Obituaries week of Nov. 24
Brett Alan Widner
Eva
Funeral service for Brett Alan Widner, 41, was held Nov. 17 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Joey Coots officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Etha Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mr. Widner died Nov. 14 at his residence. He was born June 15, 1980, in Cullman County to Kenneth Ray Widner and Janet Elizabeth Bates Widner. He was a machine operator and machinist prior to his passing. He was a Christian, and he enjoyed spending time with his family, especially his nieces and nephews. He loved Alabama football and enjoyed watching the games with his dad and his brothers.
He was preceded in death by his grandfathers, Willard Bates and Virgil Widner. Survivors include his father, Kenneth Widner; mother, Janet Bates Widner; brothers, Shane Widner (Amanda) and Cody Widner (Brittney); nieces, Amberlynn Widner and Kailynn Widner; nephew, Connar Widner; and grandmothers, Catherine Moore and Jean Graham. Pallbearers were Brant Earwood, Lance Echols, Scott Campbell, Johnathan Stacy, Jonathan Praytor, Michael Bates, Jeremy Harbison and Joey Harbison.
John E. Shirey
Somerville
Funeral service for John E. Shirey, 61, was held. Nov. 18 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Peck Funeral Home directing. Mr. Shirey died Nov. 13 at his residence. He was born Sept. 13, 1960, in Illinois to John Henry Shirey and Patricia Lou Swan Shirey. He was employed by Decatur Transit, Port of Decatur, as a Greyhound bus agent prior to his passing. He loved his kids and grandkids dearly. He was a big Alabama Fan – “ROLL TIDE!” – loved bowling and was a huge Stephen King enthusiast.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Sandra Schulte. Survivors include his wife, Teresa Annette Shirey; son, David Shirey; daughters, Michelle Spicer (Matt) and Heather Mason (Mitchell); brothers, James Shirey and John Russell Grandstaff (Kelly); and nine grandchildren.
Karl Byrd
Hartselle
Funeral service for Karl Byrd, 78, of Hartselle, was held Nov. 17 at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Marty Hand officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.
Mr. Byrd died Nov. 15 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was born Jan. 22, 1943, in Morgan County to Troy Byrd and Imagene Pike.
He was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother Bessie Grace Byrd and brother Harold Byrd.
Survivors include his wife, Martha Jo Byrd; son, Stafford Byrd (Jennifer); two sisters, Lisa Jackson (Jimmy) and Monica Byrd; one granddaughter, Rebecca Byrd; step-granddaughter, Jennifer Chambers; step-grandson, Tyler Jones; and three step-great-grandchildren.
Shane Byrd, Scotty Byrd, Kenneth Vinzant, Jimmy Galbreath, Tony Galbreath and Gage Galbreath served as pallbearers.
David Brooks
Decatur
Funeral service for David Brooks, 50, was held Nov. 18 at 7 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Patricia Winsett officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Mr. Brooks died Nov. 14 at his residence. He was born June 16, 1971, in Morgan County, to Jimmy Wayne Brooks and Beverly Jo Morgan Harris. He was employed as a drywall installer prior to his passing. He loved NASCAR and playing racing games, collected Hot Wheels cars, enjoyed fixing up go-carts and
selling them and was very mechanically minded. Survivors include his mother and step-father, Beverly Jo Morgan and Thomas G. Harris; sons, Timothy Justin Green, Huntsville, and Aaron Brooks, Decatur; sister, Kerry Richardson (Kevin); and uncle and aunt, Lloyd Brooks (Gloria).
James Martin Franks
Crane Hill
Mr. James Martin Franks died Nov. 15 at Cullman Regional Medical Center.
He was born Aug. 9, 1961, in California, to James C. Franks and Wanda Fay Borden Franks. He was employed in the construction industry.
Preceding him in death were his parents and a sister, Vickie Brown. Survivors include wife, Brenda Franks; sons, James Nickolas Franks (Brittanie), Joshua Thad Franks and Ronnie Brown Jr. (Leann); brother, Christopher Franks; sisters, Becky Cowart, Kathy Martin and Roxanne Crawley; and grandchild, Hollie Nicole Franks.
The family will hold a memorial service at a later date.
Steve W. Vaughn
Hartselle
Mr. Stephan “Steve” W. Vaughn, 66, died Nov. 8 at Cullman Regional Medical Center.
