Obituaries – Aug. 9 Issue
DOUG CARTER
Theron Douglas “Doug” Carter, 73, of East Brainerd, Tenn., passed away Thursday, Aug. 3, 2023.
Doug was known for his sense of humor and his loving and giving heart. He was the patriarch of the family and will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
He was preceded in death by his parents, T.D. Carter and Ellen (Gibbs) Carter.
Survivors include his wife of 54 years, Linda Carter; son, Jody Carter (Jennifer); brother, David Hoodenpyle (Lou Ann); sisters, Joan Veal, and Diane Williams (Skeeter); grandchildren, Jack and Ava Carter; nieces and nephews; special friend, Vincent Fant.
Funeral services were Thursday, Aug. 10 at First Cumberland Presbyterian Church on North Moore Road, Chattanooga, Tenn.
Memorial contributions may be made to St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital (www.stjude.org) or the Chattanooga Area Food Bank (chattfoodbank.org). Donations to First Cumberland Presbyterian Church would also be appreciated.
Online condolences may be shared at ryanfuneralhome.net.
Arrangements by Ryan Funeral Home and Crematory, Trenton.
LAURA O’NEAL
Laura Cathey O’Neal, of Rising Fawn, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.
Born March 8, 1924, in Cleveland, Tenn., she was the youngest of the nine children of Roxie Tatum Stonecipher and Jack Cathey. The first in her family to graduate from high school (Bradley County), she was employed by Weldon Gas and Converse Bridge and Steel, where she met her future husband, James William (Bill) O’Neal, Jr. Married in 1946, they lived in the Lakeview, East Ridge, and Trenton areas and were together 42 years until his death in 1989. Great adventurers, they traveled extensively, a passion Laura continued to follow. She loved cooking, caring for her family, was an avid reader all her life, and truly relished a good game of bridge. At age 90, she undertook the rebuilding of her Rising Fawn home after a devastating fire.
Always active in her communities, she was a member of the Methodist (Newnan Springs) and United Methodist (First Centenary) churches, and she served in various capacities in the Hodge Sunday School Class and was a member and board member of the United Methodist Women (Holston Conference). Dade County community service included the Board of the Cherokee Regional Library (Dade County Public Library) and the Dade County Garden Club. She was also a member of the Hutchinson Medical Center Foundation Board.
She was preceded in death by her husband, James William O’Neal; parents and stepfather, Roxie Tatum Stonecipher, Jack Cathey, and Marcine Stonecipher; siblings, Lucy Groves, Jim Cathey, Fred Cathey, Clint Cathey, Earl Cathey, Nellie Humberd, T.J. Cathey, and Gladys Rule; step-siblings; nieces and nephews, Diane Cathey Wade, Doyle Groves, Paul Humberd, Johnny Humberd, and E.J Humberd.
Survivors include her daughter, Jayne Griffin (Reese), Rising Fawn; son, BG (R) James P. (Pat) O’Neal (Lynn) Beaufort, S.C.; grandsons, COL (R) Patrick Scott O’Neal (Missie) Clifton, Va., and Jamison Griffin (Brennan), Lookout Mountain; great-grandchildren, Brennan, Patrick, and Ellie O’Neal, Hill, Candler, and Mary Reese Griffin; nieces and nephews, Marianna Dickert Williams (Larry), Sand Mountain, Steve Dickert (Gloria), Lynchburg, Tenn., Leola Humberd Evans, Betty Humberd (Paul) and Barbara Humberd (Johnny), Cleveland, Tenn.
Special thanks from the family to Bethany, Stacy, and Barb for their care and devotion in these last years and to Hearth Hospice for their professionalism and care as well.
A Celebration of Life service was Saturday, Aug. 12, at Trenton Methodist Church. A “celebration of life and remembrance lunch” followed at Whisperhills Farm, Rising Fawn.
Pallbearers were Scott O’Neal, Brennan O’Neal, Patrick O’Neal, Jamison Griffin, Hill Griffin, Larry Williams, Steve Dickert and Griffin Lifsey.
Memorial donations in memory of Laura C. O’Neal may be made to Scenic Dade, P.O. Box 724, Trenton, GA 30752 www.scenicdade.com/donate or the Dade County Public Library, 102 Court Street, Trenton, GA 30752.
Arrangements by Ryan Funeral Home and Crematory, Trenton.
REBA SMITH
Reba Frances Smith, 89, of the West Brow community on Lookout Mountain, passed away Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023.
Mrs. Smith was born on South Pittsburg Mountain on May 25, 1934, to the late Jesse and Margaret Meadows Vaughn. She was of the Pentecostal faith and served as a care-giver to many children for many years at her Lookout Mountain home.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Harold W. Smith, Jr.; brothers, Jesse Vaughn, Jr., Andrew Vaughn, and Harold Vaughn.
Survivors include her children, Gary Smith, Harold W. Smith, III, Jimmy Smith, Stephen (Rhonda) Smith, Lisa Lackey, and Sandy (Arturo) Ayala; siblings, Shirley Beck, Betty Sue Nisbet, Christine Hand, Ralph Vaughn, Pat Tiller and Donnie (Libby) Vaughn; 17 grandchildren; 22 great-grandchildren; and two great-great-grandchildren.
Graveside services were Monday, Aug. 7, at the Ascalon Baptist Church Cemetery, Rising Fawn.
An online guestbook for Mrs. Smith is available at ryanfuneralhome.net.
Arrangements by Ryan Funeral Home and Crematory, Trenton.