by her parents, her son, John Dunaway Sims, and her sister, Elizabeth Dunaway Proctor.
Mrs. Sims grew up in Hartselle and graduated from Morgan County High School. She furthered her education, earning her Bachelor of Science in biology from Jacksonville State University and a master’s degree from the University of North Alabama.
She was married to Billy Sims for 60 years, and they had two sons, George William Sims II and the late John Dunaway Sims (wife Sandy). Seven grandchildren blissfully filled her life: Matthew Chunn (wife Kimberly), Will Ellis, Sarah Terry (husband Jay), Andrew Sims, CeCe Sims, Catherine Sims and Libby Sims. Three great-grandchildren filled her heart with sweetness and joy: Alliee Chunn, Laikelyn Chunn and Brooks Wallace.
Throughout her 33 years as an educator, Mrs. Sims was affectionately called “Momma Sims” by her many students at Hartselle High School. She was passionate about biology and instilled a great understanding of the subject in her students. She stayed involved outside the classroom, sponsoring many student activities, including dedicating 18 years as cheerleader sponsor.
Her dedication earned her many honors, including induction into the Hartselle Educator Hall of Fame, the Richard Grammer Award and as a finalist in the Jacksonville State University Teacher Hall of Fame. Ever the professional educator, she was a member and chapter president of the Delta Kappa Gamma Society International.
A Daughter of the American Revolution, Catherine Ann loved her community and was very active, warranting many civic achievements, such as being elected to the Hartselle City Council and becoming a Certified Municipal Official through the Alabama League of Municipalities; serving as director of the Hartselle Area Chamber of Commerce; and receiving the John A. Sparkman Citizenship Award.
She was a lifelong member of First United Methodist Church in Hartselle, and the family received friends at the church Sept. 29 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Brother Harold Thompson and Brother Doug Wells officiated the service there at 1 p.m., with graveside services following at Hartselle City Cemetery.
The family wishes to gratefully thank the nurses and aides of Hospice of the Valley who tenderly made the last years so comfortable and tranquil, with special appreciation and love going to Jennifer Lee, Jennifer Warnick, Amanda Dunn and Penny Baker.
In lieu of flowers and cards, donations may be made to Hospice of the Valley, the Alzheimer’s Association and/or the First United Methodist Church Good Samaritan Fund, Hartselle.
Rayburn Clark, Special to the Enquirer
Horace Rayburn Clark
Falkville
A graveside funeral service and Interment for Horace Rayburn Clark, 83, were held Sept. 30 at 11 a.m. at Hartselle City Cemetery with Bro. Gary Williams officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.
No visitation was scheduled.
Mr. Clark passed away Sept. 27 at Summerford Nursing Home. He was born Feb. 21, 1938, in Lawrence County to James Altie Clark and Minnie Lois Crow Clark. He spent most of his career in the furniture business, first working for Curry-Hames and then opening his own store in downtown Hartselle. He finished his career with the City of Hartselle.
Ray was a veteran of the United States National Guard Reserves. He enjoyed family, fishing and all sports, especially football and golf.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Patricia Ann Favors; his parents; brothers, Jimmy M. Clark, James Hoyt Clark, Milton Carol Clark, Ernest Edward Clark, Donald Bruce Clark, Barry Dale Clark and Jerry Wayne Clark; and sister, Mickie Clark Evans.
Survivors include one daughter, Teresa Clark Williams; one son, Robert Keith Clark; brother, Aaron Boyd Clark (Jane); sister, Vickie Clark Moody; sister-in-law, Lavona Clark; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
James Hulain Stephenson Hartselle Funeral service for James Hulaine Stephenson, 76, was held Oct. 1 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Paul Cheshier officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Burningtree Memorial Gardens.
Mr. Stephenson died Sept. 27 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was born Jan. 8, 1945, in Lawrence County to Herman S. Stephenson and Annie M. Holt Stephenson. He was a truck driver prior to retiring. He loved his family dearly and enjoyed life with his numerous friends and family. He loved to fish, was very kindhearted and caring, was very funny and knew how to fix anything.
He was a devoted husband, married to the love of his life for 56 years.
Mr. Stephenson was a wonderful friend and a cherished husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather who will be truly missed.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Franklin Stephenson; and two sisters, Madine Hale and Elizabeth Stephenson.
Survivors include his wife, Betty Diane Clemons Stephenson; son, James Ray Stephenson (Shantel); daughter, Tammy Ann Stephenson Hannah (Larry); sisters, Geraldine Legg and Shirley Garlen (William); sister-in-law, Edna Stephenson; five grandchildren, Tiffany Hannah Gross (Chris), Christopher Stephenson, Kristen Hannah Wunch (Justin), Zachary Stephenson and Joshua James Hinds Hannah; and five great-grandchildren. Pallbearers were grandson and nephews.