He was born Dec. 10, 1954, in Jefferson County to Marion Wesley Vaughn and Lyn Hays Vaughn. He grew up in the Baptist faith. He attended the U.S. Naval Academy during the Vietnam War. He was employed by and retired from the Hartselle Fire Department after 26 years of service. He was a member of the Patriot Guard. He was a proud father and “Honorary Soccer Mom.”
He was preceded in death by his parents and a daughter, Hannah. Survivors include wife, Cheryl Vaughn; sons, Dylan Vaughn and Nicky Vaughn; adopted son, Blake Vaughn; and sisters, Vicki Thornton (Chuck), Teresa Hardy (Randy) and Donna Graham (Bill). The family held a memorial service at Hartselle Civic Center Nov. 21 at 2 p.m. No visitation was scheduled. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the National Fallen Firefighters Fund or to the Patriot Guard.
John Ruth Godsey
Hartselle
John Ruth Godsey, 75, passed away Nov. 18 at his residence.
He was born June 24, 1946, in Franklin County, to Marshall Marvin Godsey and Lucy Estell Nix Godsey. He was employed by and retired from 3M Company. He was a great dad and the best friend anyone could ever have. He was a veteran of the United States Army and was a Baptist in his faith.
He was preceded in death by his wife and his parents. Survivors include his sons, Michael W. Godsey (Ashley), Hartselle, and Jon Paul Godsey (Amy), Charleston, S.C.; brothers, Max Godsey, Leeds, and Hoyt Godsey, Cullman; four grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
No services were scheduled at this time.
Michael Craig Jenkins
Somerville
A memorial funeral service for Michael Craig Jenkins, 61, was held Nov. 21 at 2:30 p.m. at Blue Springs Baptist Church with Bro. Tom Larkin officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. No visitation was scheduled.
Mr. Jenkins died Nov. 18 at Marshall Medical Center North. He was born March 15, 1960, in Morgan County to Arley Howard Jenkins and Nancy Dee Dunn Jenkins. He was employed as a plant worker for Atrion and also was a cattle farmer prior to his passing. He was a wonderful husband, father, brother and grandfather. Survivors include his wife, Kimi Jenkins; parents, Arley Howard and Nancy Dee Dunn Jenkins; son, Jake Michael Jenkins (Trystan); daughter, Natalie Lane Jenkins; brother, Alan Jenkins (Kay); sister, Sandra Jenkins Sowder; two grandchildren, Emma Grace Jenkins and Jane Elizabeth Jenkins; and a host of nieces and nephews. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Blue Springs Baptist Church or to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.
Linda Lacy White
Vinemont
Funeral service for Linda Lacy White, 65, of Vinemont will be Nov. 24 at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Charles Sparks officiating. Burial was in Jones Cemetery. Peck Funeral Home directed.
Visitation will be Wednesday from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the funeral home.
Mrs. White was born Dec. 17, 1955, in Morgan County to Ernest Otho Lacy and Patsy Ruth Phillips Lacy. She passed away Nov. 21 at her residence. She enjoyed taking care of her family.
She was preceded in death by her parents, husband Greg White and brother Billy Lacy.
Survivors include two sons, Matt White (Jenna) and Daniel White (Morgan); daughter, Angie Dodd (James); three brothers, Wayne Lacy (Betty) Larry Lacy (Nancy) and Roger Lacy; sister, Diane Spiceland; three grandchildren, Tyler Dodd, Andrew Dodd and Aidan Matthew White; and special friend, Jackie Taylor.
Pallbearers will be James Dodd, Andrew Dodd, Tyler Dodd, James Spiceland, Stacy Spiceland and Mike Kilpatric.
Betty Jenkins
Decatur
Funeral service for Betty Jenkins, 84, will be Nov. 24 at 1:30 p.m. at Union Church of Christ with Bro. Tom Larkin officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Antioch Methodist Church Cemetery. No visitation is scheduled.
Ms. Jenkins died Nov. 21 at Summerford Nursing Home. She was born March 8, 1937, in Morgan County to Earl Fowler and Dorothy Dunaway Fowler.
She was employed with General Electric for 20 years before her retirement, and she was a member of the Union Church of Christ.
She was preceded in death by her parents.
Survivors include son, Roderick Jenkins; daughter, Leginia Jenkins; sister, Mae Ward; three grandchildren, Jason Jenkins, Logan McLemore and Maegan McLemore; and three great-grandchildren.
