Obituaries from Macon County Times

February 22,2005

Jean Lanier Caruthers, 77, of Lafayette, Tennessee, passed away Saturday, February 19, 2005 at Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin, Tennessee. The Sumner County, Tennessee native was born Thursday, March 10, 1927 a daughter of the late John T. Oakley and Clara Thomas Lanier Oakley. She was a homemaker and member of Lafayette First Baptist Church. On June 14, 1947 she was united in marriage to James Caruthers, Jr.  She is survived by her husband of over 57 years, James Caruthers, Jr.; a son, Steve Caruthers, both of Lafayette, TN; a brother, James D. Oakley, Hartsville, TN; a sister, Ruth Lauderdale, Lakeland, Florida; and several nieces and nephews. In addition to her parents, she was also preceded in death by a brother, David Oakley.  Funeral services for Jean Lanier Caruthers were conducted at 11:00 AM Monday, February 21, 2005 at Alexander-Goad Funeral Home with Rev. Don Jones officiating. Burial was in Macon County Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Hilos Walrond, Johnnie Brewer, George Tucker, Ron Cassetty, Doyle Gaines, and Benson Phillips.  Alexander-Goad Funeral Home in Lafayette, TN was in charge of arrangements.

Mrs. Ruth Massey, 86, passed awayFriday morning, February 18, 2005 at 11:45 a.m. at the Carthage General Hospital following an extended illness.  Services were conducted by Bro. Comer McGuire and Bro. Jeff Burton on Sunday afternoon at 3:00 p.m. Following the services at the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home, burial was in the Smith County Memorial Gardens.  Mrs. Massey was born Naomi Ruth Woodard in the Conditt Hollow at Elmwood on June 23, 1918, one of nine children of the late Marshall and Nancy Ann Vanderpool Woodard.  Siblings preceding her in death were, Syble Woodard, George (Shack) Woodard, Clarence Woodard, James (Buddy) Woodard, Clint Woodard, Edna Davenport, and Lassie Dickens.  On January 12, 1936 she was married to William Taft Massey of the Maggart Community. After sixty one years of marriage Mr. Massey died January 27, 1997.  Mr. and Mrs. Massey owned and operated the Massey Grocery in Elmwood for many years. She was a member of the Maggart United Methodist Church.  Survivors include five sons, Jimmy Massey and wife Brenda of Antioch, Harold Massey and wife Ruth, Cranston Massey and wife Faye, Larry Massey and wife Sue all of Elmwood, George Massey and wife Janice of Lebanon; one sister, Kasel Dillehay and husband Jack of Defeated Creek; special friend and caregiver, Clara Sadler; twelve grandchildren, one step-grandson, 25 great-grandchildren and three step-great-grandchildren. 

Leo Edward Mize, 67, of Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee, passed away Thursday, February 17, 2005 at Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin, Tennessee. The Jefferson County, Kentucky native was born May 22, 1937, and was a retired supervisor for Carrier Corporation in Indianapolis, Indiana. On December 18, 1999 he was united in marriage to Linda Joines Mize.  He is survived by his wife, Linda Mize, Red Boiling Springs, TN; 4 daughters and 2 sons-in-law, Jeanetta and James Zoellner, Gosport, IN: Carol and David Williams, Jones, Oklahoma; Robin Peregrin, Wellston, Oklahoma; and Cierra Austin, Red Boiling Springs, Tennessee; 3 sons and 2 daughters-in-law, Jackie and Bonnie Mize, Wellston, Oklahoma; Donnie and Rose Mize, Jones, Oklahoma; and Leo Mize, Jr., Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; his mother, Jocelyn Shuffitt, Noblesville, Indiana; a step-daughter and her husband, Christi and Kenneth Boles, Milton, Florida; 2 brothers and a sister-in-law, James Mise, Shoals, Indiana; Walter and Darlene Mise, Noblesville, Indiana; 30 grandchildren and 23 great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his father, Walter Reed Mise, a sister, Jeanetta Mise, a brother, Raymond Charles Mise, and a grandson, David Mise.  Funeral services for Leo Edward Mize were conducted at 1:00 PM Saturday, February 19, 2005 at Alexander-Goad Funeral Home with Rev. Johnny Carver officiating. Burial was in Whitley Cemetery in Red Boiling Springs, Tennesse. Pallbearers were Jackie Jones, Ernie Jones, Richard Mise, Mark Mise, Jim Zoellner, and Kenny Bracken.  Alexander-Goad Funeral Home in Lafayette, TN was in charge of arrangements.

