OBITUARIES
EDWARD JOE BURTON, 46, of Altoona, died Dec. 21, 2008, at St. Vincent's Birmingham. A tree surgeon with Asplundt, he had recently been ordained as a minister. He was predeceased by his father Lloyd Burton and brother Hoyt Burton.

Surviving are wife Rebecca Hubbard Burton; children Jocie, Dillon, Autumn, Morgan, Crystal, Bethanie, Hunter, and Logan; mother Ruby Gibson Burton; sister Carol (Alan) Anderson; special nephew Joey (Chastity) Burton.

Graveside services were conducted Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 3 p.m. by Snead Funeral Home at Burton Mountain Cemetery with R. Edward officiating. Pallbearers were Donnie Bradford, Ronnie Bradford, Mark Smith, Arlene Norris, Kevin Smoot, Joel Mitchell, Paul Warren, Pat Bradford, and Paul Bradford.

CLEVE BUSE, 57, died Dec. 27, 2008, at his residence in Springville. The Blount native was son of the late Fred Knox and Lois Adell Yancy Buse. He had worked as a rock mason. Predeceasing him besides his parents were brothers John, Frank, Jimmy, and Richard Buse; sisters, Lucy, Ollie Mae, and Frances Buse.

Surviving are his wife of 16 years Martha Sanders Peoples Buse; daughter Dolly Franklin of Springville; son-in-law Tommy Franklin of Springville; brother Allen Buse of Guntersville; sisters, Christine (Billy) Needham and Mary (Dennis) Bryan of Straight Mountain, Jane Buse and Anna Buse of Oneonta.

John Franklin, Clyde Sharber, and Tammy Overton conducted services Dec. 29 at 3 p.m. at Lemley Chapel with interment following at Red Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers were Jerry Allen Buse, Johnny Wayne Woods, Royce Vaughn, Danny Davidson Jr., Larry Weaver, and Terry Johnson. Honorary pallbearers were George Sanders, William Lesley, Dennis Bryan, Joey Overton, Chuck Cartee, and Danny Stidham.

PHILLIP HUGH BYRUM, 50, of Douglas, died Dec. 22, 2008, at UAB Hospital in Birmingham. President of Southeastern Technical Sales, he was a former member of both the gospel group Celebration and Ebenezer United Methodist Church and had currently been attending Snead United Methodist Church. He graduated from Susan Moore High School in 1976 and later from Asbury College in Wilmore, Ky.

Surviving are his wife Karen Riley Byrum; daughters Laurel Byrum, Olivia Byrum, and Madilyn Byrum; son Nick Byrum; parents Duane Milton and Gracie Maberene Jackson Byrum; fatherand mother-in-law Dale and Euna Riley; sister Beth (Gary) Sutherland; nieces and nephews Will, Katie, Jake, and Brittany Riley.

David Socha and Floyd Skip Atchison conducted services Saturday, Dec. 27, at 1 p.m. at Snead United Methodist Church with Snead Funeral Home directing. Burial was at Ebenezer Cemetery. Pallbearers were David Freeman, David Jackson, Larry Snead, Alan Smith, Steve May, Daryl Masters, and Jerrel Ivey.

J.P. FENNELL, 75, died Dec. 22, 2008, at his Blountsville residence. The Blount native was son of the late John and Cora Fennell. He was the retired manager of Marshall County Gas Company and a member of Siloam Baptist Church and Oneonta Masonic Lodge #324. He served in the U.S. Army during the Korean War and was a member of the Blountsville Fire Department for 36 years (33 of those years as fire chief).

Surviving are his wife Betty Fennell, son Chris (Cynthia) Fennell, and daughters Cathy (Rick) Graves, Lesia (Ronnie) Cargile, Becky (Scottie) Butts, and Megan Johnson, all of Blountsville; sister Deaner Harrell; six grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren. He was predeceased by one great-grandchild Dalton Hanson, four brothers, and two sisters, in addition to his parents.

Glenn Weston and Don Garrison conducted services Dec. 27 at 1 p.m. at Blountsville Funeral Home Chapel. Burial was at Roswell Creek Cemetery. Pallbearers were Steven Hanson, Kenneth Hanson, Danny Stephens, James Overbee, Lynn King, Valace Robertson, and Roger West.

OPIE EUGENIA FOUNTAIN, 94, died Nov. 23, 2008, at the TLC Nursing Home. Funeral services were held Wednesday, Nov. 26, from Snead Funeral Home with interment at Ebenezer Cemetery. Services were conducted by Ray Oden.

She was predeceased by her husband, Clarence W. Fountain; parents, Edward A. and Jessie Eugenia Chappell, and Rev. Ellis and Maud Herring who raised her; brothers Odell, Cecil, Curtis, Ellis Oakley (OK), Otto and Jewell Chappell; sister Omie E. Boling; and two infant sisters.

She is survived by nieces Anne Chappell Hendon, Bonnie Chappell Hamner, Sue Chappell (Lecil) Smith, Annette Chappell Garrison, Mary Chappell (Eddie) Seibert, Gaye Chappell (Dick) Garner; nephews Odus Boling, Bobbie (Millie) Chappell, Jerry B. Chappell, Billy Ray Chappell, David Chappell, Rex Chappell; sister in-law Louise Cook Chappell; and a host of great nieces, nephews, and friends.

