Obituaries week of Jan. 19
Huey Glenn Shelton
Falkville
Funeral service for Huey Glenn Shelton, 84, was held Jan. 12 at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Floyd Bradford and Bro. Rickey Clemons officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Mt. Zion Cemetery.
Mr. Shelton died Jan. 9 at his residence. He was born March 9, 1937, in Cullman County to Steve L. Shelton and Mary Altha Yarbrough Shelton.
He was employed by Monsanto in the maintenance department prior to his retirement. He was a 1956 graduate of Eva High School. He served in the U.S. Army Battery C 6th MSI Bn 59th Arty APO 39 SP5 (E’5) from October 1960 to October 1962 in Germany. He served in the National Guard for two years and then pastored several churches throughout the years in Cullman and Morgan counties. He loved the Lord, his family and his church and enjoyed gardening. His favorite Bible verse was John 3:16, and it was the topic of his very first sermon. He also liked I Thessalonians 4:13-18. Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers, Arvin Shelton, Arnold Shelton, Gilbert Shelton, John Shelton, Paul Shelton, Louie Shelton, Tommy Shelton and Floyd Shelton; and sisters, Macy Denton, Opal Denton, Mary Adams, Gladys Stewart and Georgia Shelton.
Survivors include his wife, Rebecca Ann Thompson Shelton; son, David Glenn Shelton (Donna); daughter, Melissa Shelton Griffin (Tran); brother, Asa Shelton; three grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Chris Thompson, Chris Lydick, Brody Hagemore, Michael Thompson, Wesley Lawrence and Jay Thompson.
Venita Proctor
Florence
Funeral service for Venita Proctor, 98, was held Jan. 14 at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Bobby Ray Halbrooks and Bro. Harold Thompson officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Interment was in Hartselle City Cemetery.
Mrs. Proctor passed away Jan. 8 at Mitchell-Holllingsworth Nursing Home. She was born Nov. 7, 1923, in Westmorland County, Pennsylvania, to Raymond Prinkey and Mayme Showman Prinkey. She was a homemaker for her family, beloved wife, mother and sister.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Ferrell Proctor; a daughter, Marjory Bood; a brother, Robert Prinkey; and her parents.
Survivors include daughter, Kathy Stephenson (David); sister, Glada Conner; grandchildren, Stacy Stephenson, Jason Freeborn (Melanie) and Bryan Freeborn (Bridget)l; and great-grandchildren, Harley Freeborn (Alex), Wild Freeborn, Emmett Freeborn and Kota Freeman.
Pallbearers were Mike Proctor, Lynn Proctor, Jason Freeborn, Harley Freeborn, Stewart Stephenson and Doug Stephenson.
Special thanks to the staffs of Mitchell-Hollingsworth and Shoals Hospice.
Instead of flowers, the family welcomes donations to the First United Methodist Church in Hartselle or to Shoals Hospice of Florence.
Laura Louise Morris
Hartselle
A graveside funeral service and interment for Laura Louise Morris, 92, was held Jan. 12 at noon at Oak Ridge Cemetery with Bro. Tom Campbell officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. No visitation was scheduled.
Mrs. Morris died Jan. 10 at her residence. She was born Aug. 13, 1929, in Morgan County to Marvin Richard Parker and Annis Jane Childers Parker.
She was a homemaker for her family, loving wife, mother and grandmother.
Preceding her in death were her husband, Louie Eldon Morris, her parents and a brother, Lonnie Parker.
Survivors include son, Ronald Eldon Morris (Connie); daughter, Patsie Morris McClesky (Harvey); sister, Doris Barber; three grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
Pallbearers were Brandon Morris, A.J. Miller, Harvey McCleskey, Larry Freidrich, J.J. Parsons and Terry Barber.
Steve Davis
Somerville
Funeral service for Steve Davis, 62, was held Jan. 15 at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Ralph Henderson officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Hartselle Memory Gardens.
Mr. Davis died Jan. 9 at Huntsville Hospital. He was born Jan. 26, 1959, in Morgan County to Kenneth Moore and Dessie Pearl Roberts Moore. He was employed by LC Robinson prior to his passing.
Preceding him in death were his parents; brothers, Verbon Davis Jr., Harry Davis and Cecil Davis; and sisters, Josephine Suit, Wanda Holt and Eleanor Faye Davis.
Survivors include a brother, Verlon Davis, and sisters, Willie Hall (Danny), Louvinua Suit (Macky), Brenda Muckenfuss and Beverly “Bev” Jinkins.
