Obituaries 1/19
Published 9:15 pm Thursday, January 18, 2007
The News Courier will publish, free of charge, death notices including the name, age and city of residence of the deceased, date and place of death, and time and place of funeral service and visitation. Family members may express themselves in a eulogy, list survivors and give detailed obituary. The News Courier will accept these paid items from the family, funeral directors or other individuals. Paid obituaries may include a photo at no extra charge. For information, call Vanessa Byars at The News Courier, 232-2720.
Judith Cosby Beirne
Judith Cosby Beirne, 56, of Lexington, Ky., and formerly of Athens, died Monday, Jan. 15, 2007, in Samaritan Hospital in Lexington after a long and courageous battle with cancer.
A private memorial service was Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007. Kerr Brothers Funeral Home in Lexington was in charge of arrangements.
Mrs. Beirne was a member of the Church of Christ.
She is survived by her husband Frank T. Beirne of Lexington; her mother, Gertrude Johnson Cosby of Athens; two sons, John Phillips and Michael Beirne, both of Lexington; three daughters, Sharon Legg of Athens; Laurie Davis of Monticello, Miss., and Heather Beirne of Lexington; two brothers, Gerald Cosby of Portland, Ore., and Ken Cosby of Athens; one sister, Linda Martin of Gales Creek, Ore.; seven grandchildren; several nieces and nephews; and many friends.
She was preceded in death by her father, Haskell “Jack” Cosby of Athens.
Judith was a devoted wife, a loving mother, an artist, a human-resource executive and an avid flower gardener.
She has asked that any memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, since her heart ached for the babies and the little children who were taking cancer treatments at the same time as her.
Ethel Elizabeth Looney
The funeral for Ethel Elizabeth Carter Looney, 98, of Athens, will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at O’neal Church of Christ with Doug Matlock, Rodney Britton and Guy McDaniel officiating and Spry Funeral Home directing.
Burial will be in Limestone Memorial Gardens
Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until the service at the church.
Mrs. Looney died Thursday, Jan. 18, 2007, at Athens-Limestone Hospital.
Born Feb. 14, 1908, in Lauderdale County, Mrs. Looney was a member of the O’neal Church of Christ and a homemaker.
She is survived by two sons, Douglas Looney and James Luna, both of Athens; two daughters, Faye Leopard and Patricia Tucker, both of Athens; two brothers, Elmer Carter of Florence and Monroe Roberts of Athens; 17 grandchildren; several great-grandchildren; and several great-great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Charlie Looney; and two sons, J.O. Looney and Allie Looney.
Grandsons and great-grandsons will be pallbearers.
Leona Pepper
Leona Pepper, age 74, formerly of Limestone County, Ala., died Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2007, at John M. Reed Nursing Home in Limestone, Tenn. She was born in Redmont, Tenn., the daughter of the late Mary Palmer and Henry McClendon.
She is survived by one daughter and son-in-law, Teresa and Joseph Monette of Greeneville, Tenn.; two grandchildren, Joseph Monette of Greeneville and Charlotte Mullins of Mosheim, Tenn.; one great-grandson, Hunter Mullins of Mosheim; and several nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband, Dewey Pepper; two sons, Doyle W. Johnson and Larry T. Johnson; two sisters and five brothers.
The funeral service will be at 2 p.m. Saturday at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home in Limestone County, Ala., with the Rev. Robert Norman officiating. Interment will follow in Limestone Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends from noon until 2 p.m. Saturday preceding the service at the funeral home.
Pallbearers will be Joseph Monette, Daniel Mullins, Royce Trousdale, Michael McCafferty, Bar-D Sinard and David McClendon.
Larry Patterson will serve as honorary pallbearer.
David Kinney Sparks
The memorial service for David Kinney Sparks, 84, of Athens, will be at 11 a.m. Saturday at First United Methodist Church in Athens.
Mr. Sparks died Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2006, at his residence.
Mr. Sparks was a member of the First United Methodist Church. He was a retired pilot from the Air Force. He was a member of the Athens-Limestone Hospital Foundation and a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Alumni Association of California State University in Fresno.
He is survived by one daughter, Terry Dyck of Morro Bay, Calif.; one sister, Barbara Rice of Morro Bay; and one granddaughter, Lisa Putman of Salt Lake City, Utah.
Memorials may be made to Hospice of Limestone County or to Athens-Limestone Hospital Foundation.
Spry Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements.