Obituaries
Local Obituaries for McMinn County, Tennessee
Michael Byers
Apr 26, 2026
Mike Byers, 71, of Etowah, TN passed away, Sunday, April 26, 2026. Born on March 16, 1955, in Sweetwater, Tennessee, Mike lived a life marked by love, devotion, and deep family ties.
Mike was a loving and devoted husband, father, and grandfather—roles he cherished above all else. His presence will be profoundly missed by those whose lives he touched with kindness...
Robert Scott Cooley
Apr 19, 2026
Robert “Scott” Cooley, 62, of Etowah, passed away Sunday, April 19, 2026 at his home surrounded by his loving family.
He is preceded in death by his father, Bob A. Cooley; sister, Pam (Cooley) Merrell.
He leaves behind his devoted wife, Lori (Hayes) Cooley; sons, Robert Scott “Bobby” Cooley, Jr. (Amanda Taylor) of Ashland City, TN; Brian Allen Cooley (Ariel) of Lenoir...
Zelma Puett
Apr 17, 2026
Zelma Puett, 78 of Etowah, Tn, passed away peacefully at her residence on Friday, April 17, 2026. Born on May 16, 1947, in Sweetwater, Tennessee, Zelma’s life was a testament to kindness, faith, and dedication to family and church. Zelma was a cherished member of the Coghill Baptist Church.
Zelma was widely known for her compassion and thoughtful nature, particularly in...
Rhonda Reed
Apr 16, 2026
Rhonda Reed, of Englewood, TN passed away peacefully at home on April 16, 2026 after a year long battle with cancer. Born on September 25, 1965 in Etowah, TN, Rhonda lived a life marked by kindness, dedication, and unwavering love for her family and community.
Rhonda’s career was defined by her remarkable commitment to patient care. For 36 years, she worked...
Karen Brown
Mar 31, 2026
Karen Ann (Nelson) Brown, 89, went to be with her Lord on March 31, 2026. She was a resident at The Neighborhood at Tellico Village in the memory care unit.
She was formerly from Hobe Sound, Florida, having lived in Florida for over 70 years. She worked at the Social Security SSI department for 30 years. Before moving to Tennessee, she...
Harvey Blassingame
Mar 29, 2026
Harvey Blassingame, age 88 of Etowah, Tennessee and formerly of Chatsworth, passed away Sunday, March 29, 2026, at his daughter’s home in Chatsworth.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Carole Ellis Blassingame; parents Tony & Billie Blassingame; grandson, Seth Johnson; son-in-law, Jeff Johnson; siblings Geraldine Blassingame, Rosetta (Frank) Winkler, Jimmy (Joyce) Blassingame; nephew Larry Winkler; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Horace...
Ronny Borden
Mar 29, 2026
Ronny Borden, born on October 31, 1937, peacefully passed away on Sunday, March 29, 2026. He was a devoted member of Englewood United Methodist Church and a cherished presence within his community.
Throughout his life, Ronny found great joy in the simple pleasures of nature. An avid fisherman and camper, he treasured his time outdoors, nurturing a love of gardening and...
Charlie Harris
Mar 25, 2026
Charlie Harris, born on January 29, 1949, passed away on Wednesday, March 25, 2026, leaving behind a legacy of warmth, devotion, and a deep passion for family and cherished pursuits. Known for his unwavering love of NASCAR and a particular admiration for Dale Earnhardt, Charlie's enthusiasm for racing was matched only by the joy he found in spending his summers...
Largent Sneed
Mar 25, 2026
Largent Sneed, 66 of Delano, passed away Wednesday, March 25, 2026.
Known for his wonderful, infectious laugh, Largent brought joy and warmth to those around him. He had a deep love for his family as well as his dogs, he was a member of the Delano Baptist Church.
He is survived by his loving wife, Penny Sneed, and their children and spouses:...
Zane Gibson
Mar 23, 2026
Zane Gibson, born on October 1, 1970, passed away at his residence on Monday, March 23, 2026 at the age of 55. Known for his sharp wit and generous spirit, Zane brought laughter and joy to all who knew him. He was a beloved member of the New Zion Baptist Church and held deeply to his Baptist faith throughout his...
