Obituaries 2/4

Published 8:57 pm Friday, February 3, 2006

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 services and visitation.

Family members now may express themselves in a eulogy, list survivors and give detailed biographical information about the deceased in a paid 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.

If a published obituary contains an error, The News-Courier will reprint a corrected obituary at no charge, provided the error was ours. The News-Courier does not issue refunds on obituary announcements.

For pricing information, call Vanessa McKee at The News-Courier, 232-2720.



Norma Garcia Huerta

The funeral for Norma Garcia Huerta, 35, of Athens, was Friday at Limestone Chapel Funeral Home with Rev. Charlie Alookaran officiating. Burial was in Forrest Lawn Memorial Park in Covina, Cal.

Mrs. Huerta died Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2006 in Limestone County.



Leonard Collier Johnson

The graveside service for Leonard Collier Johnson, 85, of Elkmont, will be at 2 p.m. today at Roselawn Cemetery with Donald Terry officiating and Spry Funeral Home directing. Visitation will be from 12:30-1:30 today at the funeral home.

Mr. Johnson died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006, at Floyd E. Tut Fann State Veterans Home in Madison.



Mattie Dean McMeans

The funeral for Mattie Dean McMeans, 91, of Athens, will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at Madison Street Baptist Church with Mike Westmoreland and Roy McMahan officiating. Burial will be in Limestone Memorial Gardens.

Visitation will be today from 6-9 p.m. at Spry funeral home. The body will lie in state from 1-2 p.m. Sunday at the church.

Mrs. McMeans died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006 at her residence. She was a member of the Madison Street Baptist Church, a former Meals on Wheels volunteer, member of the American Legion and DAV Auxiliary. She was preceded in death by her husband, Wilson McMeans; sons, Buddy, Sonny and Denny McMeans; daughter, Jan Thornton; grandchildren Robin McMeans and Kimberly Wilson; and two great grandchildren.

She is survived by seven daughters, Barbara Garrett, Athens, Louise Bagsby, Elkmont; Pop Conley, Gail Pack, Carolyn Miller, Brenda Adams and Wanda Hunt, all of Athens; one son, Gary McMeans, of Athens; two brothers, J.D. Swanner, Tanner, and Frank Swanner, Milton, Fla.; 28 grandchildren; 47 great grandchildren; six great great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Jimmy Dungy, Bubba Murphy, Larry Posey, Hershal Swanner, Duel Greene and Steve Andrews.

Honorary pallbearers will be Donald Vickers, Pat Lawrence, J.L. Anderson, Greg Greene, J.D. Jones and Mike Gould.



Rilla Mae Wales

The funeral for Rilla Mae Wales, 85, of Athens, will be Sunday at 2 p.m. at McConnell Funeral Home Chapel with Dr. Rick Craft officiating. Burial will be in Roselawn Cemetery.

Visitation will be today from 6-8 p.m. at the funeral home.

Mrs. Wales died Thursday, Feb. 2, 2006 at her residence. She was born Oct. 24, 1920 in Limestone County to Alvis Tillery and Florence Black Tillery. She was a member of the First Church in Athens and was a homemaker.

She was preceded in death by her husband Johnnie Wales and daughter Joyce Wales.

Survivors include two daughters, Rachel Jones, Athens and Debbie Danley, Muscle Shoals; three sons, Harold Wales and Randy Wales, both of Athens, and Steve Wales, Montgomery; two sisters, Flossie Hodges, Holland Heights Community and Clara Butler, Ardmore; three brothers, William Tillery, Ardmore, Joe Tillery, Ardmore and Doug Tillery, Michigan; 12 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren.

Pallbearers will be Mark Wales, Jeff Wales, Tim Anerton, Ryan Wales, Dale Wales and Troy Chambers.