Obituaries
Local Obituaries for McMinn County, Tennessee
Lawrence Edwin Wilson
Jan 6, 2026
Lawrence Edwin Wilson, age 90, a long-time businessman and civic leader of Etowah, passed away on January 6, 2026, at his home. He was the former President of Arnav Industries with garment production facilities in several locations and later the owner of M. Johnston factory Outlet in Etowah for many years with customers from all over the country. He...
William Sherman Williams
Jan 4, 2026
William "Sherman" Williams, 82, of Etowah, TN passed away on Sunday, January 4, 2026.
Funeral service will be held at 1:00 p.m., Wednesday, January 7, 2026 in the chapel of Bordwine Funeral Home with Pastor Brandon Wilcox officiating.
The family will receive friends from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., Wednesday prior to the service.
...Donald "Don" Slack
Dec 30, 2025
Donald "Don" Eugene Slack, 83, of Etowah passed away Tuesday, December 30, 2025.
Don retired from CSX Railroad as well as Thomas & Betts. He was an active member of North Etowah Baptist Church. Don served in the United States Army. He was the son of Herb and Oma Slack. From an early age Don was raised...
Kay Hicks
Dec 30, 2025
Kay "Cissy" Alyse Granita Hicks, 83, of Etowah, TN passed away on Tuesday, December 30, 2025.
Kay was born in Etowah, TN in 1942 to Ulysses and Lucille Melton and proudly spent the entirety of her life in Etowah, TN. She was devoted to her family after retiring from a long career at Proffitts. Kay was a...
Darrell Mosier
Dec 29, 2025
Darrell Mosier, 55, of Etowah, TN passed away Monday, December 29, 2025.
Darrell was a member and deacon of Faith Baptist Church. He loved working on old cars; Mopar and 1969 Roadrunner were his favorite. In his spare time, he enjoyed fishing and mountain trips soaking in God's beautiful creation.
Preceded in death by his...
Joann Elliott
Dec 22, 2025
Joann Elliott, 93, of Etowah, TN passed away Sunday, December 22, 2025.
Joann was a member of Etowah First Baptist Church where she raised her children. She was an expert seamstress, quilter, and dollmaker. In her spare time, she loved working in her flower garden. Joann was a loving mother and sister. She always loved and supported...
Zelphina "Rusti" Dipierro
Dec 18, 2025
Zelphina "Rusti" Farner DiPierro, 89, of Lancaster, Ohio, passed away peacefully on December 18, 2025 at the Fairhope Hospice Pickering House in Lancaster, Ohio. Rusti was born on March 30, 1936, in Athens, Tennessee, to the late Issac and Della Mae (Jack) Farner.
The seventh of ten children, Rusti was the first of her siblings to graduate...
Clara Cochran
Dec 14, 2025
Clara Cochran, 96, of Englewood, TN passed away Sunday, December 14, 2025 at Life Care Center of Athens.
Clara loved growing flowers and enjoyed driving around with her husband, oftentimes finding themselves in Murphy, NC.
Preceded in death by her husband, Frank Cochran; parents, Sam and Nina Snider; brother and sister-in-law, Clifford and Sue Snider;...
Robert L. Jones
Dec 13, 2025
Robert L. Jones, 77, of Etowah went to be with his Lord in heaven on Saturday, December 13, 2025.
Robert was a hardworking man who enjoyed farming. He loved to do anything that kept him outdoors. He mostly enjoyed cutting firewood, mowing yards, and working in the hay fields to help feed his cattle.
He...
Grace Trew
Dec 8, 2025
Grace Martin Trew, 97, slipped peacefully into the arms of her Lord on Monday, December 8, 2025.
Born in Englewood, Tennessee, Grace spent her entire life in the community she loved, surrounded by family, friends, and the familiar hills she called home.
Grace devoted 40 wonderful years to teaching, pouring her heart into every child...
