Tennessee, U.S., Delayed Birth Records, 1869-1909
Gray Williams Cameron
Longtime civic leader
Gray Williams Cameron, 90, of Oak Ridge, died Tuesday, Feb. 16, 1999, at Briarcliff Health Care Center after a long illness.
Mrs. Cameron was born Jane Williams on July 25, 1908, in Anvik, Alaska, where her father was a lay missionary for the Episcopal Church. Several years later, she adopted her mother's given name, Gray. She spent most of her childhood in Cleveland, Ohio.
She was a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of Indiana University and a member of Kappa Kappa Gamma, in which she remained active for more than 50 years. Mrs. Cameron did graduate work at the University of Tennessee, and for several years was a substitute teacher at Oak Ridge High School. She also attended Oberlin College, where she met her future husband, Dr. Angus Cameron. The two were married in 1933.
The Camerons moved to Oak Ridge in 1943 and remained here continually thereafter except for brief residences in Rochester, N.Y., in 1947-48, and in Frankfurt, Germany, in 1954-55.
Her husband was widely recognized for his work in this country's effort to produce material for the first nuclear weapons, and for his subsequent distinguished career at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.
Mrs. Cameron and her husband were actively involved in community affairs. She was a member of St. Stephen's Episcopal Church, the 43 Club, the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association, United Church Women of Tennessee, the Oak Ridge Community Playhouse, the Oak Ridge Arts Council and the League of Women Voters.
The Camerons were among the early members of St. Stephen's and each served in a variety of leadership roles in the church. They were active and energetic participants in the fund-raising for and design of the church building itself.
Mrs. Cameron was a longtime member of the state board of United Church Women, serving as vice president in 1965-66 and as president in 1966-67. She also served on the Diocesan Board of the Women of the Church (Episcopal), and as CSR chairwoman.
During 1964-67, she served as president of the League of Women Voters of Oak Ridge. In her work with the League, she led the effort to develop the Anderson County Community Action Commission, worked for county reapportionment, did a study of county roads, published the ABCs of Voting, and worked toward the enhancement of greenbelt resources in the city. Mrs. Cameron also served on the League's state board.
A great lover of music, she played the cello and piano during her youth. She was a longtime member of the board of directors of the Oak Ridge Civic Music Association and served as president from 1974 to 1976. In 1967-68 she was president of the ORCMA Guild.
Her early interest in acting, as a member of the Garrick Club at Indiana University, came with her to Oak Ridge. She was active for many years in the Playhouse, both on stage and backstage.
Mrs. Cameron played parts in "Silverwhistle," "Summer of the 17th Doll" and "The American Dream," as well as other Playhouse productions. Her backstage work, especially procuring stage props, was invaluable, according to Paul Ebert, director during that period.
She was an avid duplicate bridge player in various bridge clubs as well as at the Oak Ridge Country Club, and was regarded as an expert. The Camerons were among the founding members of the country club.
Her husband died in 1981.
Mrs. Cameron is survived by a brother, Walter Williams and his wife, Helen, of Boca Raton, Fla.; three sons, Douglas Cameron and his wife, Nancy, of Copley, Ohio, Allan Cameron and his wife, Becky, of Washington, D.C., and Alexander Cameron of Oak Ridge; a grandson, Christopher Cameron of Canyon Country, Calif.; and a granddaughter, Laurel Shurlow and her husband, Rex, of Phoenix, Ariz.
She is also survived by four step-grandsons, Christopher Welch of Winston-Salem, N.C., John Bokas and his wife, Kathleen, of Tallmadge, Ohio, Gary Bokas of Cuba, N.Y., and William Bokas of Akron, Ohio; and two step-great-grandsons, Cameron and Ian, both of Tallmadge.
A memorial service will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church.
The family will receive friends in the Parish Hall of the church following the service.
The family requests any memorials be in the form of donations to the Salvation Army, P.O. Box 669, Knoxville, TN 37901.
Weatherford Mortuary is handling arrangements.
Marie Ezell Foust
Heiskell resident
Marie Ezell Foust, 78, of Heiskell, died Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2004, at St. Mary's Residential Hospice.
