Tennessee, U.S., Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909
Francois Kertesz
Chemist, linguist, info specialist
Record dated at 1:22 p.m.
on Tuesday, September 8, 1998
Francois Kertesz, 86, of Oak Ridge, died Thursday, Sept. 3, 1998, at his home.
Mr. Kertesz was an information specialist, linguist and chemist. He retired from Oak Ridge National Laboratory in 1973 after 22 years of service.
He came to Oak Ridge in 1949 to work on the Nuclear Energy for the Propulsion of Aircraft project (NEPA). He then transferred to ORNL, working first in the Reactor Experimental Engineering Division and later in the director's office and Information Division.
After his retirement, Mr. Kertesz worked as a consultant for a number of research and information companies in the United States, England and France. He later started his own company, Tennessee Technical Translators, which translated technical documents for companies worldwide.
He was born in 1911 in Nagyvarad, Hungary, which after World War I became Oradea, Romania. Mr. Kertesz received his chemical engineering degree in 1933 from the Technical University in Stuttgart, Germany. In 1938, he obtained his doctoral degree in electrochemistry from the Sorbonne in Paris.
Mr. Kertesz went to work for the French government and was sent to the New York World's Fair in 1939 to serve as head of the Scientific Section of the French Pavilion. After the World's Fair, he stayed in the U.S. and became a research chemist for Dupont in Perth Amboy, N.J. He became a naturalized citizen in 1945.
Mr. Kertesz spoke eight languages fluently and was always willing to help others translate letters from abroad, his family said. Due to his interests in languages, he founded the Cosmopolitan Club in Oak Ridge which promoted interests in foreign cultures and languages and encouraged interaction between foreign visitors and Oak Ridgers.
He also had a great interest in the arts and was past chairman of the Oak Ridge Playhouse and the Oak Ridge Arts Council. He was active in many other civic organizations, including Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic in Oak Ridge where he volunteered for many years.
His main hobbies were photography and tennis, and he was very active in the Oak Ridge Camera Club. With his partner, Bob Kernohan, he played in the Oak Ridge tennis league for almost 40 years. Ever the gallant gentleman, he would always kiss the hand of his female opponents at the end of every game, his family said.
Mr. Kertesz is survived by his wife of 13 years, Miriam Guthrie Kertesz; his daughter, Kathie Kertesz of Mill Valley, Calif.; three stepchildren, Chart Guthrie of Calverton, N.Y., Ellen Guthrie of Andover, Mass., and Leslie Bazzoon of Houston, Texas; two grandchildren, Wendy Welch Olson and Alison Welch Keliihoomalu, both of Marin County, Calif.; and five great-grandchildren.
His nurse-caretaker for five years, Carolyn Dotson, was considered a special friend.
Mr. Kertesz's first wife, Marjorie Schlechter Kertesz, died in 1984.
A memorial service will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Sept. 10, at Oak Ridge Unitarian Universalist Church.
The family requests any memorials be in the form of donations to the Recording for the Blind & Dyslexic Inc., 205 Badger Ave., Oak Ridge, TN 37830.
Weatherford Mortuary is handling arrangements.
Ava Murriel Lyons
Dyllis community resident
Record dated at 1:22 p.m.
on Tuesday, September 8, 1998
Ava Murriel Lyons, 81, of the Dyllis community of Oliver Springs, died Sunday, Sept. 6, 1998, at Fort Sanders Parkwest Medical Center in Knoxville.
Mrs. Lyons was a homemaker.
She was the daughter of Tom and Lela Hamilton, who are now deceased.
She was the widow of Herbert Lyons, a former employee of Union Carbide Nuclear Division for 25 years.
Mrs. Lyons is survived by her sister, Martha Watkins of Athens, Ala.; two nieces, Janet Watkins and Paula Tate, both of Dallas, Texas; and two nephews, Thomas B. Watkins of Athens, Ala., and Hershel B. Watkins III of Huntsville, Ala.
The funeral will be at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, in the chapel of Sharp Funeral Home in Oliver Springs with the Rev. Waylon Payne officiating.
Burial will follow at Roane Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends from noon to 1 p.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Eva Jane Conner Nelson
Retired school cafeteria manager
Record dated at 1:22 p.m.
on Tuesday, September 8, 1998
Eva Jane Conner Nelson, 87, of Claxton, died Sunday, Sept. 6, 1998, at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.
Mrs. Nelson was retired from Anderson County Schools. She was the cafeteria manager for Claxton Elementary School for 31 years.
She was born in Anderson County on Nov. 18, 1910, the daughter of Creed and Stacie Conner.
Mrs. Nelson was a member of Valley View United Methodist Church in Claxton. She was the widow of William Wayne Nelson.
