Obituaries week of Dec. 22
Kenneth “Kenny” Lee Higginbotham
Hartselle
Kenneth “Kenny” Lee Higginbotham passed away Dec. 14 at his residence.
He was born March 26, 1957, in Mississippi to Kenneth Lavon Higginbotham and Mary Lois Slater Higginbotham. He was retired from his trade of carpentry and was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Betty Niebres.
Survivors include a wife, Peggy Harvel Higginbotham, Hartselle; brother, Dan Higginbotham (Debbie), Falkville; and several nieces and nephews. No services were scheduled at this time.
James Arlo Eddy Jr.
Hartselle
Funeral service for James Arlo Eddy Jr., 60, was held Dec. 17 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Justin Morrow officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Rescue Cemetery in Morgan City.
Mr. Eddy died Dec. 14 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was born July 9, 1961, in Kansas, to James Arlo Eddy Sr. and Dorothy Weaver Eddy Shutt. He was employed as a truck driver for R & L Carriers prior to his passing.
He was preceded in death by his son, Nick Eddy, his father and a brother, Stanley Eddy.
Survivors include mother, Dorothy Weaver Eddy Shutt; daughters, Misty Eddy and Autumn Eddy; brother, Dennis Eddy; sister, Donna Eddy; and grandchildren, Jessa Eddy and Rylan Isner.
Pallbearers were Dustin Smith, KJ Stinson, Mason Johnson, Greg Alexander, Robert Elscott and Autumn Eddy.
James “Jimmy” Gann
Decatur
Funeral service for James “Jimmy” Gann, 73, was held Dec. 16, at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Phillip Hines officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Hartselle City Cemetery.
Mr. Gann died Dec. 14 at Huntsville Hospital. He was born March 17, 1948, in Morgan County to Robert Bobby Gann and Betty Jo Teague Gann.
He was a finance manager for several finance companies for 50 years prior to his retirement. He loved sports, especially Alabama football, liked to be in the outdoors fishing and was an avid bird watcher. He enjoyed keeping up with current events and had an unsurpassed wit.
Mr. Gann was married to his wife and love of his life, Gale, for 52 years.
He was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Gale Teague Gann; sister, Janie Hart (John); and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
Pallbearers were family and friends.
Edith L. Ballenger
Danville
Funeral service for Edith L. Ballenger, 77, was held Dec. 17 at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Lonnie Goodman officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Jones Chapel Cemetery in Cullman County.
Mrs. Ballenger died Dec. 13 at Decatur Morgan Hospital.
She was born March 30, 1944, in Cullman County to C.B. Weaver and Estell Legg Weaver. She was “the greatest woman ever known,” with the biggest heart ever, according to her family, and she was loved by all who knew her.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Bobby Ballenger; her parents; son, Dewayne Ballenger; and daughter, Rhonda Maddox.
Survivors include sons, Jessie Ballenger, James R. Ballenger, John R. Ballenger and Jonathan Ballenger; daughters, Ann M. Lacy and Joanna Maddox; brother, Wendell Weaver; sisters, Eva Mae Stone and Linda Goodwin; 29 grandchildren; and 20 great-grandchildren.
Joe Fuller
Moulton
Funeral service for Joe Fuller, 76, was held Dec. 19 at 1:30 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Herbert Milligan and the Rev. Israel Milligan officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was held in Herring Cemetery.
Mr. Fuller died Dec. 15 at North Alabama Medical Center. He was born Feb. 16, 1945, in Colbert County to Hershel Glenn and Edith Blanch Cammeron. He was employed by CNJ Construction Company, working with electrical and plumbing installation, prior to his retirement.
He was a wonderful husband, father, son, brother and Poppie.
Mr. Fuller loved God, being a member and attending Crossroad Fellowship Church in Decatur. He was a hardworking man who loved his job and had pride in his craft.
Preceding him in death were his wife, Anita Fuller; his parents; a brother, Tony Glenn; a sister, Deborah Lindsey; and a brother-in-law, Chuck Sutton.
Survivors include two sons, Vince Fuller (Carolyn) and Patrick Fuller (Pamela); daughter, Lashane Fuller; sisters, Brenda Young (Horace), Wendy Sutton, Vickie Sharbutt (Bob), Doris Milligan (Rayford) and Tammy Hill; grandchildren, Katie Redmon, Keri Hall, Kelsey Redmon, Lindsey Marie, Joey Patterson, Ashley Woods, Leslie Flournoy, Sierra Chaney, Kade Chaney and Blaize Chaney; and 14 great-grandchildren.
Terry Lynn Cowart
Danville
Funeral service for Terry Lynn Cowart, 62, of Danville was held Dec. 20 at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Jack Bailey and Bro. Joe David Bailey officiating. Burial was in the Johnson Chapel Cemetery. Peck Funeral Home directed.
Mr. Cowart was born Jan. 28, 1959, in Lawrence County to Hollis Forrest Cowart and Lois Erie Rhodes Cowart. He passed away Dec. 18 at his residence. He was employed as a welder for Hembree Machine prior to his passing.
He was a member of Danville Baptist Church.
Terry was preceded in death by his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Becky Cowart; son, Jacob Cowart; daughter, Kassie Cowart Brenner (Erick Brenner); two sisters, Fay Nell Morgan (Jerrel Morgan) and Sheila Yvonne Cole (Jackie Cole); three grandchildren, Aurora Brenner, Jett Brenner and Zayden Pugh; and numerous nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers were Keith Eddy, Will Morgan, Jackie Dwain Cole, Ronnie Lewis, Andrew Cole and Glyndon Sparkman.