Albert Mitchum
Dec 8, 2025
Albert Mitchum, 65, of Delano, TN passed away on the morning of Monday, December 8, 2025.
Survivors include his loving wife, Leslie Mitchum; parents, William C. and Anita C. Mitchum; brothers and sisters-in-law, Bill and Bonnie Mitchum, Lewis and Kim Mitchum; John and Sandy Mitchum; sister, Leah Mitchum; several nieces and nephews; father- and mother-in-law, Rex and...
Wanda Allison
Dec 7, 2025
Wanda J. Allison, of Athens, Tennessee, formerly of Stockbridge, GA, passed peacefully at her home on December 7, 2025.
Born in Maryville, Tennessee, she was a devoted woman of the Baptist faith who dearly loved her Savior, Jesus Christ. Her gentle spirit, unwavering kindness, and joyful personality touched everyone she met. She was employed at Keebler Baking...
Carolyn Gray
Dec 3, 2025
Carolyn Ann Vandiver Gray passed away on Wednesday, December 3, 2025, at the age of 87. She was born on March 6, 1938, to John Milton Vandiver and Merk Eula Crow Vandiver. Carolyn graduated from Avondale High School in Decatur, GA in 1956 and Tift College in Forsyth, GA in 1960.
In her first marriage, she welcomed...
Helen James
Nov 30, 2025
Helen H. James, 92, passed away November 30, 2025 as the music of her favorite and requested song, the Hallelujah Chorus, filled the room.
Born July 25, 1933 in Benton TN, Helen's life touched every life with whom she came in contact. Helen was the owner of James Tax Service in Etowah, TN that was established in...
Elmer "E.L." Martin
Nov 30, 2025
Elmer Lee "E.L." Martin, 82, of Englewood, Tennessee, passed away peacefully on November 30, 2025, in the same community where he was born on June 5, 1943. Born at home in Englewood, he was the oldest of nine children to the late D.C. and Frances Martin.
E.L. was a proud and dedicated 50-year member of the Carpenters...
Hoyt Austin Watson
Nov 29, 2025
Hoyt Austin Watson, 86, of Etowah, TN passed away Saturday, November 29, 2025.
Hoyt was a member of Goodsprings Baptist Church. He found joy in farming and being outdoors. He loved his family dearly.
He was preceded in death by the mother of his children, Barbara Jeanette Watson; parents, William Austin Watson and Margaret Watson;...
Randy Bowman
Nov 28, 2025
Randy Bowman, 61, of Athens, TN passed away Friday, November 28, 2025.
Randy loved his family. He was a hardworking and devoted father, grandfather, and friend. Randy never met a stranger and was willing to help anyone, never asking anything in return.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Bennie and Dois Faye Bowman....
Charles Richard Floyd
Nov 23, 2025
Charles Richard "Ricky" Floyd, 82, of Etowah, TN passed away, Sunday, November 23, 2025.
Preceded in death by his mother, Charlestine Watson; step-father, Lester Watson; father, Horris Richard Floyd; step-mother, Betty Floyd; brother, Larry Floyd.
Survivors include his wife, Laura Floyd; son and daughter-in-law, Nathan and Brandy Floyd; daughter, Sarah Floyd; grandchildren, Bella Floyd, Wyatt...
Gene Gouge
Nov 22, 2025
Gene Gouge of Cleveland, TN went to be with his Lord on Saturday, November 22, 2025 at the age of 80 years old.
He was born and raised in a small area outside of Etowah known as Coghill and lived in Etowah most of his life. Gene was the owner of Gene's TV and appliance repair for...
James Cherry
Nov 20, 2025
James Cherry, 54, of Etowah, TN passed away Thursday, November 20, 2025.
His daughter, Hannah, says,
"There are a few things I want you to know about my daddy. He was known as husband, dad, grandad to Raley James (his first grand baby) and G-Paw to the Memphis grand-pets. My mom would say he was...