Keith Earl Christy
Hartselle
A graveside funeral service and interment for Keith Earl Christy, 59, was held Sept. 30 at 1 p.m. at Clardy Family Cemetery with Peck Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Christy died Sept. 26 at his residence. He was born Oct. 2, 1961, in Lawrence County to Fred Hollis Christy and SwansieKilpatrick Christy. He was employed by Alabama Hardwoods and enjoyed his work installing hardwood floors, prior to his passing. He was a veteran of the United States Marines.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Clyde Christy.
Survivors include his daughter and son-in-law, Maranda Muncy and husband, Aaron
Nancy Perdue Slaten
Thompsonville, Ill.; Formerly of Hartselle
Funeral service for Nancy Perdue Slaten, 73, was held Sept. 30 at 1:30 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was in Cheatham Cemetery.
Mrs. Slaten died Sept. 22 at SSM Health Good Samaritan Hospital in Mt. Vernon, Ill. She was born July 22, 1948, in Charleston, West Virginia, to David Isaac Perdue and Frances Lorene Jamerson Perdue. She was a wonderful mother and grandmother. She built the HoJo Inn, later changed to the American Classic Inn, located in West Frankfort.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy Slaten, her parents and a brother, David Perdue.
Survivors include a daughter, Laura Michelle Sanders (Simon); grandchildren, Scotie Slaten, Montanna Roberts, Makenna Walters, Scotlyn Richelle, Croix Williams and Ryver Wolff. Dean Thomas Meneau Decatur Funeral service for Dean Thomas Meneau, 55, was held Oct. 2 at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Jeremy McNutt officiating. Burial was in Ebenezer Cemetery, Falkville.
Mr. Meneau died Sept. 29 at his residence. He was born Feb. 17, 1966, in Wisconsin to Jerry Joseph Meneau and Kathy Joanne Terens Meneau. He was employed as a factory worker for Goodyear and then for Hyosung prior to his passing. He was a veteran of the United States Air Force. He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son and brother.
Survivors include his wife, Glenda Strickland Meneau, Decatur; daughters, Lauren Meneau, Cullman, Gabrielle Meneau, Eva, Emily Hill, Eva, and Desiree Anders, Falkville; parents, Jerry and Kathy Meneau, Two Rivers, Wis.; brothers, Mark Meneau, DePere, Wis., and Kevin Meneau, Wright City, Mo; sister, Debra Knudson, Two Rivers, Wis.; and six grandchildren. Pallbearers were family and friends.
Marlon Archer
Danville
Funeral service for Marlon Archer, 59, was held Sept. 28 at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Barry Sempsrott officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Upton’s Chapel Cemetery.
Mr. Archer died Sept. 24 at UAB Hospital. He was born March 30, 1962, in Morgan County to Travis Archer and Wanda Franklin Archer. He was a master woodworker, loved working with his hands and loved his grandchildren dearly. He was employed as a truck driver for Premier Freight.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Sheila Archer; son, Alex Archer (Stephanie); daughter, Staci Walker (Clint); brother, Nathan Archer (Nancy); sister, Regina Hartsfield; grandchildren, Savannah Archer, Titan Walker and Theia Walker; and a load of bonus children. Pallbearers were Clint Walker, Alex Archer, Homer Jones, Darryl Robinson, Seth Fagan and Roger Smith. Honorary pallbearer was Titan Walker.
Nancy Pattillo Stoner
Decatur
Nancy Allen Pattillo Stoner passed away Sept. 30. She was born in Decatur July 12, 1933, to Lewis Carl Pattillo and Launa Freeman Pattillo.
Nancy was a well-read and brilliant lady with a beautiful Southern drawl.
As an only child, Nancy learned at an early age how to entertain herself and enjoy the company of the adults in her life. She had many cousins who were the siblings she never had, and she would regale us with stories about their mischievous behavior on visits while trying to avoid the watchful eye of her prim parents.
In her youth Nancy was a counselor at Camp Dunromin in Tennessee, where she excelled at archery. She made lifelong friends and often spoke fondly of her beloved Dunromin.
Nancy was the fourth generation in her family to attend Alabama Polytechnic Institute / Auburn University. She was a Chi Omega and continued to foster the relationships of her Chi O sisters all over the country for the remainder of her life. She graduated from Auburn with a degree in business administration in 1955.
At Auburn Nancy met the love of her life, Richard “Dick” Ward Stoner. She said he was “the one” because they respected one another and simply enjoyed each other’s company. Nancy and Dick were married July 15, 1955, in Hartselle. They were married almost 44 years until his death in June 1999.
