Obituaries week of Sept. 14
James Cosmos Branas III
Hartselle
James Branas had ALS but was determined not to give the disease the last word. He died peacefully in his sleep because that’s how he wanted to go. He couldn’t stand anyone telling him what to do, especially not the disease that ravaged his family by taking his sister, mother and grandfather. He loved his family, especially his grandchildren Lilly and Ensleigh McCarley and Silas and Kaia Branas. He was constantly telling funny stories about them. He loved watching their ball games and their antics. He was very proud of all four of them and would tell anyone and everyone who would listen. He loved coffee, motorcycles, camping with his friends and scenic mountains. He loved muscle cars and anything with exceptional power and speed. His answer to everything was “more power.”
A graduate of California State Polytechnic University, San Luis Obispo, he studied architecture and ultimately left with an engineering degree. He was an engineer in every definition of the word. He would explain everything in formulated detail to completely recreate a scenario. He had an exceptional mind. He worked on many big projects during his career, from building and maintaining nuclear power plants, building Animal Kingdom for Disney in Orlando, Fla., and even working for Redstone Arsenal on a bioreactor growing pancreas cells in microgravity. He was a devout member of First United Methodist Church in Hartselle, Ala. since 1991. James Cosmos Branas III was born September 22, 1951 in Upland, Calif. and passed away, September 2, 2022 in Hartselle. Preceded in death by his parents, James and Gertrude Branas II and his sister, Johanna Branas Logan. He left behind three children, Lauren Branas McCarley (Bert) of Hartselle, Trevor Branas (Katie), of Huntsville and Tessa Branas, of Duluth, Ga., four grandchildren, Lilly and Ensleigh McCarley and Silas and Kaia Branas. He was married to Terry Hughes for 25 years and maintained a friendship after divorce. Special thank you to Hospice of the Valley and caregivers.
Jeremy Morse
Decatur
Funeral service for Jeremy Morse was held Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at 2 p.m. at Life of Faith Tabernacle Church in Hayden, Ala. with Bro. Laney officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was at Mt. Zion Cemetery in Warrior. Mr. Morse was born on March 13, 1974 in Mississippi to Junior and Vickie Morse. Jeremy died on September 1, 2022. Mr. Morse was a project manager at Cerrowire. Survivors include one son, Nathan Morse; one daughter, Abby Morse; parents, Junior and Vicky Morse; two brothers, Jason Morse (Amanda) and Joey Morse (Yong) and one grandchild. Pallbearers were family and friends.
Donald Lewis Chaney
Falkville
Donald Lewis Chaney passed away Sunday, September 5, 2022 at the age of 68 in Falkville. He was born on August 2, 1954 to Dave and Eunice Gibbons Chaney in Morgan County, Ala.
He is preceded in death by his parents, daughter, Donna Kaye Chaney; brothers, Ronald and Jerry Chaney; and sister, Mae-Lou. He is survived by son, Chris Chaney (Barbara); daughters, Joni Tanksley (Mack) and Kristal Chaney; brothers, Ray, David, Vicki, Freddy, Eddie, and Stacy; sisters, Betty and Peggy; four grandchildren and many nieces, nephews and extended family. There are no services planned at this time.
Ebbie Lee Kidd Thomas
Lacey’s Spring
Funeral service for Ebbie Lee Kidd Thomas, 82, was held Friday, September 9,
2022 at 3 p.m. at Valhermoso Springs Baptist Church with Bro. Craye Hall
officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Valhermoso
Springs Cemetery. Mrs. Thomas died Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at her residence. She was
born December 19, 1939, in Morgan County to D.S. Hill and Jean Perry Hill.
She was a member of the Valhermoso Springs Baptist Church for 60 years. She
loved her church and church family but her own family was her heart. She was
their loving wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother. Preceding her in death were her husband, Bobby Thomas, her parents and a son, Ricky Kidd. Survivors include daughter, Lori Allison (Keith); son, James Kidd (Kim); grandchildren, Dylan and Logan Allison and Jacob and Taylor Kidd; two great grandchildren. Pallbearers were Dylan Allison, Logan Allison, Mike Owen, Tennis Owen, Jacob Kidd and Scott Frazier.
Donnie Stewart Livingston
Arley
Funeral service for Donnie Stewart Livingston, 67, was held Friday, September
9, 2022 at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Gerald Sharp
officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Herring
Cemetery. Mr. Livingston died on Tuesday, September 6, 2022 at his residence. He was
born April 22, 1955, in Morgan County to William Edward Livingston, Sr.
and Mattie Ruth Attkinsson Livingston. He was the owner of Danville Grocery and loved running his store and the people in his community. He loved his wife and his children and
grandchildren. He was a strong man that could do anything. Donnie enjoyed
riding Razors, spending time at the lake and camping. He was preceded in death by his parents and a grandchild, Aleigha Thomson. Survivors include wife, Lisa Livingston; sons, Jeremy Livingston (Tiffany), Chad Thomson, and Corey Thomson; daughters, Lashay Flanagan (Chuck),
Cassie Manley, Candi Vinson, and Christy Sutton (Jonathan); brother, Eddie Livingston (Brenda); sisters, Kay Steele (Sam) and Audrey Maddocks (Geoff); fifteen grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren. Pallbearers were Jeremy Holloway, Jonathan Sutton, Nathan Aldridge, Corey
Thomson, Chad Thomson and Jeremy Livingston.
