Obituaries — Oct. 6 issue
NEAL AVANS
Arnold Neal Avans, age 58, of Higdon, Ala., passed away Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021.
He enjoyed country music and was an Alabama football fan.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Dalla Fred Avans and Sue Cloud Robinson; brother, Timothy Avans.
Survivors include his aunts, Mary E. Higdon, Alladine Pruitt, Jean Talley, and Gayle Hawkins; several cousins.
Graveside services were Sunday, Oct. 3 at Brown Gap Cemetery with Brother Edwin Spurgeon officiating.
Please visit www.MooreFHS.com to share condolences with the family.
Arrangements entrusted to Moore Funeral of Trenton.
JEAN IVY BICE
Jean Ivy Bice, of Chickamauga, born Dec. 9, 1937 passed away Thursday, Sept. 30, 2021.
She is a native of Souwilpa, Ala.,and of the Episcopal faith. Jean was an amazing seamstress by trade, early on in factory work and later as a very successful entrepreneur within the trade. She loved the outdoors, flowers, reading and playing Bridge. Mama Jean’s happiest days were family get togethers.
She is preceded in death by her mother, Minnie Olivia Cunningham Ivy; father, William Grover Ivy; brother, Milton Ivy; sister Betty Ivy Hicks.
Survivors include her daughters, Dorothy Stokley Bice Payne (Roy), Betty Jo Bice Prewitt (Bobby) and her son, Smedlee Bice (Michelle); grandchildren, Michelle Payne Murray, (Danny and children Robert, Jessica and Danielle), Matthew Payne, (son Noah) Noelle Payne Batey, (Lebron and children Michael, Daniel, Lillian and Leah), Nathan Payne, and Felicia Bice Earnshaw, (daughter Piper Grace); brother, Billy Ivy.
Graveside services were at Lake Hills Memorial Gardens on Friday, Oct.1.
Arrangements by Moore Funeral Home, Trenton.
LELDON BLEVINS
Leldon Jesse (LJ) Blevins, 84, of Lookout Mountain, passed away Friday, Oct. 1, 2021.
He grew up on Lookout Mountain and joined his father in the Durham Coal Mines for nearly 13 years. He was one of a kind, and the most selfless man you would ever meet. As an avid guitar player and writer, he would sit in his basement always open to someone joining him for a song or two and good conversation. LJ was an amazing Pawpaw to his grandkids and great–grandkids.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wiley and Elvie; son, Daren; several brothers and sisters.
Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Valerie; sister, Penny Shetler; children, Karen (Jay) White and Michael (Renee) Blevins; adopted son, Coop (David Cooper); grandchildren, Jake (Sherria) White, Brianna Blevins, and Brittany (Dustin) Skiles; great–grandchildren, Sawyer Mae and Brantley Skiles and Huntley White.
Graveside services are today, Oct. 6, 1 p.m., at Ascalon Cemetery on Lookout Mountain. After graveside, the family will receive friends at Ascalon Baptist Church Fellowship Hall.
Arrangements are by Ryan Funeral Home and Crematory, Trenton.
MARY WILLIAMS
Mary Rethel Williams, 90, of Rossville, passed away Sunday, Oct. 3, 2021.
Mary was born Feb. 14, 1931, in Scottsboro, Ala., to the late Alvin and Eula Watts. She was a loving mother, grandmother and great-grandmother who loved to cook for her family. Mary was a very giving person and enjoyed making people happy. She was a member of Slygo Free Holiness Church.
In addition to her parents, Mary was preceded in death by her husbands, Grover Hixon, Jack Moon, and Dub Williams; son, Gary Hixon; great–grandsons, Jake Hixon, and Anthony Beck; several brothers and sisters
Survivors include her daughter, Norma (Glen) Barton, Rossville; grandchildren, Scott (Stephanie) Hixon, Janna (Frank) Parker, Heather (Michael) Wilson, and Chad Hixon; six great grandchildren.
Funeral services will be Thursday, Oct. 7 at noon in the chapel of Moore Funeral Home with Brother Troy Lawson and Brother Donny Walker officiating. Interment will be in Lakewood Memory Gardens South.
The family will receive friends today, Oct. 6 from 4–8 and Thursday from 11a.m. until noon at Moore Funeral Home, Trenton.
Please visit www.MooreFHS.com to view the online memorial tribute.
Arrangements by Moore Funeral of Trenton.