She is survived by two daughters, Wanda Henderson and Pauline Franse and her husband, Ralph, all of Claxton; and two sons, Wayne Nelson and his wife, Betty, of Maryville, and Gerald Nelson and his wife, Sandra, of Harriman.
Mrs. Nelson is also survived by several grandchildren, Wesley Wayne Franse, Kathy Evans, Wendy Franse, Kindall Franse, Samuel L. Nelson, the Rev. Michael T. Nelson, Rebecca L. Rothove, Joseph J. Nelson, Tommy R. Nelson, Cindy F. Hartsell, Robin J. Banks and Stacie R. Lunsford; and by 30 great-grandchildren, and several great-great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Four other grandchildren, Kenneth L. Franse, Brian Keith Franse, William Wayne Nelson and Eva Mae Henderson, died earlier.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 9, at Valley View United Methodist Church in Claxton with the Rev. Perry Duncan and the Rev. Steve Evans officiating.
Burial will follow at the church cemetery. Mrs. Nelson's grandsons will serve as pallbearers.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 9 tonight, Sept. 8, at Holley-Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton.
Patsy Lou Humphrey
Andersonville resident
Record dated at 1:07 p.m.
on Monday, September 14, 1998
Patsy Lou Humphrey, 67, of Andersonville, died Saturday, Sept. 12, 1998, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville.
Mrs. Humphrey attended Mount Pleasant United Methodist Church.
She was the daughter of Charles Cannon and Rosie Bell Finger Viars, who are now deceased.
Mrs. Humphrey is survived by her husband, James K. Humphrey; children, Ronnie and Debbie Humphrey, Joe and Patty Elkins, Doug and Diane Humphrey, David and Sheila Humphrey and Dean and Vickie Humphrey; grandchildren, Travis, Shawn, Penny, Kelly, Grant, Cannon, April, Albert, Carolann, Nathan, Emily and Ethan; and great-grandchildren, Bradon, Cody, Ayden and Ashlee, all of Andersonville.
She is also survived by three sisters, Bobbie Sharp, Myrtle Mitchell and Lynn Viars, all of Knoxville; and by several nieces and nephews.
A daughter, Linda Carol, and her husband, Conda H. Ridenour, and a sister, Betty Jo Key, died earlier.
The funeral will be at 2 p.m. today, Sept. 14, in the chapel of Holley-Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton.
Burial will be at New Home Baptist Church cemetery in Andersonville.
George William Johnson
Father of Mary Ann Damos
Record dated at 1:07 p.m.
on Monday, September 14, 1998
George William Johnson, 83, of Oak Ridge, died Friday, Sept. 11, 1998, at his home.
Mr. Johnson was retired from Sawyers Brokerage Firm where he was a sales representative.
He was born in Conyers, Ga., on May 15, 1915, the son of William Mertz Johnson and Bess Glenn Johnson.
He was a member of Bellview United Methodist Church in Murphy, N.C. He was a nature lover and enjoyed hiking and gardening, the family said.
Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife, Doris Bartlett Johnson; his daughter, Mary Ann Damos, project director of the Children's Museum, and her husband, Stephen, of Oak Ridge; two brothers, W.T. Johnson and Howard Johnson, both of Atlanta, Ga.; two grandchildren, Jason Damos of Newport and Emilie Damos of Oak Ridge; and one great-grandchild, Kirstie Damos.
According to Mr. Johnson's wishes, he was cremated.
The family requests any memorials be in the form of donations to Bellview United Methodist Church, in care of the Rev. Patt Miller, 3229 Highway 64E, Hayesville, NC 28904.
Weatherford Mortuary is handling arrangements.
Rhoda Jane Cox Lee
Retired Red Kap supervisor
Record dated at 1:07 p.m.
on Monday, September 14, 1998
Rhoda Jane Cox Lee, 64, of Harriman, died Friday, Sept. 11, 1998, at her home.
Mrs. Lee retired in 1997 from Red Kap Industries in Harriman where she had worked for 23 years. At the time of retirement, she was a supervisor.
She was born in Anderson County on Nov. 5, 1933, the daughter of Charlie Cox and Odessa Jordan Cox. She lived in Oliver Springs for many years, in North Carolina for 15 years and in Harriman for the past eight years.
Mrs. Lee was a member of Bible Baptist Church of Harriman.
She was the widow of Frank Thomas Lee.
She is survived by three daughters, Audrey Davis and her husband, George, of Hayesville, N.C., Clara Disney and her husband, Spud, of Harriman, and Teresa French and her husband, Glenn, of Kenesaw, Ga.; her son, Tommy Lee and his wife, Paula, of Harriman; and her stepmother, Hazel Cox of Harriman.