Gennis Ray "Scoot" Belcher
Mar 23, 2026
Gennis Ray "Scoot" Belcher, aged 79, of Englewood, Tennessee, passed away peacefully at his residence on Monday, March 23, 2026. Born on April 22, 1946, Mr. Belcher was a lifelong resident of Englewood.
A 1964 graduate of Englewood High School, "Scoot" devoted much of his life to his profession, retiring after an impressive 42 years of dedicated service at Olin Chemical...
Frankie Tallent Jr.
Mar 18, 2026
Frankie Tallent Jr., a dedicated preservationist and cherished member of his community, passed away on Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at Vanderbilt Wilson County Hospital. Born on December 3, 1963, Frankie’s life was marked by a deep commitment to history, culture, and family.
A proud graduate of Polk County High School in 1981, Frankie distinguished himself not only academically but also through...
Nolan Gross
Mar 18, 2026
Nolan Gross, born on September 24, 1958, passed away on Wednesday, March 18, 2026 at Starr Regional Medical Center. A devoted family man and esteemed member of his community, Nolan’s life was marked by service, dedication, and an enduring love for those closest to him.
Nolan proudly served his country as a US Navy veteran. Beyond his professional career, he was...
Philip W. Culpepper
Mar 16, 2026
Philip W. Culpepper, a devoted husband, loving grandfather, and respected community member, passed away peacefully at his residence on Monday, March 16, 2026, at the age of 77. Born on May 11, 1948, in Delano, Tennessee, Philip's life was marked by unwavering dedication to his family, career, faith, and community.
A proud graduate of Polk County High School in the Class...
Jeffery Mazowieski
Mar 11, 2026
Jeffery Mazowieski, a beloved husband, father, papa, brother, and friend, passed away Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at the age of 68. Jeffery led a life of marked service, love, and unwavering dedication to his country, family, and friends.
As a senior master sergeant in the United States Air Force, Jeffery proudly served his country for 24 years. His commitment to duty...
Ed Cochran
Mar 10, 2026
Edgar "Ed" Joines Cochran, a lifelong resident of Englewood, Tennessee, local businessman and loving husband, father, brother, "Uncle Ed," and papaw passed away peacefully on his farm in Nonaburg, Tennessee, on March 10, 2026 surrounded by his family.
Cochran was born October 31, 1943, to Hubert Cochran and Zeola Stiles Cochran in Englewood, Tennessee, where he was raised in a home...
James Lyle Chambers
Mar 5, 2026
James Lyle Chambers, 77, of Englewood, passed away peacefully on Thursday, March 5, 2026. Born on June 14, 1948, in Andrews, North Carolina, Lyle lived a life defined by service, dedication, and love.
A proud Marine Veteran, Lyle served his country honorably for two years in Vietnam, reflecting his deep commitment to the values of bravery and sacrifice. Following his military...
Bettie Elwood
Feb 27, 2026
Bettie Carroll Elwood, age 95, died peacefully in her sleep on February 27, 2026, at her home in Etowah, Tennessee.
An Etowah native, Bettie dedicated her life to Godly service. Serving for the Presbyterian Church (USA) for 30 years in the Philippines and Taiwan alongside her husband, Rev. Douglas J. Elwood. They retired to Etowah in 1991 and rejoined the First...
Shannon Brewer
Feb 23, 2026
Shannon Brewer, a devoted wife, loving mother, and cherished friend, passed away on February 23, 2026, at the age of 53. Born on September 20, 1972, Shannon lived her life with a profound strength rooted in her faith and a passion for her family.
As a stay-at-home mom, Shannon dedicated herself entirely to her role as a mother, cherishing every moment...
William "Bill" McKinney
Feb 23, 2026
William "Bill" McKinney, 93, of Etowah, TN, passed away on Monday, February 23, 2026.
Bill retired from Bowater Paper Mill in Calhoun TN, after 40 years of dedicated service. His work ethic was a testament to his character, and he took pride in every aspect of his career.
Bill was not only dedicated to his profession but also to his family and...