Pallbearers were Danny Lee Hall, Tony Davis, Mike Slaten, Landon Buckelew, Daniel Hastings and Jim Gills. Honorary pallbearer was Don Houston.
Helen Gatlin
Decatur
Funeral service for Helen Gatlin, 75, was held Jan. 15 at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Walt Schmidt and the Rev. Mike Price officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Friendship Methodist Church Cemetery in Vinemont.
Mrs. Gatlin died Jan. 9 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. She was born April 19, 1946, in Jackson County to Hershel Milligan and Emmer Matthews Milligan. She was employed as a ward clerk for Parkway Medical Center prior to her retirement.
She was a member of the Redemption Baptist Church in Decatur.
Preceding her in death were a daughter, Pamela Patek, a son, Robby Hayes, her parents, three brothers and two sisters.
Survivors include her husband, Jerry Gatlin; son, Ricky Hayes; and grandchildren, Paul Westbrook, David Westbrook, Jessica Salicido and Geoffrey Hayes.
Jason Osborn, Tony Livingston, Ronnie Cornhill, Ken Smith, Jerome Garrison, John Easley, Jamie Dozier, Ellis Johns and Keith Livingston served as pallbearers.
Debra L. Niles
Eva
Funeral service for Debra L. Niles, 68, was held Jan. 14 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Lawrence Cove Cemetery.
Mrs. Niles diedJan. 11 at Cullman Regional Medical Center. She was born Jan. 29, 1953, in Marion County to Lutie Parker and Cynthia Candace Williams Parker.
She married Roger Sept, 13, 1971, and they just celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary.
She was a homemaker for her family, loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. She was employed by Walmart as a customer service manager prior to her passing.
She was preceded in death by her parents; a daughter, Rhonda Ricketts; a son-in-law, Louis Ricketts; and two sisters, JoAnne Ingle and Shirley Rae Cox.
Survivors include her husband, Roger Dail Niles; son, Roger Dail Niles II (Jenny); daughter, Jennifer Daugherty (James); brother, Dewayne Parker (Shelia); sister, Sarah Crawford; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Jerry Bloodworth
Hartselle
Funeral service for Jerry Bloodworth, 71, was held Jan. 15 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Marty Hand and Bro. Spencer Bell officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Salem Cemetery.
Mr. Bloodworth died Jan. 11 at Cullman Regional Medical Center. He was born May 30, 1950, in Limestone County to Edward David Bloodworth and Maggie Beckham Bloodworth.
He was a former chemical process technician and was a chemical operator for Monsanto and Solutia, working 36 years prior to his retirement.
He was a devoted husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Preceding him in death were his son, Jeff Bloodworth, and his parents.
Survivors include his wife, Sylvia Jean Blackwood Bloodworth, Hartselle; son, Chris Bloodworth (Courtney), Madison; daughter, Amy Wilcox (Mike), Madison; stepdaughters, Sonya Kyker Driggers (Johnny), Hartselle, and Karen Kyker Sandlin (Mikey), Hartselle; brothers, Mike Bloodworth (Diane), Rogersville, and Tony Bloodworth, Decatur; sister, Sandra Gonsewski (Bruce), Madison; 11 grandchildren, Jennifer Flick (Ronnie), Brad Bloodworth (Maisey Chappell), Katie Ruth (Hayden), Dylan Bloodworth, Savannah Wilcox, Bellamy Wilcox, Miami Wilcox, Taylor Phillips, Preston Phillips, Michael Driggers (Kayla) and Justin Driggers; and great-grandchildren, Alice Flick and Charlee Kate Ruth. Pallbearers were Mike Wilcox, Brad Bloodworth, Dylan Bloodworth, Hayden Ruth, Preston Phillips and Justin Driggers.
Ruth Balcom
Decatur
Funeral service for Ruth Balcom, 87, was held Jan. 14 at noon at Hartselle Church of Christ with Phillip Hines officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Jonesboro Memorial Park Cemetery in Jonesboro, Arkansas.
Mrs. Balcom died Jan. 12 at Summerford Nursing Home. She was born Feb. 7, 1934, in Craighead County, Arkansas, to Harvey Ray Chester and Anna Florence Brown Chester. She was a homemaker for her family and was a loving mother and grandmother. She taught children’s Bible classes and loved and served the Lord with all her heart. She was preceded in death by her husband, Charles Balcom; a son, Dan Balcom; and a daughter, Kerrie Martin. Survivors include a son, Tim Balcom; brother, Jim Chester; sisters, Johann Malone and Kathleen Spencer; six grandchildren; and several great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Damann Balcom, T.J. Balcom, J.C. Martin, Hogan Martin, Chris Martin and Tim Balcom.
