Obituaries June 15 – 22

Vera L. Hayes 

Hartselle 

Funeral service for Vera L. Hayes, 87, was June 17 at p.m. at Hartselle Church of Christ with Phillip Hines officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Burningtree Memorial Gardens. 

Mrs. Hayes died June 15 at her residence. She was born Jan. 13, 1933, in Indiana to Edward Arel Husk and Minnie Marie (Edgerton) Husk. She was a loving wife and mother of four children, a Sunday School
teacher at Hartselle Church of Christ and the owner-operator of a home daycare for many years prior to her retirement.  

After she retired, she loved to travel in her motor home. 

Preceding her in death were her husband, Ira Gene Hayes; her parents; a brother, Russell Leon Husk; and a sister, Delta Mae Johnson. 

Survivors include two sons, Arel Hayes (Cathy) and Kenny Hayes (Theresa)two daughters, Eva Hayes Orr (Franklin) and Pam S. (Hayes) Brown (Jimmy)grandchildren Chad, Josh, David, Nicholas, Eric and Deanna; and 14 great-grandchildren. 

Pallbearers were her grandsons. 

In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Hartselle Church of Christ Building Fund. 

 

Willodean Fowler Campbell 

Eva 

Funeral services for Willodean Fowler Campbell, 85, were held June 17 at 3 p.m. at Peck Funeral Home. Burial followed in Etha Cemetery near Eva.  

Mrs. Campbell entered into her heavenly home June 14 at her residence in Eva. She was born Jan. 24, 1935, in Pike County, to T. W. and R. Dealier Renfroe. She was an assembly worker for Swift Mills in Columbus, Ga., before moving to Morgan County.  

Once here, Mrs. Campbell drove a school bus for Morgan County Schools at Eva for 24 years and loved every child and every minute of that job. She decided to retire to travel and enjoy life, which she did with her whole being.  

Mrs. Campbell loved her church, her friends, going to the Eva Senior Center, playing tri-dominoes and bingo and going to the Wagon Wheel Restaurant every morning for a grilled cheese sandwich.  

Later in life she developed a love for NASCAR and Alabama/Auburn football, as well as all other sports, and just having a good time. Her smile would light up a room – she was called Sunshine for a reason – and she always made you feel better after having spent any time with her.  

She looked for the positive in everyone and everything, and her final days were filled with her wanting to be sure everyone got to eat if they came to visit. There was always food at “Nana’s house.”  

Preceding her in death were her two husbands, William “Powder” Fowler and Eugene Campbell; her parents, T. W. & R. Dealier Renfroe; three brothers, Willie, Kenneth and Joe Renfroe; one sister, Peggy Smith; and one son, David Fowler, who passed away last year on the same day.  

Survivors include one son, DeWayne (Diona) Fowler; one daughter, Jackie (Tim) Kinney; one stepson, Bruce Campbell (Susie); three sisters, Bonnie Jean Flynn (twin), Nell Sanders, and Marilyn Poe; nine grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and many in-laws, nieces, nephews and friends.  

Pallbearers were Blake Kinney, Wayne Hudson, Bruce Campbell, Blake Campbell, Jeremy Oden and Derrick Couch.  

In lieu of flowers, donations can be made in her memory to the church she loves, Eva United Methodist, P.O. Box 5, Eva, AL 35621.  

The family would like to thank Encompass Health for their excellent care and love shown to Mrs. Campbell and the entire family during these last few weeks of her life. What a blessing they have been to everyone in the home.  

The family would also like to thank family, friends and neighbors for the outpouring of prayers, love, food and all other acts of loving kindness. What comfort and peace there is when the love of Jesus is poured out on others during a difficult time!  

 

Waymon Appleton 

Hartselle 

Graveside funeral service and interment for Waymon Appleton, 79, were held June 18 at 1 p.m. at Herring Cemetery with Bro. Charles Shaddix and Bro. Clayton Speed officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. 

Mr. Appleton died June 15 at UAB Hospital, Birmingham. He was born Oct. 10, 1940, in Lawrence County to Hildred Leon Appleton and Madge Adaline Bynum Appleton. 

He was proud to have had the gift of 8.5 years of life with his Left Ventricular Assist Device and the support of UAB Cardiology. He worked in finance before becoming the owner of Apples Florist prior to his retirement.  