Mr. Dick Napier, age 85, of the Rome Community in Smith County died Saturday evening, February 19, 2005 at the Sumner Regional Medical Center in Gallatin of heart failure.  Services from the Carthage Chapel of Sanderson Funeral Home were conducted Tuesday afternoon at 1:00 p.m. by Eld. Charles Allen Gentry and Bro. Jimmy Gregory. Burial, with full military honors, was in the Smith County Memorial Gardens.  Mr. Napier was preceded in death on February 24, 2004 by his wife of over sixty two years, Margaret Jewel Martin Napier. They were married December 24, 1941.  Born William Whitley Napier in Red Boiling Springs in Macon County on May 23, 1919, he was the son of the late Thomas Lee and Willie Vera Potette Napier.  Mr. and Mrs. Napier owned and operated the Napier's Cafe, a popular fish restaurant at the Rome Bridge on U.S. 70, for over twelve years. Mr. Napier was also an accomplished welder and owned Dick Napier Welding before retiring in 1975. He was one of the early members of the Smith County Rescue Squad and designed and fabricated the drags used to recover drowning victims in river and rescue operations. He was a member of the Rome Baptist Church.  Surviving are three children, Sylvia Guerra, William Napier and Lewis Napier and wife Sharon all of the Rome Community; two sisters, Margaret Cohen of Sevierville, Vera Justin and husband Jr. of Maryville; a brother, Billy D. Napier of Rome; ten grandchildren and 13 great-grandchildren.

Alice Alene Crowder Rich, 88, of 1160 Lafayette Road, Holland, KY, died at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, February 15, 2005, at Cal Turner Extended Care. The Macon County, TN native was a homemaker and member of Highland General Baptist Church. She was a daughter of the late Riley Mitchell Crowder and Ethel Mae Stinson Crowder and wife of the late Aubrey Rich.  She is survived by 3 sons: Creo Rich and wife Ann, Holland, KY; Bennie Rich and wife Frances, Portland, TN; Donny Rich and wife Cathy, Bowling Green, KY; 3 daughters: Geraldine Kepley and husband Heilon, Portland, TN; Ruth Rippy, Westmoreland, TN; and Judy Rager, Tulsa, OK; 1 brother: Thomas Edwin "Dick" Crowder, Louisville, KY; 2 sisters: Sarah Edna Lesse and Jackie Crowder, both of California; 18 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by 2 daughters: Doris Bewley and Jo Rippy.  Funeral services for Alice Alene Crowder Rich were held at 11:00 a.m., Friday, February 18, 2005, at Goad Funeral Home with Bro. Larry Emery, Bro. Danny Brown and Bro. Johnny Bewley officiating. Burial was in Holland Missionary Baptist Church Cemetery. 

Charles Edward Thompson, 83, of 275 Langdon Road, Lafayette, TN, died Friday, Feb. 18, 2005 at The Palace in Red Boiling Springs.  The Flat Rock, Illinois native was a retired employee of Best Locking Systems in Arizona, attended Akersville Missionary Baptist Church and was a member of Church of the Nazarene in Tempe, AZ. He was a son of the late Walter Isaac Thompson and Bess Bright Thompson.  He is survived by his wife, Jeanne B. Thompson, Lafayette; one son, Sam Thompson and wife Pam, Whitleyville, TN; two brothers, Richard Thompson and wife, Norma, Byrl Thompson, all of Robinson, IL; three sisters, Shelene Carlson, Essex, IA, Bernice Mundhenk and husband Woody, Robinson, IL, Elizabeth Clutts and husband Bob, Lawrenceville, IL; three sisters-in-law, Elna Thompson, Odin, IL, Nell Thompson, McLeansboro, IL, Lucille Thompson, Hutsonville, IL. He was preceded in death by four brothers, Gene Thompson, Harold Thompson, Howard Thompson and John Thompson.  Memorial services for Charles Edward Thompson will be held at a later date. Goad Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

James Albert Wix, 64, of Pleasant Grove Road, Westmoreland, Tennessee, passed away Friday, February 18, 2005 at the Medical Center at Scottsville in Scottsville, Kentucky. The Allen County, Kentucky native was born Saturday, December 21, 1940, a son of the late James Samuel Wix and Ether Barber Wix and was a truck driver.  He is survived by a daughter and son-in-law, Teresa and Doug Hayes, Hartsville, TN; 3 sons and 2 daughters-in-law, Christopher James and Brenda Wix, Westmoreland, TN; Vincent Wix, Murfreesboro, TN; Justin and Shenia Wix, Lafayette, TN; 3 step-daughters, Freida Redden, Greencastle, IN; Glenda Etheridge, Lafayette, TN; Rhonda Woods, Indianapolis, IN; a step-son, Jeff Sullivan, Lafayette, TN; 2 brothers, Clifford Wix and Forrest Wix, both of the Highland Community in Allen County, KY; 5 sisters, Dorothy Acres and Fannie Rollin, both of the Highland Community; Olene Wix and Pauline Patterson, both of the Wixtown Community; and Josephine Thompson, Westmoreland, TN; 5 grandchildren and 11 step-grandchildren. In addition to his parents, he was also preceded in death by a brother, Harlan Wix.  Funeral services for James Albert Wix were conducted at 1:00 PM Monday, February 21, 2005 at Alexander-Goad Funeral Home with Bro. Kevin Hinton officiating. Burial was in the Highland Cemetery in Allen County, Kentucky. Pallbearers were D. J. Hayes, Clay Sherrod, Tony Taylor, Patrick Moore, Anthony Herald, and Bennie Herald.  Alexander-Goad Funeral Home in Lafayette, TN was in charge of arrangements.