- Submitted and paid for by a family member

CLAUDE EARL McCAY, 61, of Gadsden, died Dec. 26, 2008, at Riverview Regional Medical Center. An avid fisherman and hunter, he was employed in the field of construction/carpentry. He was predeceased by his mother Laura Lucille McCay; brother Bobby (Carol) McCay; and niece Donna McCay.

Surviving are brother William (JoAnne) McCay of Nectar; sisters Laura (Freddie) Moore of Blountsville, Linda Pitts of Decatur, and Judy (Allen) Reeves of Nashville, Tenn.; father Timothy McCay of Cullman; four nieces and two nephews.

Gary Freeman conducted services Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. at Lemley Chapel with interment following at Nectar FCM Church Cemetery.

JAMES CARVEN McPHERSON, 81, died Dec. 21, 2008, in Houston, Tex., after a long battle with heart disease. He was born in Oneonta, son of the late Thomas J. and Lola Harvey McPherson. He attended Oneonta schools, completed high school at Marion (Ala.) Military Institute, and graduated from Auburn University in 1951 with degrees in mathematics and physics. After further graduate study at Duke University, he served three years in the U.S. Army and was chief of the firing tables branch at the Ballistic Research Laboratory, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland. A principal lunar navigator in the Apollo space program, Mr. McPherson worked 15 years at NASA in Houston, Tex., receiving the Exceptional Service Award in 1972.

Surviving are his wife of 56 years Gustavia Daily McPherson of Spring, Tex.; children Blaire and Jeff; daughter-in-law Victoria; granddaughters Carly, Haley, and Stacey; sister Martha M. Piper; nephew Tommy Carter; and nieces Ricie Hyde, Mauri Piper, and Lola Piper. He was predeceased by his parents; brother Thomas J. McPherson Jr.; sister Lorraine M. Carter; and nieces Jane C. Hart and Bitsy C. Denton.

Services were conducted Tuesday, Dec. 30, at 2 p.m. at John Wesley United Methodist Church, 5830 Bermuda Dunes, Houston, Texas 77069. The family requests contributions be made to the church building fund marked "Capital Campaign" and sent to the above address.

DONALD WELDON RIDINGS, 70, died Dec. 26, 2008, at his Oneonta residence. Born in Marion County, he was the son of the late Marvin Edgar and Jewel Trotter Ridings and the brother of the late Bill Ridings. He was employed with Farmco Builders as a construction superintendent and had worked as a civil engineer for the Alabama State Highway Department. An avid golfer, he had served in the National Guard and was a member of Oneonta First Baptist Church.

Surviving are his wife Wanda Pinyan Ridings of Oneonta; son Mark Ridings of Birmingham; daughter Tina Ridings (John) Brock of Davidson, N.C.; granddaughter Hannah Kate Brock; grandson John David Brock; sister Carolyn Ridings (Bill) Cardwell of St. Augustine, Fla.; sister-in-law Mavis Ridings of Southside.

Dan Sims and Larry Gipson conducted services Dec. 29 at 11 a.m. from Lemley Chapel with interment following in Oak Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers were Bill Cardwell, Dearl Pinyan, Lendell Benefield, Jeff Bicknell, Jim Daily, Ron Shea, Bill Burdette, and Everett Tidwell.

RICHARD O. SALSER, 58, of Cleveland, died Dec. 21, 2008, in Blount County. A native of Shelby County, he was the son of Lavonia Davis Salser and the late William Andrew Salser. He was of the Baptist faith and worked as a mechanic in the trucking industry. He was predeceased by a brother Larry Salser in addition to his father.

Surviving besides his mother are daughter Teresa (Larry) Cleveland; brother Rodney Harland (Barbara) Salser; sisters Lancy Lane Moe and Rebecca Elma (Donnie) Blackwood; grandchildren Jennifer McClellan, Justin Salser, and Richard Salser.

Memorial services are to be held at a later time, according to Blount County/Cleveland Funeral Home.

ELVA MAE SUMMERVILLE, 89, of Altoona, died Saturday, Dec. 27, 2008, at Altoona Health Care Center. The Blount native was a nursing aide for Altoona Health Care for 22 years and a volunteer there for six years after retiring. She was a member of Altoona First Baptist Church and Oneonta Civitan Club. Predeceasing her were husband Homer T. Summerville; parents James Emery and Jennie McCray Jenkins; brothers Doyle, Brady, Deward, and Howard "Doc" Jenkins; and sister Movelle Stewart.

Surviving are son James W. (Helen) Jenkins of Haddock, Ga.; grandson James P. Jenkins of Walnut Grove; granddaughter Tina (Murry) Cooper of Sparta, Ga.; great-grandson James Eugene Jenkins; great-granddaughter Cheyenne Cooper; niece Charlotte (Tommy) Latta of Hendrix; sister-in-law Audie Wilson of Altoona; many other nieces and nephews.