Jason Wayne Johnson
Athens
Funeral service for Jason Wayne Johnson of Athens was held Dec. 21 at 1:30 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Ron Manley and the Rev. Phil Waldrop officiating with burial in the New Friendship Cemetery.
He was born in Morgan County to Jerry Wayne Johnson and Delores Blankenship Johnson.
Jason passed away Friday at Athens-Limestone Hospital.
He was a real estate agent for Capstone Realty. He was the best husband, stepfather, real estate agent and uncle. He adored his two godchildren and loved Star Wars, Alabama football, Pittsburgh Steeler Football, the Atlanta Braves, collecting baseball cards and Sundrop.
Jason was preceded in death by his father.
Survivors include his wife, Tracy Johnson; stepdaughter, Madison Rongisch; mother, Delores Johnson; grandmother, Vonda Johnson; brother, Chad Johnson (Candice); niece and nephew, Makinley and Caden; and godchildren, Madison and Trip Wells.
Pallbearers were Chris Wells, Mark Johnson, Chad Johnson, Shaw Lemmond, Rod Langel and David Elder.
Barbara S. Bonner
Hartselle
Funeral service for Barbara S. Bonner, 85, will be Dec. 23 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Hartselle City Cemetery. Visitation will be Dec. 23 from 1-3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home.
Mrs. Bonner died Dec. 19 at Summerford Nursing Home.
She was born Oct. 29, 1936, in Jefferson County to James Simpson and Estelle Patton Simpson. She was a member of the West Hartselle Baptist Church and was employed by Orr Drapery as a bookkeeper prior to her retirement.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Hoyt Bonner, and a son, Greg Bonner.
Survivors include sons, Jimmy Bonner (Delilah) and Courtney Bonner (Lisa); sister, Patricia Smith; grandchildren, Jamie Bonner, Ashley Kirby, Slena Bonner and Trent Bonner; and five great-grandchildren.
James Everette Staudt
Hartselle
Funeral service for James (Jim) Everette Staudt, 90, will be Dec. 22 at 2 p.m. at Annunciation of the Lord Catholic Church with Father Charles Merrill officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial will be at Hartselle City Cemetery. A rosary will be said for Jim at 12:30 p.m. at the church, and visitation at the church will be from 1-2 p.m. Wednesday.
Mr. Staudt died peacefully in his sleep surrounded by his family, caregivers and friends Dec. 17. He was born Nov. 8, 1931, in Watertown, South Dakota, to Everette Matthew Staudt and Edna Camilla Staudt. Jim and family moved from North Dakota to Alexandria, Virginia, and then on to Hartselle in 1963, where they lived for almost six decades.
Jim loved fishing, hunting, flying, tinkering, inventing and most anything outdoors. He married his high school sweetheart, Monica Staudt in 1953, and they were inseparable for more than 68 years. Jim and Monica have been the absolute best example of what a truly loving marriage is all about. Over their 68-year marriage, they raised seven children of their own and helped raise a family village of more than 70 grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
He was an inspiration, the consummate husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He was selfless almost to a fault, always worrying about each of us before himself. He was always there with his love and support for the entire family. He protected and watched over each and every one of us.
Jim lost his son Billy to cancer in 2015. He served as caretaker to his wife Monica, who passed away due to Parkinson’s disease this past October. The tremendous grief of these losses was relieved by the Lord,
who took him to heaven Friday to be with his wife Monica, son Billy and all the other family that passed before him.
Well done, good and faithful servant. Go rest high on that mountain; your work on Earth is done! We love you so much PaPa; you will be so missed by so many!
He was preceded in death by his wife, Monica Rose Staudt, his parents; his son, William James Staudt (Bonnie Staudt); his daughter, Connie Ann Staudt; his sister, Eleanor Darlene Staudt; his granddaughter, Angela Reneé; and his great-grandsons Westin Michael Pitman and Louis Patrick Whatley.
Survivors include sons, Robert Everette Staudt (Kristine Staudt) and Michael Patrick Staudt (Susan Staudt); daughters, Kathleen Staudt Tankersley (the late Rex Tankersley), Pamela Staudt Pitman (Andrew Pitman), Patricia Staudt Whatley (Todd Whatley) and Tarri Staudt Drake (Doug Drake); brother, Donald Leroy Staudt (Lila Staudt); 29 grandchildren; and 39 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Matthew Staudt, Jaxon Staudt, Jimmy Tankersley, Jerry Tankersley, Jason Pitman, Nathan Pitman, Daniel Whatley and Clay Whatley.
Our family has been very blessed with the most amazing caregivers who have helped us though this difficult process. We would like to thank them all for the special, loving care they have given to our parents and our family: Amy Scoggins, Shelia Crauswell, Sara Rankin, Mysti Brown, Kayla Steadham
and DeOslin Hackworth.
We would also like to give special thanks to Hospice of the Valley doctors, nurses, caregivers and other employees for their compassionate support and care.
Instead of flowers, the family welcomes donations to Annuciation of the Lord Catholic Church – Adoration Chapel. Visit http://annunlord.com and click “Donate Now” in the lefthand menu. Select “Adoration Chapel” in the Fund dropdown menu. In the memo field, note: Adoration Chapel – In Memory of James E. Staudt.