As a member of First Baptist Church of Hartselle, he was very active in serving as a deacon and in many other capacities. He loved his Sunday school classes. He enjoyed music, gardening, bee-keeping, woodworking and collecting skillets. He was also an avid Alabama basketball fan. 

Preceding him in death were his parentstwo brothers, Dalton and Brinson Appleton; and a son-in-law, Nathan Cunningham. 

Survivors include his wifeDianna Appleton; son, John Appleton and his wifeElizabeth; and daughterAprill Cunningham. 

Pallbearers were Doyle Landers, Pete McClellan, Ronald Britnell, Tommy Halbrooks, Bob Jaques, Leroy Hogan, Henry Griffith and Frank Ellis. Honorary pallbearers were the George Knight/Frank Ellis Sunday School Class, Charles Rodgers, Wayne White and Terry Steele. 

 

Fariborz “Fred” Ameri 

Decatur 

Funeral service for Fariborz “Fred” Ameri, 62, was held June 19 at 1 p.m. in the Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Hartselle City Cemetery.  

Mr. Ameri died June 12 at his residence. He was born June 22, 1957, in Iran, to Hossein Ameri and Mehrbanu Susan Yazdanbakhsh. He was a business owner of Highway 31 Marathon in Decatur and attended Bridge Builders Church International.  

Preceding him in death were his wife, Carrie Rebecca Ameri; his parents; and a brother, Faramarz Ameri. 

Survivors include one son, Jonathan Ameri; two daughters, Jade Ameri and Angela Andersonone brother, Ali Ameritwo sisters, Fariba Ameri and Farzaneh Sati Ameri; and grandchild Han-nah Ameri. 

Pallbearers were Jonathan Ameri, Jacob Magnuson, Eddie Tapscott, Jamie Hodges, Steve Bateman, John Anderson and David Curry.  

 

Jaylinn Sebastian Tennyson 

Hartselle 

A Celebration of Life service for Jaylinn Sebastian Tennyson, 12, was held June 20 at 5 p.m. at Risen Church with Pastor Tim Taylor and Bro. Thomas Erb officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.  

Jaylinn Tennyson passed away June 12 at his residence. He was born July 23, 2007, in Florida to Jeffery Kendall Tennyson and Jennifer Sue Kearney. 

Survivors include his parents, Kendall and Jennifer Kearney Tennysonone brother, Jett Troy Tennysonone sisterJada Kaylee Tennysonhis grandparents, Jeff Tennyson, Kathy Tennyson and Leanne Tennyson, Maria Schauguard and Thomas Mathis; and his great-grandfather, Floyd Gail Kearney. 

 

Dustin E. Carter 

Hartselle 

Funeral service for Dustin E. Carter, 35, was held June 19 at p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Phillip Hines officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing.  

Mr. Carter died June 15 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was born March 7, 1985, in Morgan County to Donald Eugene Carter and Mary Ann Carpenter Carter. He was employed by DC Roofing and Construction. 

Survivors include his wife, Nancy Kirby Carterhis parentsDonald and Mary Ann Carterthree brothersRonald Carter, Tyler Gatlin and Taylor Gatlinand four sisters, Kimberly Carpenter, Shannon Carpenter, Amanda Carpenter and Savannah Gatlin. 

 

Kristie Diane Fite 

Eva 

memorial service for Kristie Diane Fite, 49, will be held June 27 at Lawrence Cove Baptist Church at 1 p.m. with the Rev. Steven Smith officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. 

Mrs. Fite died April 23 at Crestwood Medical Center. She was born April 8, 1971, in Morgan County to Donald Niles and Sandra Diane Whitaker Niles. She was employed by Jack’s as a breakfast manager prior to her passing. She was a wonderful wife, mother, sister and grandmother.  

She was preceded in death by her parents and a granddaughter, Nicole Wallace. 

Survivors include her husbandCharles Fitethree daughtersMeranda Fite, Evelyn Burns (Bryan) and Savannah FitebrotherPatrick Niles (Thiquita)sisterLisa Nilesand five grandchildrenNathan Burns, Connor Wallace, Zoey Burns, Lilly Hyatt and Jordan Vinson. 

 

Jeff Vice 

Decatur 

Mr. Jeff Vice, 55, of Decatur, passed away June 17 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was born January 23, 1965, in Detroit, Michigan, to Walter Carl Vice and Carol Jane Knighten Cuip. He was employed as an automotive painter for Mack’s Body Shop.  