Thomas K. Ward
Hartselle
A graveside funeral service and interment for Thomas K. Ward, 72, was held
Saturday, September 10, 2022 at 11 a.m. at Gum Springs Cemetery with Peck
Funeral Home directing. No visitation was scheduled. Mr. Ward passed away on September 7, 2022 at his residence. He was born January 24, 1950 in Morgan County to Hobson Leonard Ward and Bertie Millican Ward. He left Alabama at an early age and moved to Michigan, where he worked for General Motors in Pontiac, Michigan. He retired from his job as a welder and
maintenance worker there and moved back to Alabama. He was preceded in death by his parents. Special thanks are extended to Inhabit Hospice, the nurses and caregivers, Kenny and Lenita, Donnie and Sussie and Daniel and Judy. He is survived by several nieces and nephews.
David William Watson
Cullman
Funeral service for David William Watson, 37, was Monday, September 12, 2022
at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Tom Watson officiating and
Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Roselawn Cemetery. Mr. Watson died Monday, August 29, 2022 at Loyola University Medical Center in Illinois. He was born September 22, 1984 in Illinois to Larry Neal Watson, Sr. and Barbara Ann Bienik Watson.
He was a machinist for Topre prior to his passing. He loved Alabama football. He was preceded in death by his father. Survivors include son David William Watson, II; daughter, Lydia Ivy Watson; son, Noah Isaac Watson; mother, Barbara Bienik Watson; brothers, Larry Neal Watson (Fiancé’ Veronica Gonzalez), Tom Watson (Debra), and Daniel Watson (Lindsey); sisters, Sherrie Duchock (John), Jennifer Washburn (Tyson), Chrissy Watson, and Katie Watson (fiancé Mike Arnold) and a host of nieces and nephews. Pallbearers were Joe Watson, John Duchock, Tyson Washburn, Tom Watson, Jr., Dan Watson and Mike Arnold.
Charles “Chuck” Johns
Decatur
Charles “Chuck” Johns, 61, died on Thursday, September 8, 2022 at his
residence. He was born April 18, 1961, in Giles County, Tenn., to Charles
Edward Johns and Mary Austin Tice Johns. Mr. Johns was employed by IVXP as a project manager, prior to his retirement. He enjoyed spending time with his family and friends. He loved his dog, Max. His parents preceded him in death. Survivors include wife, Peggy Johns; son, Sean Johns; stepsons, Shane Borden and Jason Borden; sisters, Beverly, Lisa and Bethany; grandchildren, Brody Johns, Alyssa Borden, Noah Borden and Bronwyn Borden. No services were scheduled at this time.
Sharon Sandlin Lawrence
Hartselle
Sharon Sandlin Lawrence
Hartselle
Funeral service for Sharon Sandlin Lawrence, 68, was held Monday, September
12, 2022 at 1 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Scott Sessions
officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Roundtop
Cemetery. Mrs. Lawrence died Friday, September 9, 2022 at her residence. She was
born March 12, 1954, in Morgan County to Reuben Alroe Sandlin and Mary Lou
Kelsoe Sandlin. She was an active member of the Spring Avenue Church of the Nazarene and was employed as an elementary school teacher of the Morgan County school system, prior to her retirement. She loved children and all of her students were affectionately called her kids. She was married to the love of her life, Wayne Lawrence and she loved her family, especially her grandchildren. Preceding her in death were her parents, two brothers, Reuben Stephen
Sandlin and Stanley Sherrill Sandlin; two sisters, (infants), Ronda and Sondra Sandlin and one infant grandchild, Olivia Hughes. Survivors include husband, Ulysses Wayne Lawrence; daughters, Shari Madison (Larry) and Amanda Hughes (Brandon); aunts, Betty Wilhite (Virgil) and Linda Oden (jack); grandchildren, Skylar Tapscott, Kyle Tapscott, Ben Hughes and Makenzie Hughes; cousins, John Sandlin (Peg) and Jimmy Sandlin (Janice);
and several nieces and nephews. Pallbearers were Roger Brannon, Skylar Tapscott, Kyle Tapscott, Dan Mackey, Steve Holliday and Joe Kelley.
The family would like express great thanks to Hospice of the Valley for
their care and express a special thank you to her doctors, Dr. Bharat
Vakharia and Dr. Sammy Becdach with CCI and Dr. Sergey Ananyev.
Maranda Fortenberry
Hartselle
Memorial graveside service for Maranda Fortenberry, 42, of Hartselle will be held Saturday, September 17, 2022 at 12 p.m. at Lebanon Cemetery at Speake. Ms. Fortenberry was born September 16, 1979 to Robert Fortenberry and Dena Fay Tanksley Fortenberry. She passed away Saturday, September 10, 2022 at her residence. Survivors include son, Austin Campbell; daughter, Harlie Ferguson (Hunter Hollabaugh); two brothers, Kenneth Fortenberry and Jeremy Fortenberry and grandson, Greyson Hollabaugh. Peck Funeral Home will assist the family with arrangements.