Glenn Stewart conducted services Dec. 29 at 1 p.m. at Valley Chapel Funeral Home of Oneonta. Burial was at Altoona Walnut Grove Cemetery.

GEORGE HOUSTON THOMPSON, 88, died Dec. 21, 2008, at his Cleveland residence. Born in Jackson County, he had worked as a construction/home builder and was of the Baptist faith. Predeceasing him were parents David O. and Delure Elizabeth Guffey Thompson; first wife Lois Jane Thompson; daughter Betty Jean McCrory; brother Alec Thompson; sisters Aubrey Shaw, Dixie Johnson, Florene Kilgore; grandchild Chris Mathews.

Surviving are wife Pauline Thompson; daughters Martha McCrory, Mary (James) Hogeland, and Patty (Leonard) Mathews; sisters Ruthie Tipton, Beulah Neal, Nancy Hollingsworth, Florence Dollar, and Melvine Dollar; 10 grandchildren; 10 greatgrandchildren; four great-great-grandchildren.

Graveside services were held Dec. 24 at 11 a.m. from Oxford Memorial Gardens. Pallbearers were Randall O'Donnell, Barry Rich, Evis Ray Thompson, Leonard Mathews, and Steven Mathews. Honorary pallbearers were J.D. Johnson, Jason Green, and James McInvale.

CLARICE LOUISE TIDWELL, 83, of Maryville, Tenn., died Dec. 21, 2008, at Blount Memorial Hospital in Maryville. Born in Blount County, she had been employed as a sales associate. Predeceasing her were parents Bruton Horton and Essie Murphree King; son Donald Tidwell; brother Earl Dean King; and sister Christine King Roberts.

Surviving are husband James Burnie Tidwell; son Mike (Patti) Tidwell of Maryville, Tenn.; three grandchildren; brother Robert (Sarah) King of Hanceville; sister Ruby (Carmen) Brothers of Snead.

Clatus NeSmith conducted services Tuesday, Dec. 23, at 2 p.m. from Valley Chapel. Interment was at Oak Hill Cemetery with Paul Ferguson, Pete Bohman, and Matt Miller serving as pallbearers.

FRANCISCO TOVAR, 50, died Dec. 24, 2008, at his Blountsville residence. A native of Mexico, he was the son of Rosendo Tovar Sanchez and Maria del Rejogio Diaz. He worked as a cook in the restaurant business.

Surviving are daughter Alejandra Tovar Velcizquez and stepsons Irma Hernandez, Aida Hernandez, Abel Hernandez, Artore Hernandez, and Hector Hernandez.

Blountsville Funeral Home was in charge of cremation. No services were planned at this time.

CHRISTINE HUDSON WALKER, 88, of Oneonta, died Dec. 23, 2008, at Oneonta Golden Living Center. A native of Blount County, she was a member of Robin Hill Baptist Church. Predeceasing her were husband Rev. J. L. Walker; son Loyd Wayne Walker; and parents Edward and Clarsie Bishop Hudson.

Surviving are daughter Patricia Collins of Oneonta; grandchildren Cindy (Johnny) Keenum, Patricia Diane Walker, Steven Wayne (Kathy) Walker, and Shannon Leigh Hersey, all of Birmingham, Phillip Michael (Ginger) Walker of Morris, Kristi L. (Tonia) Hartley of Pelham; eight great-grandchildren; four greatgreat grandchildren; brother Wayburn (Betty) Hudson of Woodstock.

Johnny Hudson and Bill McCrosky conducted services Saturday, Dec. 27, at 11 a.m. at Lemley Chapel. Interment followed at Oak Hill Cemetery. Pallbearers were Johnny Keenum, Drew Keenum, Eric Keenum, Steven Walker, Michael Walker, and Jimmy Hudson. Honorary pallbearers were Chace Walker and Jonathan Walker.

FRANCES REBECCA THOMAS WORTHAM, 81, of Pinson, died Dec. 22, 2008, at St. Vincent's Hospital. A Blount County native, she was a member of Sharon Baptist Church. Predeceasing her were parents Arthur and Flossie Bell Petrie Thomas; husband Frank Preusser; infant son John William Wortham; former husband John David Wortham Sr.

Surviving are sons John (Doris) Wortham and Scott (Laura) Wortham; daughters Dianne Cherry and Joan Wortham Laseczak; grandchildren Brian, Travis (Tammy), and Evan (Tiji) Cherry, Clint (Lesley), Samantha, Sarah, and Sophie Wortham, Jamie Wortham (Toby) Boutwell, Shannon Lanier Williamson, and Karyn Lanier (Chad) Morrison; great-grandchildren Layla, Zach, Zoe, and Saige Cherry, Elijah, Jordyn, Courtney, Hannah, and Ezra Boutwell, Miller and Mason Williamson, Cole and Turner Morrison; special friends Donna Thomas, Wayne and Barbara Harris, and Betty Fultz.

William Cox conducted services Dec. 26 at 12 p.m. at Sharon Baptist Church with burial in the adjoining cemetery. Pallbearers were Brian Cherry, Travis Cherry, Evan Cherry, Clint Wortham, Roger Wortham, and Wayne Harris.