Born April 25, 1925, in Anderson County, she was the daughter of Lee and Mary Baumgardner.
She was a member of Liberty Missionary Baptist Church in Heiskell. Her family said she loved to garden, fish and make crafts.
In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by a daughter, Barbra Lou Ezell.
Mrs. Foust is survived by her husband, Ray Foust; six daughters, Carolyn Beason and husband, Dennis, Brenda Williams and husband, Burl, Darlene Simmonds and husband, Mike, and Kay Stokes, all of Heiskell, Juanita Davis and husband, Louis, of Sevierville, and Elizabeth Yarber and husband, Dewey, of Clinton; her son, Leon Ezell and wife, Cindy, of Clinton; 11 grandchildren; 11 great-grandchildren; a sister, Jean Starner and husband, Larry, of Clinton; and by several nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 20, 2004, in the chapel of Holley-Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton with the Rev. Bill Ellis officiating.
Burial will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 21, at Liberty Baptist Church cemetery.
The family requests that any memorials be in the form of contributions to St. Mary's Residential Hospice, 7447 Andersonville Pike, Knoxville, TN 37938.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.
Josie Mae Armstrong
Retired teacher
Josie Mae Armstrong, 86, of Oak Ridge, died Thursday, Feb. 18, 1999, at Briarcliff Health Care Center.
Mrs. Armstrong retired in the mid-1970s as a teacher at the Daniel Arthur Rehabilitation Center.
She was born in Wartburg on Dec. 17, 1912, the daughter of Joseph and Vela Blake Powell. She was a graduate of the University of Tennessee.
Mrs. Armstrong was a member of First Baptist Church.
She was the widow of Edmund Armstrong Sr., who died Jan. 21.
She is survived by her son, Edmund Armstrong Jr. of Alexandria, Va.
The funeral will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, in the chapel of Weatherford Mortuary with the Rev. Larry Dipboye officiating.
Burial will be at Oak Ridge Memorial Park.
Earl John McNew
A U.S. Air Force veteran
Earl John McNew, 71, of Daysville Road, Rockwood, died Tuesday, Feb. 18, 2003, at Methodist Medical Center of Oak Ridge.
He was a member of Eagle Furnace Baptist Church and a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Korean War. He was a member of Rockwood American Legion and VFW and International Union of Operating Engineers Local No. 917.
He is survived by his wife, Kathryn McNew; daughter, Karen Dobbs and her husband, Mark, of Farragut; son, Eric McNew and his wife, Gina, of Kingston; two grandchildren, Lauren and Taylor Dobbs; mother, Gladys McNew of Cleveland; and sister, Anna Mae Cross and her husband, Jim, of Cleveland.
He was preceded in death by his father, John McNew, and brother, Wayne McNew.
The funeral will be at 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 21, in the chapel of Evans Mortuary in Rockwood with the Rev. Bobby Carmichael and the Rev. Bill Treadway officiating. A graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 22, at Oak Grove Cemetery in Rockwood. The Roane County military Memorial Honor Guard will conduct military rites.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Friday at the mortuary.
Fred Brown
Clinton automobile dealer
Fred Brown, 66, of 115 Olive Road, Clinton, died Wednesday night, Feb. 17, 1999, at the University of Tennessee Medical Center at Knoxville.
Mr. Brown was owner and operator of F&G Auto Sales in Clinton and of Mid South Auto Auction in Knoxville.
He was born in Knox County on Aug. 21, 1932, the son of Nannie Fugate Brown of Lenoir City and Charles Brown, who is deceased.
Before opening his used car dealership, Mr. Brown was a trooper with the Tennessee Highway Patrol. He had also worked for Union Carbide Nuclear Division as an electrician at the Oak Ridge Y-12 Plant.
He was a member of the Clinton Lions Club, the Clinton Fraternal Order of Police, and union Local No. 760 of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.
In addition to his mother, Mr. Brown is survived by his wife, Geneva Staples Brown; and three daughters, Helen Brown of Clinton, Jeanie Moore and her husband, Bill, of Knoxville, and Doris Kerns and her husband, Klay, of Plattsmouth, Neb..