Zachery “Zac” Keith Hughes
Somerville
Funeral service for Zachery “Zac” Keith Hughes, 34, was held Jan. 17 at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Forest Hill Cemetery. Mr. Hughes died Jan. 12 at his residence. He was born Dec. 17, 1987, in Morgan County to Keith Monroe Hughes and Elizabeth Ann Stevens Hughes. He was employed as a heavy equipment operator for Grayson Carter & Son Contracting prior to his passing.
He was preceded in death by his mother. Survivors include his father, Keith Monroe Hughes; son, Zachery Kohl Hughes; daughter, Abigail Leigh Hughes; and sister, Brandy Worley Bolling.
Pallbearers were Keith Hughes, Hunter Bolling, Jacob Roberts, Jeffrey Campbell, Seth Shelton, Josh Mobees and Dale Hughes.
Roger Dale Smith Sr.
Hartselle
Funeral service for Roger Dale Smith Sr., 68, was held Jan. 17 at 1 p.m. at Harmony Grove Church with Bro. Matt Taylor officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. His body laid in state for one hour at the church prior to the service. Burial was in Johnson Chapel Cemetery.
Mr. Smith passed away Jan. 13 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was born Dec. 21, 1953, in Morgan County to James William Smith and Lela Bernastein Powers Smith. He was employed by Smith Brothers Painting prior to his passing. He loved to fish, garden and play softball.
He loved his children and grandchildren and Jesus, but his grandchildren were his greatest joy.
He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother, Quinton Lamar Smith.
Survivors include wife, Donna Cowart Smith; son, Roger Smith Jr. (Ashley); daughters, Leann Strickland (Joey) and Paula Bishop (Dewey); brothers, Gary Smith (Martha), Bobby Smith (Dian) and Stanley Smith (Charlotte); sisters, Gail Nickelson, Faye Brewer, Barbara Perry and Renee Sims (Ron); six grandchildren, Caitlin and Connor Strickland, Madison and Avery Smith and Hattie and Annie Smith; and an abundance of nieces and nephews.
Pallbearers were Bebo Cowart, Terry Smith, T.J. Smith, Keith Smith, Kevin Smith, John Smith and Daniel Campbell.
George Lewis “Papa” Coots
Falkville
Funeral service for George Lewis “Papa” Coots, 85, of Falkville was held Jan. 18 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Joel Coots officiating. Burial was in Falkville City Cemetery. Peck Funeral Home directed.
Mr. Coots was born April 2, 1936, in Morgan County to George Coots and Ethel Yarbrough Coots. Mr. Coots passed away Jan. 15 at his residence.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, JoAnn Coots; brother, John Coots; and sister, Elsie Coots Arnett.
He served in the United State Army during the Vietnam War. He was a member of Journey Church. He worked for BP Amoco in maintenance for more than 25 years.
Survivors include two sons, Randy Coots (Melissa) and Joey Coots (Kim); seven grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers were Austin Coots, Andy Johnson, Travis Sumerel, Jim Wilkins, Ray Partain and Stuart Whitney. Honorary pallbearer was Wayne Coots.
Frankie Whitehead
Danville
Graveside service for Frankie Whitehead, 74, of Danville will be Jan. 21 at 11 a.m. at Johnson Chapel Cemetery with Peck Funeral Home directing. No visitation has been planned.
Mr. Whitehead was born Dec. 5, 1947, in Cullman County to Luther Robert Whitehead and Fran Lucille Harbison. He passed away Jan. 15 at his residence.
Frankie worked 30 years as an electrician. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. He loved fishing, turkey shoots and horseback riding.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Carolyn Adams.
Survivors include wife, Frances J. Whitehead; four daughters, Delisa Templeton (Barry) of Danville, Christine Willingham (Eugene) of Hartselle, Sheila Ayers (Leonard) of Decatur and Stephanie Stoner (Kevin) of Danville; two brothers, Robert Whitehead of Cullman and Ronald Whitehead of Moulton; sister, Shirley Watwood of Double Springs; seven grandchildren; and 11 great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Joshua Stover, Sean Stover, Kevin Stover, Eugene Willingham, Leonard Ayers and Barry Templeton.
Mildred Pauline Waddell Clemons
Mildred Pauline Waddell Clemons
Falkville
Private funeral service for Mildred Clemons, 92, of Hartselle was held Jan. 18 at Peck Funeral Home with Brother Walter Blackman officiating. Burial was in the Moss Chapel Cemetery. Peck Funeral Home directed. No public visitation has been planned.