His father preceded him in death. 

Survivors include one son, Brad Vice (fiancée Brittney Skinner), Tannerhis motherCarol Knighten Cuip, Hartselleone brother, Nick Cuip, Hartselleand one sisterStephanie Cupp (Zaine), Hartselle. 

No services are scheduled at this time. 

 

Jarrett Maples 

Hartselle 

Funeral service for Jarrett Maples, 49, was held June 22 at p.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Bro. Dennis Shaddix officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in New Center Cemetery. 

Mr. Maples died June 18 at Decatur Morgan Hospital. He was born April 23, 1971, in Morgan County to Rickey Martin Maples and Patricia Ann Mears. He was employed by OCO as a machine operator. 

Jarrett was a very outgoing person and was a funny guy. He loved life and loved his family dearly. He will be missed. 

Survivors include his wife, Rebecca Hand Maples; son, Colton Maples (Brandi); father, Rickey Martin Maples (Judy); mother, Patricia Ann Kerby (Lonnie)and three sistersTeresa Hensley (Barry), Crystal Maples and Kayron Edwards.
Pallbearers were Tyler Shockey, Robert Peden, Ryan Bradford, Matthew Scholwinski, Anthony Bomar and Troy Frazier. 

 

Ronald “Ronnie” A. Davidson 

Hartselle 

Funeral service for Ronald “Ronnie” A. Davidson, 58, was June 24 at 11 a.m. at Peck Funeral Home Chapel with Pastor Brad Sheats officiating and Peck Funeral Home directing. Burial was in Davidson Family Cemetery. 

Mr. Davidson died June 20 at his residence. He was born July 6, 1961, in Mobile County to Cecil Bruce Davidson and Patricia Ann Smith Davidson.  

Ronnie was a Baptist and attended Life Church in Hartselle. He loved life, especially anything outdoors. He loved NASCAR, flying, riding motorcycles, running, bicycling and operating his cattle farm on the outskirts of Hartselle. He was the owner of International Fire Protection prior to his career change to a cattleman. 

Survivors include his wifeDawn Davidson, Hartselleone son, Adam Davidson (Laura)one daughterRachel LaCaze (Alan)two brothers, Cecil Davidson and Brad Davidsonone sisterCecilia Davidsonand a grandchild, Josie LaCaze. 

Pallbearers were Matthew Davidson, Laetner Naramore, Trevor Naramore, Brent DeMonia, Chris McGhee and Antonio Gutierrez. 

In lieu of flowers, make memorial contributions to Thymic Carcinoma Research. Go online to www.give.weill.cornell.ed.u In the about section, select other and direct gift to “Dr. Giaconni’s Sandy Daulton Foundation. Make checks payable to Weil Cornell Medical College and mail to Weill Cornell Medical College (Office of External Affairs c/o Veronica Ruhno-McCallum), 1300 York Ave., Box 314New York, NY 10065Memo line must show Dr. Giaconni’s research in memory of Ronnie Davidson.” 

At a Glance

PowerGrid Services in Hartselle evacuated for bomb threat

Morgan County

20 under 40: Trey Chowning

Falkville

20 under 40: TJ Holmes

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20 under 40: Spencer Bell

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20 under 40: Shelby Keenum

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20 under 40: Rachel Howard

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20 under 40: Mary Virgina Halbrooks

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20 under 40: Maggie McKelvey

Decatur

20 under 40: Maegan Jones

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20 under 40: Lindsey Tapscott

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‘He lets us have sex’: More details emerge on Hartselle man accused of child exploitation 

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Hartselle church creates Easter-themed escape rooms 

Danville

Family tradition: State livestock show legacy spans generations

Editor's picks

Baseball for Beau: More than $8k raised for scholarship named after Hartselle child  

Falkville

20 under 40: Lela Weeks

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20 under 40: Kalleigh Thomas

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20 under 40: Jaime Hatcher

Hartselle

Veteran Hartselle firefighter charged with possessing child porn

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Cerrowire expansion named finalist in Business Alabama Awards  

At a Glance

Work begins on repairing two bridges over I-65 in Morgan County in coming weeks

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Tickets for Morgan County Sports Hall of Fame banquet available

Falkville

Morgan County volunteers celebrated at annual fire department banquet 

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Man jailed for stealing car from jail after earlier release 

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Police: Hartselle man encouraged children to have sex inside his apartment

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