The funeral will be held at 8:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, in the chapel of Holley-Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton. The Rev. Fred West Jr. and the Rev. Thomas Sweet will officiate.
A graveside service will be conducted at 11 a.m. Monday, Feb. 22, at Lakeview Cemetery in Lenoir City.
The family will receive friends from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Sunday at the funeral home.
Michael Timothy Liles
Former Food City, Apex Office Supply employee
Michael Timothy Liles, 37, of Oak Ridge, died Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2003, at his home.
Born April 11, 1965, in Oak Ridge, he lived in Coalfield until adulthood, moving to Oliver Springs and later to Oak Ridge. Before becoming disabled, he was employed by Food City and Apex Office Supply.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Kay Edwards Liles; mother, Gladys Seeber Liles of Harriman; brothers, Ronnie Maples and his wife, Rhonda, of Harriman, William Liles and his wife, Vickie, of Clinton, and Robert Liles and his wife, Kim, of Kingston; and sister, Linda Kay Maples of Harriman.
He was preceded in death by his father, Sidney M. Liles Sr.
The funeral will be at 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 20, in the chapel of Sharp Funeral Home in Oliver Springs. The Rev. Charles Northrup and the Rev. David Coffman will officiate.
The graveside service will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Feb. 21, at Anderson Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home.
Curtis L. 'Les' Colwell
Member of AMVETS Post No. 2
Curtis L. "Les" Colwell, 50, of Oak Ridge, died Tuesday, Feb. 19, 2002, at his home.
He was born March 2, 1951, in Knoxville. As a youth, he attended Trinity United Methodist Church.
Mr. Colwell was a self-employed painting contractor and a member of AMVETS Post No. 2.
He enjoyed hunting and fishing, according to his family, who said he was also a collector of artifacts.
Mr. Colwell is survived by his mother, Betty Lou Anfinson Colwell of Oak Ridge; his brother, Daniel Scott Colwell and his wife, Cynthia, of Oak Ridge; two nieces, Dena Nicole Colwell and Lindy Marie Colwell, a junior at Oak Ridge High School, both of Oak Ridge; and several aunts, uncles, cousins and other relatives.
Ginger Royster of Oak Ridge was a friend he considered special.
Mr. Colwell was preceded in death by his father, William Clarence Colwell, on Aug. 16, 1981.
A graveside service will be conducted at 10 a.m. Friday, Feb. 22, at Oak Ridge Memorial Park. The Rev. Charles Mattson will officiate.
The family requests that any memorials be in the form of gifts to St. Mary's Hospice, 7447 Andersonville Pike, Knoxville, TN 37938.
The family will receive friends from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 21, at Weatherford Mortuary.
Ora Lee Wilson
Retired from Rohm and Haas
Ora Lee Wilson, 81, of Clinton Highway, Clinton, died Thursday, Feb. 18, 1999, at St. Mary's Health System, Knoxville.
Mr. Wilson had retired after 37 years as an inspector with Rohm and Haas.
He was a member of Piney Grove Baptist Church of Clinton and had served the church as a deacon. He enjoyed working in his yard and with flowers.
He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Hazel S. Wilson; two sisters, Edna Hammer and her husband, Lloyd, of Clinton and Una V. Hammer and her husband, Clarence, of Heiskell; four brothers, Clifford Wilson and his wife, Cora Lee, Conrad Wilson and his wife, Marilda, Kenneth Wilson and his wife, Chestine, all of Clinton, and Earl Wilson and his wife, Lucy, of Michigan.
His parents, Edgbert and Rosa Herrell Wilson, and two brothers and two sisters, Clifton Wilson, Roy Wilson, Eunice Wilson and Edith Carmichael, died earlier.
The funeral was held at 8:30 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 20, in the chapel of Holley-Gamble Funeral Home in Clinton. The Rev. Joe Norris of Piney Grove Baptist Church and the Rev. Glenn Gamble officiated.
A graveside service was held at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 21, at Zion Cemetery in Claxton.
