Obituaries for May 16th - May 24th

Wilford Wade Ownby, age 56, of South Knoxville, passed away Monday, May 24, 2004. He as a member of Island Home Baptist Church and a Marine Corps Veteran serving in Viet Nam. Funeral service was 7 PM Thursday at Atchley’s Seymour Chapel. Rev. Dwight Jenkins officiated. Interment was Friday in Shiloh Cemetery in Pigeon Forge with military honors by American Legion Post 104. The family received friends Thursday at Atchley Funeral Home Seymour, 122 Peacok Court, Seymour, Tn. Edwin Clair Shope, 69, of Sevierville peacefully went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, May 24, 2004. He began his journey to his heavenly reward at Pigeon Forge Care and Rehabilitation Center. Memorial services were held on Sunday, May 30, 2004 at the Parkway Church of God with Pastor Phillip Morris and Rev. Jack Dennis officiating. John Richard “Rick” Rader, age 60 of Dandridge, died Sunday, May 23, 2004. He was a graduate of East Tennessee State University and was a Gatlinburg business owner for many years. Graveside services and interment were held on Thursday in Smoky Mountain Memory Gardens with Rev. Bobby Ely officiating. Siota M. (Billie) Williams 93 of Maryville died Thursday, May 20, 2004 at Colonial Hills Nursing. Funeral Mass was held on Monday May 24, 2004 at Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Church with Father Alex Waraksa officiating. Walter C. (Don) Dempsey, age 57 of, Seymour, passed away suddenly Wednesday, May 19, 2004. He was a member of Galilee Baptist Church and had recently been attending First Baptist Church, Seymour. He was the owner of D&D Enterprises as a contractor. The family would like to recognize his best friend Howard Trevathan and girls with special consideration and love. Don was always very active with his childrens athletics both with support and coaching. He will be greatly missed by many as he always shared love and was loved by many in return. Funeral services were held Friday in Atchley’s Seymour Chapel. Interment was held Saturday in Knob Creek Cemetery. The family received friends from 5-7PM Friday at Atchley’s Seymour Chapel. Hunter Lee Bittle was born on February 16, 2001. His life was tragically ended in a car accident on Wednesday, May 19, 2004. In this three short years, God was able to use Hunter in many lives. His father Donnie L. Bittle, credits Hunter for leading him to salvation in Jesus Christ. His mother, Melanie Talentino Bittle, praises God for the precious gift that he was for three years. Hunter was a light to all who knew him and will be greatly missed by his sister, Chelsie Bittle, and the rest of his family. They look forward to being with him in heaven one day. In experiencing this loss the family is reminded of Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord. Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” Funeral services were held on Sunday at Providence Church, 1432 Lovell Road, Knoxville, TN, with the pastors Lance Robinson and Chad Sparks officiating. The family received friends at the church that evening. Interment was Monday in Seymour Memory Gardens.