Mrs. Clemons, who died Jan. 14 at the Falkville Healthcare facility, was born on a snowy day, Feb. 26, 1929, in Morgan County to Edward Tillman Waddell and Hattie Ellen Parker Waddell. The doctor spent the night at her parents’ house, and her father took him back to town in his wagon the next morning.
She was preceded in death by her parents; her husband, John William Clemons; older brother Thaddeus Emery Waddell; younger brother Paul Tillman Waddell; and a grandson, Mac Hipps.
During part of their 58-year marriage, she worked side by side with her husband through the difficulties of sharecropping, during which her grit and determination were tested. With this spirit and work ethic, she helped her children get through high school so they would have a better life.
Later she worked in Hartselle at the Morgan Farmers Cooperative and at Southern Sales.
Mrs. Clemons cared for her mother and husband simultaneously when they were both ill and in their last years.
She was a legend in her family for her cooking, especially her fried chicken, biscuits and cakes. Those cakes were culinary treasures!
She was devoted to her family and could be counted on to worry to the extreme about anything involving them. She studied the Bible with great faith and diligence. She was a member of East Highland Baptist Church and was a graduate of Priceville High School.
She is survived by her daughters, Charmon Dianne Clemons and Anita Pauline Ward (Del); her sons, William Allen Clemons (Edie), Jimmy Wayne Clemons (Beatrix) and John Edward Clemons (Jan); 11 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Her grandsons, Allen T. Clemons, Jason Hipps, Kris Ward, Nick Ward, Kyle Shell and Scott Huismann, served as pallbearers.
Geraldine Raley McKenzie
Decatur
Funeral service for Geraldine Raley McKenzie, 91, was held Jan. 18 at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Ray Lee officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Bethlehem West Missionary Baptist Cemetery.
Mrs. McKenzie passed away Jan. 14 at NHC Healthcare.
She was born Oct. 26, 1930, in Morgan County to William Barthel Raley and Vernie Lou Hooper. She was employed and retired from Monsanto in Decatur. She loved working with her roses in the garden.
Mrs. McKenzie was a member of the Shoal Creek Baptist Church.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James E. McKenzie “Mac,” as well as two grandchildren, Jordan Alyson McKenzie and Brian Stuart Bowen, special friend Lavonis Bryan and her parents.
Survivors include a son, James Larry McKenzie; daughter, Judy McKenzie Bowen (Buck); two brothers, Harold Raley and Darryl Raley; two sisters, Janice Powell and Joyce Lowery; two grandchildren, Justin
Blaine McKenzie and Amanda Bowen Brown (Billy); two great-grandchildren; and special friend, Lavonis Bryan.
Emmett “Clinnon” East
Laceys Spring
Funeral service for Emmett “Clinnon” East, 83, will be Jan. 19 at 10 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Jerry Hall officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial will be in Fields Cemetery.
Mr. East died Jan. 15 at Huntsville Hospital. He was born March 5, 1938, in Madison County to Joseph Henry Bailey East and Mattie May Moon East.
Mr. East was preceded in death by his parents, his wife, Elna East, a son, Jimmy East, grandson, Aaron Thompson, and a granddaughter, Emerald Yoder.
Mr. East owned East Mobile Home Moving & Set Up service. He loved to play music, loved his dogs and was an avid Alabama football fan.
Survivors include sons, David Adams (Tonya) and Danny Adams (Dana); daughters, Rhonda Thompson, Teresa Hulsey and Carol Amaya (Rick); brothers, Raleigh East and Randall East; sisters, Linda East Jenkins and Ruth Beshearse; 11 grandchildren; numerous great grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren. Family and friends will serve as pallbearers.
Jerome “Jerry” Turowski
Hartselle
A graveside funeral service and interment for Jerome “Jerry” Turowski, 86, will be held Jan. 22 at 11 a.m. at Union Hill Cemetery with Bro. Charles Sparks officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. No visitation is scheduled.
Mr. Turowski died Jan. 15 at his residence. He was born Aug. 7, 1935, in Michigan to Frank Turowski and Mary Bolak Turowski. He was self-employed as a manufacturing engineer prior to his retirement. He was a member of the Bible Baptist Church and was a loving husband and sweetheart, father and grandfather.
Preceding him in death were his parents, three brothers and four sisters.
Survivors include his wife, Juanita Bernice Turowski; sons, Michael Turowski (Joan) and Kerry Turowski (Donna); daughters, Jan Turowski and Susan McCall; three brothers; six sisters; seven grandchildren; and five great-grandchildren.
Pallbearers will be Michael Turowski, Nicholas Turowski, Michael Fadich, Craig Campbell, Lance Campbell and Hannah Campbell.