They had three children: the late M.K. Stoner, Alice Elizabeth Stoner Brown and Allen Richard Stoner (wife Cookie). Nancy was the proud “Grannie” to Emma Elizabeth Brown, Evan Stoner Brown (wife Shawna), Camille Davis Stoner and Arthur Benjamin Stoner II. Nancy delighted in her three great-grandsons, Aiden, Jackson and Liam Brown.
Gardening (playing in the dirt, as she called it), watching the birds feed (her ability to identify them from a distance, explaining their habits, amazed those around her) and arranging flowers were her favorite pastimes. She had an eye for decorating and loved the color red. Playing a serious game of bridge was at the top of her list of hobbies, and she played two times a week; if you interrupted her concentration during a game, you got a stern side eye.
Nancy was a member of the Rainbow Garden Club, current review, Hartselle Historical Society and Hartselle First United Methodist Church, where she was christened in December 1933. Though she lived a long life, Nancy was young at heart. Her wit and laughter will be greatly missed. We will always love her “bunches and bunches.”
Troy “Samson” Williams
Hartselle
Mr. Troy “Samson” Williams, 52, died Oct. 2 at Cullman Regional Medical Center.
He was born Dec. 15, 1968, in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, to Carl Williams and Judy Carol Rainey Williams. He was a welder, prior to his passing. He was a loving husband, father and grandfather.
He was preceded in death by his parents. Survivors include his wife, Jaime Williams; son, Brickston Williams; daughters, Masie Rose Williams, Georgia Mae Williams, Macy Taylor and Gracie Russell; brother, Brandon Williams; and grandchildren, Knox and Lyndi James. No services are scheduled at this time.
Ernestine M. Maples
Gardendale
Funeral service for Ernestine M. Maples, 88, will be held Oct. 6 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Ben Bates officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was held in New Center Cemetery. Vistation will be Oct. 6 from 2-3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home.
Mrs. Maples died Oct. 2 at her residence. She was born Dec. 14, 1932, in Morgan County to Ernest Howard Maples and Ivy Hughes Maples.
Ernestine Maples served as a Methodist minister’s wife for more than 25 years. She was member of the United Methodist Women, taught Sunday School, played the piano and organ and assisted with the children’s choir. She loved music, especially classical music and hymns, and taught piano. She worked for more than 20 years at Orr Drapery and sewed clothes for herself, her children and grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, the Rev. James Maples, her parents, Ernest and Ivy Maples, and a brother, Don Maples. Survivors include two daughters she loved dearly, Robin Maples and Sharon Craiger (Barry); grandchildren, Adam Craiger (Jennifer) and Preston Craiger (Alayna); and great-grandchildren, Luke Craiger, Aaron Craiger and Paisley Craiger. Pallbearers were family and friends.
Robin Kim Moore
Montgomery
Robin Kim Moore, RPH, MPH, 65, passed away Oct. 1 at UAB Hospital. A funeral service will be held Oct. 9 at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Peck Funeral Home with interment following at Hartselle City Cemetery.
He was born May 16, 1956.
He leaves behind his wife of 23 years, Gwen; two sons, Robin Nathan Moore (Caitlin) and Ian Thomas Moore; his beloved dogs, JoJo and Jude; extended family; and countless friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Roy A. and Ora Teague Moore, and sister, Patricia “Pat” Moore Plaskett.
Robin grew up in Decatur. He graduated from DHS, class of 1974. While attending DHS, he was active in school life and concentrated on his studies, where he excelled.
In fall 1974, Robin attended The University of the South (Sewanee). He was there for two years before transferring to Auburn University, where he earned a degree in pharmacy.
Robin loved his time at Auburn. He enjoyed every aspect of campus life and managed to graduate in the top 10 percent of his class.
During the 1980s while employed as a pharmacist with UAB, he earned his master’s degree in public health.
In 1995 he began his work as epidemiologist for the ADPH. He loved his work with the ADPH. It was said by a colleague that Robin served Alabamians well during his tenure. After 19 years of service, he retired.
Robin never tired of learning and was an avid reader, reading several books at a time. He enjoyed meeting people from different backgrounds and cultures. It gave him great pleasure listening to their stories.
Robin loved rock music and, like most things he loved, was very knowledgeable in that subject matter. Some of his favorite artists were the Beatles, The Stones, Dylan, The Grateful Dead and John Prine. He enjoyed movies, especially accompanied by his sons. Some of his favorites were “Star Wars,” the Marvel Comics and “The Big Lewbowski.”
By far his greatest accomplishment was his sons.
Pallbearers will be David Darnell, Fred Rowe, Tommy Tackett, Ronnie Moore, Bobby Moore and Skip Drinkard.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a memorial donation in Robin’s name to Good Samaritan Ministries, First UMC Hartselle, 210 Hickory St. SE Hartselle, AL 35640.