Mrs. Lee is also survived by her sister, Brenda Hayes of Harriman; and six brothers, Grady Cox of Leesburg, Fla., Charles Cox and his wife, Billie, of Solway, Mickey Cox and Ricky Cox and his wife, Gayle, all of Harriman, Butch Cox of Riceville and George Cox of Jamestown.
Tom Hensley of Harriman was considered a special friend.
The funeral will be at 8 tonight, Sept. 14, in the chapel of Sharp Funeral Home in Oliver Springs with the Rev. Kenneth Stubbs officiating.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 tonight at the funeral home.
Mark Lucas McNeill
Former Oak Ridge resident
Record dated at 1:07 p.m.
on Monday, September 14, 1998
Mark Lucas McNeill, 41, of Casselberry, Fla., died of cancer Friday, Sept. 4, 1998, at his home.
Mr. McNeill was born in Oak Ridge on May 17, 1957. He was the son of Howard McNeill and Ruth Johnson McNeill Roesler, who are now deceased. He was a 1975 graduate of Oak Ridge High School.
In 1980, he graduated from Florida State University where he was a member of the Marching Chiefs Band.
Mr. McNeill was an elementary school teacher in Florida schools for 17 years and had taught fifth grade at Douglas Stenstrom Elementary School in Oviedo, Fla., for the past seven years. Previously, he taught at Riverview Elementary School in Titusville, Fla.
He is survived by two brothers, Howard McNeill Jr. of Midland, Ga., and Bruce McNeill of Allentown, Pa.; his niece, Amy Bowers of Oak Ridge; and an uncle, C.A. McNeill of Clinton.
The funeral was held Monday, Sept. 7, in the chapel of Wylie-Baxley Funeral Home in Rockledge, Fla., with Howard McNeill Jr. officiating.
The family requests any memorials be in the form of scholarship donations to Douglas Stenstrom Elementary School, Attn: Martin Kirsch, 1800 Alafaya Woods Blvd., Oviedo, FL 32765.
Walter Kenneth Russell
Retired from Union Carbide
Record dated at 1:07 p.m.
on Monday, September 14, 1998
Walter Kenneth Russell, 83, of Oliver Springs, died Friday, Sept. 11, 1998, at Royal Health Care Center of Harriman.
Mr. Russell retired in 1977 from Union Carbide Nuclear Division where he was employed for 26 years.
He was born in Oliver Springs on July 3, 1915, the son of Joseph Russell and Alice Scandlyn Russell.
Mr. Russell was a member of Mount Pisgah Baptist Church in Oliver Springs and the Eastfork Masonic Lodge No. 460, F & AM.
He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Willie Mae Borum Russell of Oliver Springs; two daughters, Betty Justice and her husband, Tommy, and Brenda Rose and her husband, David, all of Oliver Springs; two sons, Bill Russell and his wife, Gale, and Alfred Russell and his wife, Joan, all of Oliver Springs; his sister, Irene Wright of Oliver Springs; and by 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
The funeral was held Sunday, Sept. 13, in the chapel of Sharp Funeral home in Oliver Springs with the Rev. Garvan Walls and the Rev. Kenneth Stubbs officiating.
A graveside service was to be held at 11 this morning, Sept. 14, at Pisgah cemetery.
Ellen Terry West
Mother of Oak Ridge residents
Record dated at 1:07 p.m.
on Monday, September 14, 1998
Ellen Terry West, 81, of Oak Ridge, died Sunday morning, Sept. 13, 1998, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville.
Mrs. West was a homemaker. She enjoyed bowling, raising flowers and fishing.
She was born in Fentress County on Nov. 30, 1916, the daughter of Cye Terry and Rosie Moore Terry.
She was a member of Helenwood Baptist Church.
She was the widow of Glenn Curtis West, who died June 21, 1982.
Mrs. West is survived by three sons, Glenn R. West and his wife, Geneva, and Larry R. West and his wife, Janet, all of Oak Ridge, and James R. West and his wife, Vada, of Lenoir City; and two daughters, Jean Graham and her husband, Bob, and Gail Stevens and her husband, Jerry, all of Knoxville.
She is also survived by four sisters, Edna West and Juanita Claxton, both of Helenwood, Ruby Keeton of Oak Ridge and Verna Phillips of Conyers, Ga.; her brother, Jake Terry of Helenwood; and by 14 grandchildren, 15 great-grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her husband, a daughter, Lois Moore, died in April 1985, and a granddaughter, Leah Kay Simms, died in 1983.
The funeral will be at 8:30 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 15, in the chapel of Weatherford Mortuary with the Rev. Andy Rittenhouse officiating.
A graveside service will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, Sept. 16, at Daniels Memorial cemetery in Helenwood.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday at the mortuary.
